Vulpius, Melchior 01/01/1570 - 07/08/1615

Melchior Vulpius (1570-1615) was a German church musician and composer (who Latinized his last name, "Fuchs" or "fox"). He came from a poor working family and attended the town school in Wasungen, Thuringia, Germany. After 1588 he attended the school in Speyer. After his marriage in 1589 he received a job at the Gymnasium in Schleusingen. In 1596 he became the town cantor in Weimar. He edited and published church music. One of his most well-known settings is the one for the hymn "Ach, bleib mit deiner Gnade" on a text by Josua Stegmann, which is often sung in German Protestant churches at the end of a service or of a year. One can also find Catholic hymns from his pen.