Sebastian Virdung

Sebastian Virdung (born c. 1465) was a German composer and theorist on musical instruments.

He studied in Heidelberg as a scholar of Johannes von Soest at the chapel of the ducal court.

The following year, in January 1507, he received one of nine succentorships at Konstanz Cathedral where he educated the choirboys until he was dismissed in 1508 presumably for his difficult temperament.

Existing sections are based on instruments with illustrations and is notable for being the oldest printed source on this subject.

These works are both illustrated, and important for the history of European instruments.