1496–1570

Introduction

portrait

Born: 1496, Kah­la, Saale-Holz­land, Thu­rin­gia. Birth name: Jo­hann Blan­ken­mül­ler.

Died: Ap­ril 24, 1570, Tor­gau, Sax­ony.

Biography

By 1524, Wal­ther was in Tor­gau, play­ing the bass at the court of Fried­rich the Wise, Elec­tor of Sax­ony. Elector Jo­hann of Sax­ony made him Senger­meis­ter (choir mas­ter) in 1526.

When the Elec­tor­al Ka­pelle (or­ches­tra) at Tor­gau was dis­band­ed in 1530, the town re­con­sti­tut­ed it, and in 1534 Wal­ther was al­so ap­point­ed can­tor to the school at Tor­gau.

On the ac­ces­sion of Elec­tor Mor­itz of Sax­ony in 1548, Wal­ther went with him to Dres­den as his Ka­pell­meis­ter.

He was pen­sioned by de­cree of Au­gust 7, 1554, and soon af­ter re­turned to Tor­gau, re­tain­ing the ti­tle of Seng­er­meis­ter.

Sources

Lyrics

Music

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