Praetorius, Michael (1571-1621), a German composer of church music, became known also as a music historian. Praetorius wrote Syntagma Musicum (1615-1620), in which he named and described musical instruments known to the 1600’s, and gave a historical account of church music of the period. His compositions include many motets, madrigals, dance pieces, and two books of hymns. Praetorius was probably born in 1571, possibly on February 15, in Kreuzberg, Thuringia, Germany. He died on Feb. 15, 1621.
