Dieterich Buxtehude, who died in Lübeck on May 9, 1707, served for many years as organist at St. Mary's Church. Although his birthdate and place are not definitively established, many assume he was from Denmark. In 1668, he succeeded Franz Tunder as organist and became a key figure in the North German organ tradition, exerting a lasting influence on Baroque music. Important composers such as Bach and Handel also greatly admired his works.
Buxtehude's organ compositions can be broadly divided into two main groups: free forms and arrangements of existing melodies. His musical range extends from preludes and toccatas to chorale fantasias. His pieces are characterized by improvisational elements that alternate with strictly contrapuntal fugues.
The Prelude in G minor, which begins with virtuosic manual passages and then culminates in fugues, serves as an example. A canzona in C major unfolds its theme in a lively fugue, while a chorale fantasia on the Te Deum presents various variations of the melody.
The chorale variations on "Take from us, Lord, you faithful God" illustrate Buxtehude's tonal diversity. His arrangements of well-known hymns demonstrate virtuoso organ technique and attest to the importance of improvisation in his work.
With his innovative approach, Buxtehude significantly shaped Baroque organ music and influenced subsequent generations, especially Johann Sebastian Bach.