German composer. Studied as a boy with
Drechsel and G. Schütz in Nuremberg, and in Copenhagen for
about five years in his teens as a pupil of Schröder and
Förster. Served as organist at Bayreuth and possibly Zeitz
upon his return, while the Nuremberg Council promised him the
first available position. Traveled to Italy in 1673, studying
in Venice with
Rosenmüller
and Volpe and in Rome with
Abbatini
and
Pasquini
; played before Leopold I at Vienna, who ennobled him in 1675.
After a short time in Bayreuth he visited Frankfurt and Kassel,
refusing offers in both places; named chamber musician and
organist at Halle in 1677, he became
Vice-Kapellmeister
in 1678 and
Kapellmeister
when the Court moved to Weissenfels in 1680. The court musical
establishment soon became among the best in Germany; a catalog
of vocal works performed there lists over 2,000 of Krieger's
compositions along with hundreds more by his brother
Johann
and other German and Italian composers. He also wrote keyboard
music, trio sonatas, and operas.