David Petersen was a violin

Violin

The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....

ist and composer

Composer

A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...

 of north German origin active in the Netherlands

Netherlands

The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

 (United Provences

Dutch Republic

The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...

).

In the 1670s he travelled to in Lund

Lund

-Main sights:During the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town was the seat of the archbishop, many churches and monasteries were built. At its peak, Lund had 27 churches, but most of them were demolished as result of the Reformation in 1536. Several medieval buildings remain, including Lund...

, Sweden

Sweden

Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....

 where he was an employee of the newly founded University

Lund University

Lund University , located in the city of Lund in the province of Scania, Sweden, is one of northern Europe's most prestigious universities and one of Scandinavia's largest institutions for education and research, frequently ranked among the world's top 100 universities...

. By 1680, however, he had moved to Amsterdam

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...

 where remained for the rest of his career.

He is notable for a collection of twelve sonatas for violin and basso continuo published in 1683 entitled Speelstukken. It is the only Dutch publication of its type in this period. There are similar collections of pieces for violin and bass by German composers such as Westhoff

Johann Paul von Westhoff

Johann Paul von Westhoff was a German Baroque composer and violinist. One of the most important exponents of the Dresden violin school, he was among the highest ranked violinists of his day, and composed some of the earliest known music for solo violin...

 and Biber; however the sonatas are closest in style to Johann Jakob Walther

Johann Jakob Walther

Johann Jakob Walther was a German violinist and composer.- Life :All the known facts of his life and activity are from Musikalischen Lexikon by Johann Gottfried Walther , a dictionary which first appeared in 1732. He was born in Witterda bei Erfurt...

's Scherzi da Violino solo con il basso continuo published in 1676. It is possible that Walther had connections to Amsterdam and may have taught Petersen.

Petersen's other compositions include a large number of song settings with continuo in Dutch. They were published in Amsterdam in collaboration with the Dutch poets Abraham Alewijn

Abraham Alewijn

Abraham Alewijn was a jurist and in his time a well-respected poet, who distinguished himself above his contemporary poets, as evidenced from his Zede- en Harpzangen, which had its third printing in quarto in 1713. But he made himself especially valuable as a writer of comedies...

 and Cornelis Sweerts. Petersen is also closely associated with a number of composers such as Servaes de Koninck

Servaes de Koninck

Servaes de Koninck, or Servaes de Konink, Servaas de Koninck or Servaas de Konink was a baroque composer from the Netherlands, of motets, Dutch songs, chamber and incidental music, French airs and Italian cantatas....

 and Hendrik Anders. Along with Johannes Schenck

Johannes Schenck

Johannes Schenck was a Dutch musician and composer.Schenck was born in Amsterdam in 1660 where he was baptised on 3 June into the Reformed Church...

, Carolus Hacquart

Carolus Hacquart

Carolus Hacquart was a composer, born c. 1640 in Bruges, in present-day Belgium.-Life:Hacquart received his education, comprising Latin and composition as well as viola da gamba, lute and organ, most probably in his native town...

 and Carl Rosier they contributed to a revival of Dutch music and arts in the period before 1710.

Published works

• Speelstukken, Amsterdam, 1683
• Zede- en Harpgezangen met Zangkunst verrykt door David Petersen (24 songs to words by Abraham Alewijn), Amsterdam, 1694
• Vermeerderde Zede- en Harpgezangen (words by Alewijn), Amsterdam, 1711
• Zede- en Harpgezangen (words by Alewijn), Amsterdam, 1713
• Zede- en Harpgezangen (words by Alewijn), Amsterdam, 1715
• Boertige en Ernstige Minnezangen (music by Petersen and Hendrik Anders; words by Cornelis Sweerts), Amsterdam, 1705
• Boertige en Ernstige Minnezangen (music by Petersen and De Koninck
  Servaes de Koninck
  Servaes de Koninck, or Servaes de Konink, Servaas de Koninck or Servaas de Konink was a baroque composer from the Netherlands, of motets, Dutch songs, chamber and incidental music, French airs and Italian cantatas....
  
  , words by Alewijn), Amsterdam, 1705
• Boertige en Ernstige Minnezangen (music by Petersen and De Koninck, words by Alewijn), Amsterdam, 1709
• Incidental music for the play Andromeda, Amsterdam, 1730