Dieterich Buxtehude (c. 1637 – 9 May 1707)
 
Dieterich Buxtehude was an important German-Danish organist and composer of the Baroque period. His works strongly influenced later Baroque masters including George Frideric Handel and Johann Sebastian Bach.
 
Unfortunately not much information concerning Buxtehude's life is well-documented. For example, scholars are in disagreement as to his birthplace and birth date. Some say Sweden, some say Denmark, some say Germany. His obituary states "he recognized Denmark as his native country..."

It is generally agreed that his year of birth was 1637 and that the spelling of his first name at the time of his birth was "Diderich." Buxtehude did later begin signing documents with the German spelling of "Dieterich." His first name is also sometimes spelled "Dietrich."

Most scholars agree that his first position was as organist in Helsingborg, Sweden from 1657-1658, then at Elsinore 1660-1668. In 1668, he secured the position of organist at the Marienkirche (St. Mary's Church) in Lübeck, Germany. One of the "benefits" of this post was to marry the previous organist's daughter. This was the custom of the day, and Buxtehude agreed to this arrangement, marrying Anna Margarethe Tunder in 1668.

With this important position, Buxtehude began to build a fine career that many organists after him were to model. For instance, building on his predecessor's success with the concerts, he continued a series of evening musical performances called "Abendmusik" that attracted other musicians from far and wide.

In 1703, George Frideric Handel and his friend Johann Mattheson traveled to meet the old man Buxtehude. At this time, the 2 men were offered the position of organist at the church by Buxtehude, with the stipulation, of course, that the man who accepted the position would marry his eldest daughter, Anna Margareta. Handel and Mattheson left the city the very next day.

Two years later, the young man Johann Sebastian Bach would travel to meet the elder Buxtehude, walking 250 miles from Arnstadt. Bach stayed with Buxtehude nearly 3 months, the young master learning from the old master.