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.
"Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein" ("Oh God, look down
from heaven") is a Lutheran chorale of 1524, with words
written by Martin Luther paraphrasing Psalm 12. It was
published as one of eight songs in 1524 in the first
Lutheran hymnal, the Achtliederbuch, which contained
four songs by Luther, three by Speratus, and one by
Justus Jonas. It was contained in 1524 in the Erfurt
Enchiridion. It is part of many hymnals, also in
translations. The text inspired vocal and organ music
by composers such as Heinrich Schütz, who set it as
part of his Becker Psalter, and Johann Sebastian Bach,
who based a chorale cantata on it. Mozart used one of
its tunes in his opera The Magic Flute.
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 V: "Ach Gott, vom
Himmel sieh darein" (Oh God, look down from heaven)
from "Neuer lieblicher und zierlicher Intraden" for
Wind Sextet (Flute, Oboe, Bb Clarinet, English Horn,
French Horn & Bassoon).
SHEET MUSIC