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Born: January 7, 1634 - Driesen, Neumark, Prussia (now Drezdenko, Poland)
Died: June 30, 1666 - Dresden, Saxony, Germany |
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Adam Krieger (–) was a German composer. Born in Driesen, Neumark. was resident at Leipzig from 1650 or 1651 as part-time student and prominent musical figure within student circles, perhaps also studying organ with Samuel Scheidt in Halle. He succeeded Johann Rosenmüller as organist at Leipzig's Nikolaikirche (1655-1657). He is reported to have grounded a Collegium Musicum in Leipzig. In 1657, he was named keyboard teacher to the daughter of Elector Johann Georg II in Dresden and attempted unsuccessfully to become Thomaskantor. He became chamber and court organist at Dresden in 1659, holding the post until his death.
Adam Krieger composed and versified numerous songs. He was leading figural music and composing various occasional works as well. His fame rests on his pioneering role in the development of the solo Lied. His first collection of songs Arien von einer, zwey, und drei Vocal-Stimmen appeared in 1657; they are marked by simple folk-like melodies. A second publication, Neue Arien (Dresden, 1667, enlarged 1676), was assembled after his death by court poet D. Schirmer and composer J. W. Furchheim, the latter writing several ritornellos for the second edition. The collection of Arien (1667) survives and has been edited in vol. 19 of Denkmäler deutscher Tonkunst. His influence through these collections continued into the 18th century. His most famous song is "Nun sich der Tag geendet hat" (English: Now the day has ended), which may be found in the hymnal of the Lutheran church.
Adam Krieger is unrelated to the later German composers Johann Philipp Krieger and Johann Krieger. |
