Michael Altenburg (1584 – 1640) was a German
theologian and composer. He was born at Alach, near
Erfurt. He began attending school in Erfurt in 1590; he
began studying theology at the University of Erfurt in
1598, and was awarded a bachelor's degree in 1599 and a
master's in 1603. From 1600 he taught at the
Reglerschule in Erfurt; he was Kantor at St. Andreas
from 1601 and rector of the school at St. Andreas in
Erfurt from 1607. In 1609 he quit teaching to become a
pastor, moving to Tröchtelb...(+)
Michael Altenburg (1584 – 1640) was a German
theologian and composer. He was born at Alach, near
Erfurt. He began attending school in Erfurt in 1590; he
began studying theology at the University of Erfurt in
1598, and was awarded a bachelor's degree in 1599 and a
master's in 1603. From 1600 he taught at the
Reglerschule in Erfurt; he was Kantor at St. Andreas
from 1601 and rector of the school at St. Andreas in
Erfurt from 1607. In 1609 he quit teaching to become a
pastor, moving to Tröchtelborn and preaching there
until 1621. During this period Altenburg published
music, and was compared to Orlando di Lasso.
After 1621 he moved to Sömmerda, working at the
Bonifaciuskirche. While he continued to publish and was
respected for his compositions, the Thirty Years War
sapped his efforts. In 1636 a massive plague wiped out
most of his congregation, and his wife and ten of his
children died before himself. He returned to Erfurt in
1637, where he remained as deacon and, from 1638,
minister at St Andreas.
Much of Altenburg's compositional output consists of
vocal concertos, motets and chorales.
"Vater unser im Himmelreich" (Our Father in Heaven) is
a Lutheran hymn in German by Martin Luther. He wrote
the paraphrase of the Lord's Prayer in 1538,
corresponding to his explanation of the prayer in his
Kleiner Katechismus (Small Catechism). He dedicated one
stanza to each of the seven petitions and framed it
with an opening and a closing stanza, each stanza in
six lines. Luther revised the text several times, as
extant manuscript show, concerned to clarify and
improve it. He chose and possibly adapted an older
anonymous melody, which was possibly associated with
secular text, after he had first selected a different
one. Other hymn versions of the Lord's Prayer from the
16th and 20th-century have adopted the same tune, known
as "Vater unser" and "Old 112th".
Source: Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Altenburg).
Although originally written for 5 parts instrumental
(SSATB) & 1 part vocal or instrumental (T), I created
this Interpretation of the Intrada III: "Vater unser im
Himmelreich" (Our Father in Heaven) from "Neuer
lieblicher und zierlicher Intraden" for Wind Sextet
(Flute, Oboe, Bb Clarinet, English Horn, French Horn &
Bassoon).
