From 1622 to 1662, Johann Crüger held the cantorship at the Nikolaikirche in Berlin and was also a teacher at the Berlin Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster. During these years, Berlin experienced an unprecedented musical flowering. Together with Paul Gerhardt and other poets, the Nikolaikantor created songs that are sung all over the world today.

Never before has the work and influence of Johann Crüger been illuminated from so many different perspectives as in this book. Far beyond aspects of music...