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.
"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" (German: "Ein feste Burg
ist unser Gott") is one of the best known hymns by the
reformer Martin Luther, a prolific hymnodist. Luther
wrote the words and composed the melody sometime
between 1527 and 1529. It has been translated into
English at least seventy times and also into many other
languages. The words are a paraphrase of Psalm 46.
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 XII: "Ein feste
Burg" (A Mighty Fortress Is Our God) from "Neuer
lieblicher und zierlicher Intraden" for Wind Sextet
(Flute, Oboe, Bb Clarinet, English Horn, French Horn &
Bassoon).