Born 17 April 1683 - died 16 July 1729.
German Baroque composer and music theorist who brought the musical genius of Venice to the court of the Elector of Saxony, Augustus the Strong (August der Starke), in Dresden.
He attended the Thomasschule in Leipzig (where Johann Sebastian Bach was later to be teacher) and studied also law.
In 1710, he published the first edition of his major treatise on the thoroughbass. Then he went to Italy where he spent 7 years, mostly in Venice.
In 1717, Heinichen became a colleague of Johann Sebastian Bach at the court of Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cöthen, then went on to be Kapellmeister to the Elector of Saxony until his death.
He composed sacred music (12 masses, 2 requiem, 8 magnificat among others), operas, chamber and festival music.