HOFFMANN, MELCHIOR  

A chorister in the Dresden Court Chapel, Melchior Hoffmann succeeded Telemann in Leipzig as organist and director of music at the Neukirche and as leader of the Collegium Musicum. He competed in 1712 with J.S. Bach for the position of organist at the Liebfrauenkirche in Halle, but never took up the offer made to him in 1714, when Bach had declined the post. He died the following year.

Vocal, Stage and Instrumental Music

Hoffmann enjoyed a considerable contemporary reputation. His relatively few compositions include Latin church music, a number of German cantatas, works for the Leipzig theatre, sinfonias and concertos. His cantata Meine Seele rühmt und preist (‘My Soul Lauds and Praises’)was formerly attributed to J.S. Bach.