Das alte Jahr vergangen ist

Hugo Distler (1908 – 1942) was a German organist, choral conductor, teacher and composer.

Born in Nuremberg, he attended Leipzig Conservatory from 1927 to 1931, first as a conducting student with piano as his secondary subject, but changing later, on the advice of his teacher, to composition and organ.

He composed chamber pieces, works for solo piano and two concertos (one for harpsichord in 1935-36, and one for piano in 1937), but is known mostly for his sacred choral music and as a champion of Neo-Baroque music. His works are a re-invention of old forms and genres, rich with word painting, based on the music of Heinrich Schütz and other early composers.