Walther was an organist, composer and lexicographer who was a cousin to J.S. Bach and an heir to a rich legacy and a bevy of musical information. Though his compositions are not among the greats -- about ninety sacred vocal works and one hundred chorale preludes -- Walther's music demonstrates the use of polished diversity familiar to the Germanic tradition. He was an organist for St. Thomas' church in Erfurt but took a tour throughout Germany with the express purpose of gathering information on theory, practice and people. From these studies, as well as books, manuscripts and compositions sent to him by colleagues and teachers, Walther was able to assemble his "Musicalisches Lexicon" which was the first major German dictionary on music. It contained approximately three thousand entries including over two hundred biographies. This work is still an excellent source for musicologists and lexicographers alike, its full utilization not yet actualized. Walther's contributions in his "Lexicon" include information concerning musical conditions, compositional techniques, theory and practicing methods up to his own times. The merits of this work can not be understood without a thorough study of musical lexicography and history. Walther's own theoretical treatise, "Praecepta der musicalischen Composition" explored the basic foundations of musical composition such as notation and scales as well as the art of composing in Germany during the mid-Baroque era. Walther contends with assonance and dissonance, chords, tonal relations, counterpoint and the art of giving musical voicings to words. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi