Nikolaus Selnecker

SELNECKER, Nikolaus. b. probably at Hersbruck, near Nürnberg, 1530/1532; d. Leipzig, 24 May 1592. The date and place of his birth are uncertain (JJ and Stulken, 5 Dec 1532; KLEG, Hersbruck, 6 Dec 1530). He was at school at Nürnberg, and was organist of the Nürnberger Burgkapelle at the age of twelve. In 1549 he went to Wittenberg to study law, changing to theology under the influence of Philipp Melanchthon* (in whose house he lived) and graduating MA in 1554. After teaching at Wittenberg for some years, he was appointed, on Melanchthon’s recommendation, ‘Hofprediger’ (court preacher), ‘Leiter des Hofchores’ (master of the court choristers) and tutor to Prince Alexander at Dresden (1558-...