Dutch Renaissance composer, organist, and teacher Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562-1621) is sometimes better known for his students than for his own compositions and playing ability. While it appears that he never left the Netherlands, he is sometimes called "the Father of German organists" because of the influence he had on artists such as Praetorius and Hasse. His work helped to begin the Baroque period in music and he may have been creator of some of the earliest organ fugues.