Dieterich Buxtehude

Dietrich Buxtehude was a highly influential Danish-German composer and organist. Based in Lübeck at St. Mary’s Church, he became a central figure in northern German music, renowned for his organ compositions and his Abendmusikenconcert series. His music combines the contrapuntal traditions of the North German organ school with the expressive and virtuosic style of the Baroque, particularly in his preludes, fugues and protestant chorale settings. His organ playing and compositions had a profound influence on the young Johann Sebastian Bach, who walked 400 km from Arnstadt to listen and learn from him.