between 1632 and 1641, tunder worked in gottorf as "hoforganist". in 1641 he was appointed as the main organist at lübeck's main church, the marienkirche, succeeding peter hasse. in 1647 he became administrator and treasurer there also. he held that post for the rest of his life. his successor was dieterich buxtehude. buxtehude married tunder's daughter, anna margarethe, in 1668.