Lehre und Wehre.
Volume 54. 1908. (p. 448ff., 500ff.)
II. Index of Authors.
Regarding the information under the hymns in our hymnal, no
certain method has been used. Either the hymn text is followed by the
supposed year of composition, or the year of the author’s death, or
the year when the hymn first appeared in print. A fourth system has
even been adopted by many hymnals, which is namely to identify the
respective hymnwriter’s biographical dates, the year of his birth
and death. This system, however, is not to be recommended for the
simple fact (as already noted in the first publication of the Hymnal
Commission in the August edition of this monthly journal) that the
biographical dates of a Luther, Gerhardt, Rist, Heerman, etc., would
be so often repeated , that one would be forced to ask what the
purpose was. No more to be recommended is the system observed in our
hymnal whereby many hymns are followed by the year of their
composition, since by only a slight few of the hymns can the time of
creation be determined with any numeric certainty. Even the
hymns of Luther cannot all be dated. The best system is the one that
we find in the older hymnals. The hymn is followed only by the name
of the author, but in the the appendix to the hymnal there is an
index of authors in which everything interesting or edifying that is
known about an author is detailed in a brief, compact manner—not
only the essential personal details, his calling, title, and alias,
but also his importance to the church or Christian life, an excellent
book of edification that he wrote, the circle in which he moved, etc.
This commission recommends that our hymnal be supplemented with
such an index. Many congregants would be surprised to learn from this
index that those who wrote our hymns came from all different walks of
life. Of course the majority of them were theologians, but scattered
among these are also many pious laymen, persons of high station as
well as common folk, tutors of princes and teachers of peasants,
mayors and statesmen, soldiers and poets of worldly renown,
musicians, doctors and lawyers, as well as ladies of the
nobility.Among these poets are men who exercised a far-reaching
influence on the development of the Kingdom of God, and also those
who, unheeded by the world, served their God in silence, and of whom
we might well have known nothing, had they not left us one or more
hymns. How useful such an index would be for school also! Of course,
this index can, by nature of the case, only be limited to the
simplest information. But precisely because of its simplicity, it
might easily be resorted to briefly on many occasions in school, and
no doubt help to affix the live words of the teacher and assist in
remembering them. A sketch of the sort of hymnwriter index that the
commission has in mind is presented here following. That the
commission has taken every precaution for the reliability of the
information cannot be especially authenticated; much of the more or
less unfamiliar information rests nevertheless on solid sources.
Index of the Authors of our Hymns.
“Let us praise the renowned and our fathers one after the other.
They have learned the music and composed spiritual hymns” (Sir.
44:1, 5).
Agricola, M. Johann (Schnitter), born 1492 in Eisenach,
died 1566 as court preacher in Berlin, sometime docent in Wittenberg,
later came into conflict with Luther. His hymn, #273, is a proper
supplication for a Christian life.
Alber, Dr. Erasmus (Alberus), born ca. 1500 in Wetterau,
student and friend of Luther, died 1553 as superintendent in
Mecklenburg, led a passionate life and was full of zeal for the
Lutehran church. His hymns, #122, #310 (?), #312, #442, were probably
composed by him in low German.
Albin, Johann Georg (Albinus), born 1624 in Unterneißa
near Weißenfels, died 1679 as pastor in Naumburg. #397.
Ämilie Juliane, duchess of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, born
1637, wife of the duke Albert Anton, died 1706, wrote 587 hymns,
among them a morning hymn before Communion, #196, a hymn for the end
of the week, #322, a hymn of praise, #336, a hymn for inclement
weather #392, and a hymn for dying #429.
Anark, lord of Wildenfels, died 1539 in Altenburg. #161
(?).
Arends, Wilhelm Erasmus, born 1672, died 1721 as pastor in
Halberstadt. His mighty battle hymn for spiritual warfare and victory
is hymn #282.
Arnschwanger, M. Johann Christoph, born 1625 in Nürnberg,
died 1696 as senior and archdeacon in his native city. #164.
Assig, Hans von, born 1650 in Breslau, died 1694 as palace
captain and chamberlain in Schwiebus. For the consecration of the
church in Schwiebus he wrote hymn #168.
Bapzien, Michael, born 1628, was cantor in Hayn in the
principality of Liegnitz and Königsberg, 1669 in Thorn, where he
died 1693. # 80.
Becker, Dr. Kornelius, born in Leipzig 1561, died there
1604 as professor of theology and pastor at St. Nicolai, put the
entire Psalter into verse. His 100
th psalm we possess in
the Hannover version; it is hymn #10, with beautiful refrain: “Gott
loben, das ist unser Amt.” #365 (st. 7), #414.
Behm, Martin (Behem, Behemb, Bohemus), born 1557 in Labau,
died there 1622 as senior pastor. Three of his hymns are in our
hymnal: the Epiphany hymn #59, the dying hymn #85, and the morning
hymn #303.
Bienemann, Dr. Kaspar (Melissander), born in Nürnberg
1540, tutor of the prince at the court of Weimar, died 1591 as
general superintendent in Altenburg. Hymn #270, a heartfelt prayer to
be sustained in the true faith and for a blessed end, he composed in
1573 when he was chased out of his office in Weimar by the
Calvinists.
Birken, Sigismund von (Betulius), native of Wildensten,
Bohemia (near Eger) in 1626, tutor at vareious courts, fled Bohemia
with his parents because of the faith, died as private schoilar in
Nürnberg 1681. His hymns have found a home in our hymnal as #76 and
#278.
Blaurer, Thomas, studied in Wittenberg ca. 1520, later
converted to the Reformed church, was mayor and imperial judge. #189.
Burmeister, Franz Joachim, born
1633 in Lüneburg, where he became pastor 1670 and died 1672. #403.
Clausnitzer, M. Tobias, born
1618 in Thurn, Saxony, died 1684 as palatinate consistoriate in
Weiden, Upper Palatinate, wrote hymns #8 (sts. 1–3) and #184. Hymn
#74 is a reworking of one of his hymns.
Crasselius, Bartholomäus,
born
1667 in Glauchau, Saxony, where he died 1724; was a student of A.H.
Francke and pastor in Düsseldorf. From him we have the invocation of
the Spirit and truth, hymn #265.
Creutziger, Elisabeth
(Cruciger),
died 1535, wife of the professor of theology Caspar Creutziger in
Wittenberg, a friend of Luther’s. It is from this lover of
spiritual hymnody that the first Jesus hymn of the Lutheran church,
#24, derives.
Dach, M. Simon, born
1605 in Memel, died 1659 as professor of poetry at the university of
Königsberg, was the chief of that city’s circle of poets. Three
burial hymns by him survive till today: #410, #424, #437. He wrote
the justification hymn #239 upon the departure of Duke Achatius von
Dohna.
Decius, Nikolaus, is
supposed to have written hymns #1 and #86. But according to more
recent research the author was probably either Nikolaus von Hof or
Joachim Slüter, the publisher of the earliest Low German hymnal of
1525, in which both hymns first appeared.
Denicke, David, born
1603, native of Zittau, Upper Lusatia, consistory advisor in
Hannover, from 1646 on published an influential Hannoverian hymnal
with Justus Gesenius, in which for the first time older hymns
appeared principally and methodically reworked according to newer
taste; died 1680 in Hannover. Since Gesenius and Denicke did not
distinguish their own hymns in their Hannover hymnal, the hymns of
these men appeared almost entirely as anonymoous in the 17th
century. #10, 70, 160, 178, 182, 191, 244, 277, 287, 396.
Derschau, Dr. Bernhard von
(Derschow),
born 1591 in Königsberg, where he died 1639 as professor of
theology, consistory advisor, and head pastor. #199.
Deßler, Wolfgang Christoph,
born
1660 in Nürnberg, died 1722 as assistant pastor there, wrote hymn
#262 [My Soul’s Best Friend], which has rendered him unable to be
forgotten.
Dilherr, M. Johann Michael,
born
1604 in Themar in Hennebergisch, professor at Jena, then college
director at Nürnberg and finally pastor and librarian there,
collaborator on the Weimar Bible project, died 1669. #296.
Drese, Adam, born
1620 in Thuringia, died 1701 as the princely Schwarzburg music
director at Arnstadt in Thuringia. From him we get hymn #260 along
with its melody which helped quickly to spread the hymn.
Eber, Dr. Paul, born
1511 in Kitzingen, lower Franconia, friend of Luther and Melanchthon,
died 1569 as professor of theology, general superintendent and city
rector of Wittenberg. As among the hymns of dying the hymn #407
claims a high place, so does #387 among the hymns of consolation.
Besides these hymns #50 and 156 are from him. The former contains in
its first letters of the stanzas the name of his daughter Helena
(acrostic).
Fischer, Christoph (Vischer),
born in Joachimsthal, Bohemia, died 1600 as court pastor and general
superintendent in Celle. His hymn #95 is inserted [eingefügt]
as his “exposition of the Passion.”
Fleming, Dr. Paul, born
1609 in Hartenstein, Saxony; in 1633 took part in a six year
ambassadorship to Russia and Persia, during the beginning of which he
composed hymn #329, and as a doctor in Hamburg, died 1640 as a result
of the exertions of this journey.
Flitner, Johann (Flittner),
born 1618 in Suhl, was deacon in Greifswald, died 1678 as emigrant in
Stralsund. #252.
Franck, Johann, born
1618, died 1677 as national elder of Lower Lusatia and mayor of his
native city Guben; after Paul Gerhardt was the most important
hymnwriter of his time; a student of Simon Dach. #64, 210, 251.
Franck, Michael, born
1609 in Schleusingen, was forced to end his studies and became a
baker, later teacher in the city school of Koburg, where he died in
1667. #284.
Franck, Salomo, born 1659
in Weimar, died there in 1725 as head consistorial secretary, w
Freundt, Kornelius, born
in Plauen in the Voigtland ca. 1530; was cantor in Borna near
Leipzig,1565 in Zwickau, where he died in 1591. #19.
Freystein, Dr. Johann Burkhard, born
1671 in Weißenfels, died 1718 as court counselor and justicial
advisor in Dresden. #279.
Fritsch, Dr. Ahasverus, born
1629 in Mücheln in the province of Saxony, chancellor and consistory
president in Rudolstadt, where he encouraged both countesses Ludmilla
and Emily Juliane of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt in the composition of
spiritual poetry; died in that place in 1701.
Fröhlich, Bartholomäus, pastor
of Perleberg, Priegnitz 1580–1590. #402.
Füger, Kaspar, the
“court preacher of the old wife of duke Henry,” died in Dresden
toward the end of the 16th
century. Among his spiritual hymns the Christmas hymn #45 is the most
famous.
Funcke, Friederich, born
in 1642 in Nossen in the Ore Mountains, cantor in Perleberg and
Lüneburg, 1694 pastor in Römstedt near Lüneburg where he died in
1699, was musical artist and singer, as well as writer of 15 hymns.
#124.
Gedicke, Lampertus, born
1683 in Gardelegen in the Old March, died 1735 as the resolute
soldier-pastor of Friedrich Wilhelm I at the garrison church of
Berlin. #383.
Gerhardt, Paul, after
Luther the greatest of the hymnwriters of the Lutheran church, born
on March 12, 1607 in Gräfenhainichen near Wittenberg, studied
Wittenberg, was active from 1643 to 1651 as candidate in Berlin,
1651–1657 provost in Mittenwald, 1657 deacon at St. Nicolai in
Berlin, was ejected from his office in 1667 because of his Lutheran
confession, from 1669 archdeacon in Lübben on the Spree, where he
died June 7, 1676. #20, 93, 40, 44, 46, 54, 56, 73, 84, 89, 91, 97,
113, 130, 141, 150, 187, 200, 248, 256, 274, 290, 291, 304, 319, 338,
339, 340, 347, 351, 355, 366, 370, 375, 379, 401, 409, 419, 432.
Gesenius, Justus, born
1601 in Esbeck in Hannover, died 1673 as general superintendent and
head court preacher in Hannover. (See notes on Denicke.) #37, 77, 94,
112, 140, 149, 157, 188, 246 (st. 6), 360.
Gotter, Ludwig Andreas, born
1661, died 1735 as court counselor in his native city Gotha. His hymn
#269 is fervent prayer for the gifts of the Holy Ghost.
Gramann, Dr. Johann (Graumann,
Poliander), born 1487 in Neustadt, Bavaria, Eck’s secretary at the
Leipzig Disputations with Luther in 1519; then an adherent of Luther,
and, recommended by the latter to Königsberg, died there as pastor
in 1541. His famous reworking of Psalm 103, #348 (1–4) is the
earliest hymn of praise of the Lutheran church.
Groß, Dr. Johann (Major),
born 1564 in Reinstädt near Orlamünde, 1592 deacon in Weimar, 1605
pastor and superintendent in Jena, 1611 at the same time professor of
theology, collaborator on the Weimar Bible work, died there in 1654.
#212 (?).
Greif, Andreas (Gryphius),
born 1616 in Groß-Glogau, died there in 1664 as agent [Syndikus]
of the local estates. While chiefly a worldly poet, he also authored
excellent spiritual hymns. #169.
Hagen, Peter (Hagius), born 1569 in Heiligenbeil, East
Prussia, died 1620 as headmaster of the cathedral school in
Königsberg. #61, 66.
Heermann, Johann, born 1585 in Raubten, Silesia; from 1611
pastor in Köben near Glogau, suffered much cross with his
congregation and at home during the tribulations of the Thirty Years’
War, died 1647 in Lissa, Poland. He is the most important hymn-writer
of the period between Luther and Gerhardt. #47, 75. 105, 152, 163,
175. 176, 198, 206, 219, 223, 223, 229, 230, 246, 257, 272, 281, 237
(st. 7), 238, 308, 318, 373, 378, 334, 385, 390, 405, 413, 421; #77
and 277 are reworkings of his hymns.
Heider, Friedrich Christian, born 1677 in Merseburg, died
1754 as pastor in Zörbig bei Halle. # 202.
Held, Heinrich, born 1620 in Guhrau, Silesia, solicitor in
Fraustadt and Stettin, died 1659 as city secretary of Altdamm,
Stettin. Both hymns # 23 and 135 assure him steadfast remembrance.
Helder, Bartholomäus, born in Gotha, from 1607 to 1616
teacher in Freimar near Gotha, died 1635 as pastor in Remstädt near
Gotha; also a composer. # 102, 139 (?), 153.
Helmbold, N. Ludwig, born 1532 in Mühlhausen, Thuringia;
died 1593 als superintendent and pastor in that place. His hymn of
comfort # 374, written during the plague in Erfurt, established his
name no less than did his hymn of praise # 309 and his catechetical
hymn # 179.
Herberger, Valerius, born 1562, died 1627 as pastor in his
native Fraustadt, Posen; as his pupil, Johann Heermann, a bearer of
the cross in the troubles of the Thirty Years’ War, wrote
innumerable works of edification. The glorious hymn # 426, into which
wove his baptismal name in the beginning letters of the individual
stanzas, he wrote in 1613 while the plague was dominating Fraustadt.
Herbert, Petrus, died 1571 as
assisting
elder [Konsenior]
of the Unity of Bohemian-Moravian Brethren in Eibenschütz. # 314.
Hermann, Nikolaus, cantor in Joachimstal, Bohemia; friend
of his pastor, Johann Mathesius, died 1561 at a ripe old age. # 30,
103, 192, 294. 317. 330. 423. 431.
Hermann, N. Zacharias,
born 1643 in Namslau, Silesia, died 1716 as pastor and inspector in
Lissa, Poland. Losing several children one after another was no doubt
the inspiration for his hymn # 430.
Herrnschmidt, S. Johann Daniel,
born 1675 in Bopsingen, Württemberg, died 1723 in Halle as
professor of theology and codirector of the Franconian foundations. A
highly poetic outpouring of every verse of Psalm 146 is his hymn #
441.
Herzog, Johann Friedrich, born
1647 in Dresden, died 1699 as solicitor in that place. as student in
Wittenberg he wrote the hymn # 320.
Heune, Johann (Gigas), born
1514 in Nordhausen, pupil and friend of Justus Jonas, died 1581 as
pastor in Schweidnitz, Silesia. # 353.
Hippen, Johann Heinrich von,
born in Wohlau, Silesia. 1676 Limburg counselor and court martial,
wrote the morning hymn # 326.
Hodenberg, Bodo von, born
1604, died 1650 as Landdrost in Osterode am Harz. # 315 (?).
Homburg, Ernst Christoph, born
1605 in Mühla near Eisenach, died 1631 as solicitor in Naumburg. #
79, 116.
Hubert, Konrad, born 1507 in
Bergzabern, died 1577 as deacon at St. Thomas in Straßburg, personal
secretary of reformed theologian Bucer. # 213 (1—3).
Job, Johann, born 1664 in
Frankfurt a. M., died 1736 as councilman and builder in Leipzig. #
90.
Jonas, Justus, born 1493 in
Nordhausen, as Professor in Wittenberg one of the most diligent
collaborators with Luthers, first evangelical superintendent in
Halle, 1546 banished as a result of the Schmalkaldic War, died 1555
as superintendent in Eisfeld, Thuringia. # 159 (st. 4–5), 438.
Keimann, Christian, born 1607
in Pankraz, Bohemia, died 1662 as headmaster of the college in
Zittau. # 13. 255.
Kinner, Dr. Samuel, born 1603
in Breslau, doctor in Brieg, died 1668. His Supper hymn # 197 is a
glorious confession of the biblical doctrine of the Supper over
against the Zwinglian enthusiasts.
Kolrose, Johann, German
language teacher in Basel, wo he is supposed to have died ca. 1560. #
300.
Kramer, Moritz, born 1646 in
Ammerswort in Holstein, died 1702 as pastor in Marne in
Süderitmarschen, was a decided opponent of Pietism. # 129.
Lackmann, Peter, born 1659 (?)
in Lübeck, pupil A. H. Francke’s, died 1713 as head pastor in
Oldenburg, Holstein. # 264 (?).
Laurenti, Laurentius (Lorenz
Lorenzen), born 1660 in Husum, Schleswig; died 1722 as music director
and cantor at the cathedral in Bremen. # 224.
Lehr, Leopold Franz Friedrich, born 1709 in Kronberg near
Frankfurt a. M., died 1744 in Magdeburg as deacon in the Lutheran
church in Köthen. His most beautiful hymn, which has been translated
into many languages, is the justification hymn # 242.
Linzner, Georg, born in Kamenz
in Upper Lusatia, was ca. 1630 personal tutor in Breslau. # 264 (?).
Liscow, Salomo, born 1640 in
Niemitzsch, Lower Lusatia, died 1689 as deacon in Würzen, Saxony. #
53, 203. 259. 393.
Lochner, Karl Friedrich, born
1634 in Nürnberg, died 1697 as pastor in Fürth. # 286 (?).
Löscher. Dr.
Valentin Ernst, born 1673 in Sondershausen, died 1749
as chief consistory advisor and superintendent in Dresden, a man both
resolute and gentle of manner, of a well-rounded education, who
labored and contended a great deal for the things of the Lord. st. 17
of # 434.
Löwenstern, Matthäus Apelles
von, born 1594 in Neustadt, Upper Silesia; of a middle-class
family by the name of Löwe, granted a title of nobility by Emperor
Ferdinand II., died 1648 in Breslau as imperial advisor and state
counselor of the Duke of Münsterberg and Öls. His hymn # 167 is a
prayer for bodily and spiritual peace.
The
Commission on the Hymnal: A. Crull.
O.
Hattstädt.
J. Schlerf.
(To be continued.)
II. Index of Authors
(Conclusion.)
Ludämilie Elisabeth, countess of Schwarzburg-Rudolsadt,
born 1640, died 1672 as wife of the count Christian Wilhelm von
Schwarzburg-Sondershausen. #253, 372, 394.
Luther, Dr. Martin,
founder and master of German hymnody, born in Eisleben, Nov. 10,
1483, died in the same place, Feb. 18, 1546. He formed his hymns
partly in a free manner, partly by translation of Latin
hymni or
integration of old German stanzas or borrowing of biblical excerpts.
# 15, 21, 36, 41, 42, 60, 65, 99, 110, 132, 134, 136, 142, 143, 145,
147, 158, 159 (sts. 1–3), 162, 166, 170, 171, 177, 180, 181, 183,
185, 186, 195, 205, 214, 243, 328, 337, 368, 399, 416.
Magdeburg, Johann, born
1525, Gardelegen in the Altmark, evangelical preacher in Esserding,
Austria, exiled thence in 1583, pastor in Essen until 1587. #381 (st.
1), the first words of which used to be inscribed on many houses.
Mathesius, Johann,
born 1504, Rochlitz, Saxony; a companion at Luther’s home and table
while studying in Wittenberg, worked as pastor of the German Lutheran
church in Joachimstal, Bohemia, where he died in 1565. His homiletic
biography of Luther is among the popular books of our church. #361.
Mentzer, Johann, born
1658, Jahma, Lusatia; died 1734 as pastor in Chemnitz in the same
region. His magnificent psalm of jubilation, #349, is a brilliant
demonstration of his pious Christian outlook in all his afflictions.
Meyfart,
Dr. Johann Matthäus, born
1590, Walwinkel, Gotha; died 1642, as professor of theology and
pastor in Erfurt. During the oppression of the Thirty Years’ War he
composed his hymn of longing for the heavenly Jerusalem, #443.
Möckel, Johann Friedrich,
born 1661, Kulmbach; died 1729, as pastor of Steppbach in Bayreuth.
#302.
Molanus,
Dr. Gerhard Walther,
born 1633 Hameln; died 1722, as abbot of Loccum cloister in Hannover.
#203.
Moller, Martin,
born 1547 in Kroppstädt by Wittenberg; died 1606 as senior pastor in
Görlitz; was a man practiced in suffering, who in the letters of his
name M. M. left the constant warning, “Memento mori” (Remember
thou shalt die). #225, 258, 342, 352, 362.
Möller, Johann Joachim,
born 1660, Sommerfeld; died 1733 as archdeacon in Krossen. #108, 235.
Mühlmann, Dr.
Johann, born 1573, Pegau;
died 1613 as professor of theology and archdeacon at St. Nikolai,
Leipzig; fought the papists and Calvinists with great zeal from both
the pulpit and the teacher’s lectern.
Mylius, Johann,
from
Themar, 1596, in Thuringia. #62.
Nachtenhöfer, Kaspar
Friedrich, born
1624, Halle; died 1685 as pastor of Koburg. #27.
Neander, Joachim, the
most important poet of the Reformed church in the age of Pietism;
born 1650, Bremen; died 1680 as morning preacher at St. Martini,
Bremen, wrote the popular, fervent hymn of praise #341.
Neumann, Kaspar,
born 1648, Breslau; died 1715 in the same place as pastor of St.
Elisabeth, professor, and inspector of the church. Among his 39
hymns, three have become common property of the singing Church: #
109, 268, 316.
Neumark, Georg, born
1612, Langesalza; died 1681 as librarian and archivist in Weimar. His
worldly hymns are forgotten, but not his hymn of comfort, # 382, and
his responses in hymn #417.
Neumeister, Erdmann, born
1671, Üchteritz by Weißenfels; died 1756 as head pastor at St.
Jacobi in Hamburg; was an opponent of Pietism and Unionism. #222,
241.
Nicolai, Dr.
Philipp, born
1556 in Mengeringhausen, Waldeck, where he assisted his father in the
preaching office; in 1583 became pastor in Hardeck an der Ruhr, and
in 1586, of the secret Lutheran congregation in Cologne; 1587 court
preacher in Wildungen, and from 1596, in Unna, where, during the time
of the plague, he wrote his Joyous
Mirror of Eternal Life, as
well as both of his famous hymns, #261 and 436; from 1601 head pastor
at St. Katharine, Hamburg, where he died in 1608.
Niedlung, Johann, born
1602, Sangerhausen; 1626 was teacher at the college in Altenburg,
where he died in 1668 as Scholae
senior. #106,
125.
Olearius, Dr.
Johann, hymnologist
of our church, born in Halle, 1611; general superintendent and senior
court preacher of duke August of Saxony in Halle; later in the same
position in Weißenfels, where he died in 1684. His hymn #5 serves as
a silent prayer upon entering church. #35, 63, 68, 137 (?), 144, 204,
232, 275, 327, 380, 391.
Olearius, Dr.
Johann Gottfried,
nephew
of the preceding, born 1635, Halle, died 1711 as superintendent and
consistory advisor in Arnstadt. #26, 151.
Öler, Ludwig, lived
around 1530, canon of the St. Thomasstift, Strasbourg. #12.
Opitz, Martin, born
1597, Bunzlau; died 1639, Danzig, as secretary and historian of the
King of Poland. It is to his efforts for the German poetic artform
that our current hymns owe their greater smoothness. #57.
Pfeffer, Paul, born
1651, Neustadt, Principality of Glogau; died after 1710 as
mayor of Budissin (Bautzen).
#424 (the responding stanzas).
Pfefferkorn,
Georg, born
in the village of Iffta outside Eisenach; tutor to the prince at the
court of Duke Ernst the Pious; died 1732 as superintendent and
consistory assessor of Gräfentonna by Gotha. #285.
Prätorius,
Benjamin, born
1636, Obergreislau by Weißenfels; died 1674 as pastor in Großlissa
by Delitzsch. #283.
Quirsfeld,
Johann, born
1642, Dresden, died 1686 as deacon in Pirna. #422.
Reimann, Georg,
born
1570, Leobschütz, Upper Silesia; died 1615 as professor of rhetoric
in Königsberg. #114, 155.
Reusner, Adam,
(Reißner),
born 1496 in Windelsheim, Bavarian Swabia; student of Reuchlin;
private secretary of field commander Georg von Frundsberg; follower
of Schwenkfeld; died ca. 1575 in the place of his birth.
Rinckart, Martin,
born
1586, Eilenburg, Saxony, where he died in 1649; like Herberger and
Heermann, he was a faithful leader of his flock during the appalling
tribulations visited upon it the Thirty Years’ War. He probably
wrote his hymn of thanks, #346, in the year 1630. Hymn #146 can also
be trace back to a composition of Rinckart.
Ringwald,
Bartholomäus, born
1530, Frankfurt an der Oder; died 1599 as pastor in Langenfeld,
Neumark; a zealous defender of Lutheran doctrine and a faithful
witness of the truth, who unflinchingly chastised the immorality of
his day. #138, 216, 433.
Rist, Johann,
writer
of many splendid hymns; born 1607, Ottensen by Hamburg; died 1667 as
pastor in Wedel, Holstein. Through his hymns he comforted and edified
many thousands during the difficult times of the Thirty Years’ War,
and continues to do so. # 13, 52, 67, 88, 120, 194, 207, 221, 238,
321, 434.
Rodigast, Samuel,
born
1649, Gröben by Jena, died 1708 as headmaster of the Gray Cloister
college in Berlin. His only hymn, #376, which however is heard in the
whole singing Church, based on Deut. 32:4, was written in 1675 in
Jena, for the consolation of an ailing cantor.
Rosenmüller,
Johannes, from
electoral Saxony, music director in Leipzig and Wolfenbüttel; died
1686. #397 (?).
Rothe, Johann
Andreas, born
1688, Lissa by Görlitz; [Count] Zinzendorf’s pastor in
Berthelsdorf; died 1758 as Lutheran pastor in Thommendorf in Upper
Lusatia; was a powerful preacher of great pastoral faithfulness. He
lives on in the Church through his hymn, #240.
Ruopp, Johann
Friedrich, a
native of Strasbourg; died 1708 as adjunct of the theological faculty
in Halle. #266.
Sacer, Dr.
jur. Gottfried
Wilhelm, born
1635 in Naumburg, Saxony; died 1699 as private attorney in
Wolfenbüttel. #14, 82, 121, 131, 425.
Saubert, Dr.
Johann,
the
younger; born 1638 in Nürnberg; died 1688 as professor of theology
and superintendent in Altdorf; published the Nürnberg
Hymnal, which
included his hymn, #393.
Schade, Johann
Kaspar, born
1666, Kühndorf by Meiningen, from 1691 deacon at St. Nikolai,
Berlin, a fellow minister with Spener; died in that place 1698. #81,
369.
Schalling,
Martin, born
1532, Straßburg, died 1608 as pastor in Nürnberg; for his own
consolement wrote hymn #271.
Scheffler,
Johann, born
1624 in Breslau, from 1649 physician of the Duke of Öls; 1653
deserted to the Roman church under the name Angelus Silesius and
became a vehement opponent of the Lutheran church. #72, 250, 280.
Scheidt, Dr.
Christian
Ludwig, born
1709, Waldenburg by Schwäbisch-Hall; died 1761 as court advisor and
librarian in Hannover; was well known for his hymn, #234, which first
appeared in 1743.
Schenk, Hartmann,
born
1634, Ruhla by Eienach; died 1681 as pastor in Ostheim vor der Rhön.
#9.
Schirmer,
Michael, born
1606, Leipzig; a friend of Paul Gerhardt; died 1673 as joint
headmaster of the Gray Cloister college in Berlin; a hymn-writer much
used to bearing his cross, called the “German Job.” #418. Hymn
#140 is a reworking of one of his hymns.
Schlicht, Levin
Johann, born
1681 in Kalbe in the Altmark; teacher at the paedogogium in Halle;
died 1723 as a pastor in Berlin; was able to speak Latin and
understand Greek and Hebrew as early as ten years old. #311.
Schmidt,
Christian, born
1683, Stolberg in Misnia; died 1754 as pastor at the Bergkirche
outside Eilenburg. #332.
Schmolck,
Benjamin, born
1672 in Brauchitschdorf by Liegnitz; died 1737 as senior pastor and
inspector in Schweidnitz; known as a publisher of devotional
literature. Of his 1,200 hymns, our hymnal has #190, 247, 267, 331.
Schneegaß,
Cyriakus, born
1546, Busleben by Gotha; died 1597 as pastor in Friedrichroda by the
Thuringian Forest; had a thorough knowledge of music; his spouse was
a grandniece of Luther’s. #49, 51, 388.
Schröder, Johann
Heinrich, born
1667 in Springe by Hannover; died 1699 as pastor in Meseburg by
Magdeburg. #249.
Schütz, Johann
Jakob, born
1640 in Frankfurt am Main; practiced law; died 1690 in the same
place; at the end of his life fell under the influence of the
Enthusiasts and renounced the Lutheran church. #350.
Selnecker, Dr.
Nikolaus,
born
1530 in Hersbruck by Nürnberg; studied under Melanchthon; died 1592
as professor of theology, superintendent, and pastor at St. Thomas in
Leipzig; co-author of the Formula of Concord; a much-persecuted,
steadfast confessor, whose prayer for constancy, so poignant in its
simplicity, was granted by God. #193, 298, 420. Hymn # 165 was partly
written by him.
Sonnemann, Ernst,
1608
became joint headmastor of Celle; 1661 pastor in Eimbeck; died there
in 1670. #117 (?), reworked after Wegelin.
Spengler,
Lazarus, supporter
of the Reformation, born 1479, Nürnberg; councilor and jurist in his
native city, where he died in 1534. His hymn #236 was once of similar
meaning for the Reformation as the hymn of the following author.
Speratus, Dr.
Paul,
born
1484 in Rötlen, Swabia; was already openly preaching the Gospel from
1519 in Würzburg and Salburg; 1522 in Stephans cathedral in Vienna
and in Iglau, for which he was put in prison in Olmütz in 1523,
where he wrote his hymn, #237, which he sent to his congregation; the
same year came to Wittenberg, at Luther’s recommendation became
court preacher of Duke Albert of Prussia; was especially active there
in the introduction of the Reformation; died 1551 as Lutheran bishop
of Pomesania in Marienwerder.
Stegmann, Dr.
Josua,
born
1588 in Sulzfeld by Meiningen; died 1632 as professor of theology and
superintendent in Rinteln; was force to endure great affliction
during the time of the Thirty Years’ War, moving from placed to
place as an exile. #2.
Stockmann, Ernst,
born
1634 in Lützaen, died 1712 as senior consistory advisor and church
advisor in Eisenach. #356.
Thebesius, Adam,
born
1596 in Seifersdorf in the principality of Liegnitz; died 1652 as
pastor in Liegnitz. #83.
Thilo, Valentin,
the
Elder, born 1579 in Zinten, East Prussia; died 1620 from the plague
as deacon in Königsberg. #33 (sts. 1–3).
Tietze, Christoph
(Titius),
born 1641 in Wilkau by Breslau; died 1703 as pastor in Hersbruck,
Nürnberg. #218, 371, 427.
Walther, Johann,
the
old Luther-cantor, became court cantor in Torgau around 1520;
Luther’s assistant in the institution of the German mann and in the
shaping of the evangelical church melodies; died after 1566 as
kapellmeister in Dresden. His hymn on eternity, #16, shows that
Walther was not only a musician, but also a poet of God’s grace.
Wandersleben,
Martin, born
1608 in Wassertalheim, Schwarzburg-Sondershausen; died 1668 as
superintendent of Waltershausen in the Gothaischen. #299.
Weidenheim,
Johann; the
personal details of this man who lived around the turn of the 17th
century are unknown. #215.
Weise, Christian,
born
1642 in Zittau; from 1676 professor of politics, rhetoric, and poetry
in Weißenfels; died 1708 as headmaster of the college in his native
city. #231.
Weiße, Michael,
born
in Neiße, Silesia; 1531 became priest and representative of the
German congregation of the Bohemian Brethren in Landeskron, Bohemia;
in the same year published the first German hymnal of the Bohemian
Brethren; died in that place in 1534, a little over 40 years old.
#22, 29, 32, 43, 100, 417, 440.
Weissel, Georg,
born
1590 in Domnau, East Prussia; died 1635 as pastor in Königsberg;
#31, 58, 148, 245. Hymn #112 is a reworking of one of his hymns.
Werner, Georg,
born
1589 in Preußisch-Holland; died 1643 as deacon in Königsberg. #55,
101, 128.
Wiesenmeyer,
Burkhard, ca.
1640 teacher at the Gray Cloister college in Berlin; reworker of
older hymns; #305.
Zehner, Dr.
Samuel,
born
1594 in Suhl; died 1635 as superintendent in Schleusingen; wrote hymn
#211 in the year 1633 while the Croats were laying siege to the place
of his residence.
Zesen, Philipp
von, born
1619 in Priorau by Dessau; led the life of a man of letters without a
permanent position; died 1689 in Hamburg. #38.
Ziegler, Dr.
jur. Kaspar,
an
authority on law of the first degree, born 1621 in Leipzig; died 1690
in Wittenberg as professor of law. #25.
Zihn, Johann
Friedrich, born
1650 in Suhl; died 1719 as archdeacon in his native city. #359.
Zwick, Johannes,
born
in Constance ca. 1496; died 1542 as an evangelical pastor of his
native city in Bischofszell, which he had committed himself to serve
for the sake of the local congregation during the time of the plague.
#118.
The
authors of the following hymns and stanzas are unknown:
Hymns:
# 3, 4, 6, 7, 11, 17, 28, 34, 43, 69, 74, 78, 87, 92, 96, 98, 104,
107, 111, 115, 119, 123, 126, 127, 133, 146, 154, 165, 172, 173, 201,
209, 220, 226, 227, 233, 276, 239, 292, 295, 301, 306, 307, 313, 323,
324, 325, 333, 343, 344, 345, 357, 353, 363, 377, 386, 389, 395, 400,
404, 408, 411, 412, 415, 423, 439.
Stanzas: # 8 (st. 4), 10 (st. 7), 21 (st. 1), 33
(st. 4), 50 (st. 7), 35 (st. 7), 83 (st. 1), 136 (st. 1), 174 (sts.
2–3), 177 (st . 2), 195 (st . 1), 213 (st . 4), 320 (st . 10), 348
(st . 5), 381 (st . 2. 3), 417 (st . 8), 423 (st . 5).
The
Commission on the Hymnal:
A. Crull.
O.
Hattstädt.
J. Schlerf.
Translation: © 2012 Matthew Carver.
