Born: March 12, 1515 - Amberg, Germany
Died: February 4, 1553 - Nürnberg, Germany

Caspar Othmayr was a German composer. A student at Heidelberg University from 1533 and pupil of Lemlin there, he was a schoolmaster at Heilsbronn, near Ansbach, from 1545 and briefly held ecclesiastical posts in Ansbach 1547-8 before going to Nürnberg.

With Ludwig Senfl and Hofhaimer, Caspar Othmayr raised the German polyphonic song to a new level of artistic achievement and sophistication; he was the foremost German composer of the generation after L. Senfl, and a Lutheran. He wrote about 230 pieces, all but two of them vocal, in most sacred and secular genres of his time, except the Mass. Most of his works are based on pre-existing melodies. Many of his songs were included in the anthologies of his fellow-student Forster, and his style was fresher and less conservative than that of some of his contemporaries.

Source: HOASM Website
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (May 2006)

Use of Chorale Melodies in his works

Title

Chorale Melody

Year

Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, for voices

Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland

Links to other Sites

HOASM: Caspar Othmayr
Caspar Othmayr (Answers.com)

Caspar Othmayr (Wikipedia) [German]

Bibliography

Hans Albrecht: Caspar Othmayr, Leben und Werk