Leonhart Schröter (1532-1601) was a German composer and cantor. In 1561 he became cantor at the Latin school in Saalfeld and three years later was appointed to the same position at the main church in Magdeburg, where he succeeded Gallus Dressler. He wrote many sacred works. His main work "Hymni Sacri" appeared in 1587 in Erfurt and contains four- and five-part movements of all the Latin hymns taken over from the Lutherans. His Christmas songs are still well-known and treasured today.