German theorist and composer. The son of a farmer and selftaught in music, he was a schoolmaster in Magdeburg from 1524 and cantor there from 1527. A friend of Rhaw, who published much of his work, he composed hymns and motets but is more important for his theoretical writings, many intended for use in Protestant schools. Particularly useful is his Musica instrumentalis deudsch(1529, revised 1545) which contains valuable descriptions of the musical instruments in use in his time, with details of their tuning, fingering and technique.