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Michael Praetorius (1571-1621) was "one of the most versatile, wide-ranging, and prolific German composers of the seventeenth century," "also important as a theorist," and "the most often quoted and excerpted writer on performance practice." 2021 marks the four hundredth anniversary of this Lutheran musician's death and the four hundred and fiftieth anniversary of his birth. Yet until now, no biography of this multitalented and fascinating man has been made available in English. This translation of Siegfried Vogelsanger's 2008 German biography of Praetorius will introduce you to Praetorius's family and employers, his work as organist and court music director, his sacred and secular musical compositions, his historical and theoretical musical work, his grandiose goals and plans, and--most importantly--the man himself. Appendices provide new insights into Praetorius's ancestry and life, as well as new translations of primary sources written by Praetorius and others. Richly furnished with pictures and illustrations and supplemented with a glossary, Heaven Is My Fatherland will transport you into Praetorius's world and open up for you the convictions of his heart.
About the author
Siegfried Vogelsanger (1927-2015) studied music in Herford and Detmold and pedagogy in Dortmund. He earned his doctorate (1972) and habilitation (1974) at the Pedagogical Academy of Dortmund. Having taught at both the elementary and academic levels, he retired in 1992 and pursued Praetorius research. He is the author of numerous publications in the fields of music education and social education, including Michael Praetorius beim Wort genommen (1987) and Michael Praetorius: "Diener vieler Herren" (1991).
Nathaniel J. Biebert is a Lutheran pastor in Austin, Texas. A graduate of Martin Luther College (BA, 2005) and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (MDiv, 2009), he is the author and translator of Luther at the Manger (2017) and has contributed articles and translations to the WELS Historical Institute Journal, Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly, and Forward in Christ. He is a 2018 recipient of the Concordia Historical Institute's Award of Commendation.
