From 1503 Dachstein studied Music and Theology with Martin Luther at Erfurt.
In 1541 Dachstein became the organist at Strasbourg Cathedral and at the same time the music teacher at the Gymnasium there.
He was involved in the formulation of the Agenda and provided German Psalms, such as the melodies for the "Teutschen Kirchenampt 1525", an early hymnbook.
Today the melody is inseparably linked with Paul Gerhardt's text "Ein Lämmlein geht und trägt die Schuld" ("A Little Lamb goes and bears the Guilt", EG 83).
Also by Dachstein are the melody for "Im Frieden dein, o Herre mein" ("In Your peace, my Lord", EG 222) and the second melody for Luther's "Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir" ("From deep affliction I cry out to you", EG 299 II).