Johann Philipp Krieger Sing out, beloved Christendom

Johann Philipp Krieger was an important German composer of the High Baroque period.

He showed musical talent at an early age and took piano lessons from the age of eight. At the age of 14, he went to Copenhagen to study organ and composition. He also spent two years of his training in Italy.

In 1677, he took up the post of Cammer-Musicus und Cammer-Organist at the court in Halle and became Vizekapellmeister a year later. In 1680, he moved with the court from Halle to Weißenburg, where he worked as Kapellmeister for 45 years until his death.

During this time, Krieger recorded his sacred repertoire as well as works by other German and Italian composers in the collection 47 Jahrgänge Weißenburger Kirchenmusiken. Krieger's approximately 2,500 cantatas make up the largest part of his oeuvre, although around 2,200 of these are now lost.

Krieger is considered one of the leading German composers of his time. His introduction of Italian and French forms and compositional techniques into German music had a significant influence on composers such as J.S. Bach and G.F. Handel.