Though Strungk is known primarily as an operatic composer, his instrumental works were more suited to his scoring techniques. He studied the organ with his father becoming his assistant at the age of twelve at St. Magnus' church in Brunswick, Germany. He also studied at Helmstadt University with Schnittelbach. Strungk held a number of positions including first violin for the Wolfenbuttel court chapel, 1660, and Kapellmeister in Dresden, 1692. In 1696 he settled permanently in Leipzig where he composed operas for the theater. Among his works are "Esther," "Semiramis," and "Alceste." Both his melodic lines and counterpoint can be classified as unforgiving and lacking flexibility. ~ Keith Johnson