Most people know Bach and Handel. Fewer know the man both of them went out of their way to visit.

Dieterich Buxtehude (c. 1637 to 1707) was organist at St. Mary's Church in Lübeck for nearly 40 years, one of the most prestigious church music posts in northern Europe. He was famous in his lifetime for two things: his organ playing and his Abendmusiken, public evening concerts held at St. Mary's on Sundays in Advent.

Two stories show how much his name carried:

In 1703, Handel and his friend Johann Mattheson traveled to Lübeck as possible successors to Buxtehude. The job reportedly came with a condition: the new organist would marry Buxtehude's daughter. Both of them left without the job.

In 1705, a 20-year-old Bach walked roughly 250 miles from Arnstadt to hear him. Bach had four weeks of leave and stayed about four months, which did not sit well with his employers when he returned. Musicologists still argue over exactly how much Buxtehude shaped Bach's organ writing, but almost nobody argues that he didn't.

If you want a place to start:

Praeludium in G minor, BuxWV 149, for the wild, improvisatory organ style Bach would have heard.

Passacaglia in D minor, BuxWV 161, a set of variations over a repeating bass line.

Membra Jesu nostri (1680), a cycle of seven short cantatas, each addressed to a part of Christ's body on the cross: feet, knees, hands, side, breast, heart and face. It's often called the first Lutheran oratorio, and it's one of the most moving pieces of the 17th century.

Fitting timing, too. Advent starts soon, which is Abendmusiken season in Lübeck.

Does anyone have a favorite recording of Membra Jesu nostri? I'd love recommendations.

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The composer Bach walked 250 miles to hear: a short intro to Dieterich Buxtehude