Johann Philipp Förtsch was a German baroque composer, statesman and doctor. Förtsch was born in Wertheim and possibly received his musical education from Johann Philipp Krieger. In 1680, he succeeded Johann Theile as Kapellmeister at the court of the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, but this position was only for a short time due to political troubles. Moving to Hamburg in 1674 to write librettos he then became in the 1680s one of the main composers in the heyday of the Oper am Gänsemarkt. In later life he returned to medicine.