Melchior Vulpius, born around 1570 in Wasungen, Thuringia, Germany, and died on August 7, 1615, in Weimar, was a prominent German composer, singer, and schoolmaster known for his significant contributions to Protestant church music. Coming from a poor craftsman's family, Vulpius studied under Johannes Steuerlein at the local school in Wasungen and later attended school in Speyer. In 1589, he married and began his career as a teacher at the Gymnasium in Schleusingen, eventually becoming the cantor in Weimar in 1596.

Vulpius was a prolific composer, credited with nearly 200 motets and around 400 hymns, among other works. His music was primarily written for Lutheran services, and he was renowned for his hymn tunes, becoming one of the most important composers of Protestant hymn tunes in Germany during his time. His best-known work includes the hymn setting "Ach bleib mit deiner Gnade" and the St. Matthew Passion, which gained popularity in Finland as the first polyphonic passion composition performed there.

His published works include "Cantiones sacrae" (1602, 1604), "Kirchengesänge und geistliche Lieder Dr. Luthers" (1604), and "Ein schön geistlich Gesangbuch" (1609). Vulpius's compositions were characterized by their adherence to traditional styles, remaining unaffected by the stylistic changes of his era. His legacy continued posthumously with the publication of "Cantional" in 1646.