Buxtehude, Dietrich

( ? 1637-1707)

Danish-born German organist and composer, a leader of the influential 17th-century North German school of organ composers.

Born probably in Oldesloe, he was the son of a church organist. In 1668 he became organist of the Marienkirche in Lübeck, Germany, where he instituted his annual Abendmusiken, or pre-Christmas evening concerts (a custom that continued into the 19th century).

His most influential compositions are his toccatas, preludes, and fugues; they had a profound impact on the music of later composers, including Johann Sebastian Bach, who in 1705 walked more than 320 km  to hear the Abendmusik concerts.

Buxtehude also composed more than 100 church cantatas, suites for keyboard, and sonatas for strings.