Melchior Franck

German Renaissance Composer

Melchior Franck (c. 1579–1639) was a German composer of the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras. He was a contemporary of such composers as Heinrich Schütz and Johann Hermann Schein. Franck spent much of his career in Coburg, where he served as Kapellmeister at the court of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg. His output was prolific and varied, encompassing both sacred and secular music. He composed motets, psalms, and other liturgical pieces, as well as songs and instrumental works. Franck's style bridged the gap between the polyphonic approach of the Renaissance and the emerging Baroque emphasis on melody and basso continuo. His music was widely known in his time, and he contributed significantly to the musical landscape of early 17th-century Germany.