Philipp Nicolai
- Theologian
- Hymnodist
Philipp Nicolai (10 August 1556 – 26 October 1608) was a German Lutheran pastor, poet, and composer. He is most widely recognized as a hymnodist.[1][2]
Life
Philipp Nicolai was born at Mengeringhausen in Waldeck, where his father was a Lutheran pastor. His early education include studies at Kassel, Hildesheim and Dortmund. He studied theology at the University of Erfurt where he was a pupil of Ludwig Helmbold.[3]
In 1583, he was ordained to the Lutheran ministry and was appointed minister at Herdecke. He was subsequently expelled during the Counter-Reformation. In 1588, he became pastor at Altwildungen in Hesse. He graduated with a Doctorate Degree in Theology from the University of Wittenberg in 1594. In 1596, he became the minister at Unna in Westphalia. In 1601, he was elected chief pastor of St. Catherine's Church (Katharinenkirche) in Hamburg.[4][5]
Nicolai died in Hamburg on 26 October 1608, at age 52.
Work
He was the author of two famous hymns: "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" and "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern", sometimes referred to as the King and Queen of Chorales, respectively. These two chorales have inspired many composers, including Johann Sebastian Bach, whose chorale cantatas Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 1, and Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140, are based on them.[6] Bach's organ transcription of the latter, as published in the Schübler Chorales, has become world famous. Nicolai is supposed to be the last example of the Meistersinger tradition, in which words and music, text and melody stem from one and the same person.[7][8]
Philipp Nicolai is commemorated in the Calendar of Saints of the Lutheran Church on 26 October together with hymnodists Johann Heermann and Paul Gerhardt.
References
- ^ Philipp Nicolai, Hymnwriter (justus.anglican.org)
- ^ "Philip Nicolai (1556-1608) (Hymns Ancient and Modern: Historical Edition William H. Frere, 1909)". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
- ^ Philipp Nicolai, 1556-1608 (STEM Publishing)
- ^ Philipp Nicolai (Hymns and Carols of Christmas.com)
- ^ Nicolai, Philipp, D.D.(Hymnary.org)
- ^ Lyon, James (2005). Chorals. Editions Beauchesne. p. 73. ISBN 978-2-7010-1493-7.
- ^ Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, translated by: Catherine Winkworth as Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying
- ^ King and Queen of Chorales (Christian Classics Eternal Library)
Other sources
- Glover, Raymond F. (1990) The Hymnal 1982 Companion, Volume One (Church Publishing Inc) ISBN 9780898691436
- Crump, William D. (2013) The Christmas encyclopedia (McFarland & Company, 3rd ed.) ISBN 9780786468270
Further reading
- Philipp Nicolai 1556-1608 (The Cyber Hymnal).
- Philipp Nicolai Society Wittenberg Trail).
- Studies In Lutheran Chorales by Hilton C. Oswald, Edited by Bruce R. Backer.
- v
- t
- e
- Christian Worship (1993)
- Common Service Book (1917)
- Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book (1912)
- Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary (1996)
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006)
- Lutheran Book of Worship (1978)
- The Lutheran Hymnal (1941)
- Lutheran Hymnal with Supplement (1989)
- Lutheran Service Book (2006)
- Lutheran Worship (1982)
- ReClaim Hymnal (2006)
- Service Book and Hymnal (1958)
- First Lutheran hymnal (1524)
- Erfurt Enchiridion (1524)
- Eyn geystlich Gesangk Buchleyn (1524)
- Praxis pietatis melica (1640/47)
- Becker Psalter (1602)
- Evangelisches Gesangbuch (1993)
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and
hymnologists
- Mikael Agricola
- Johann Georg Albinus
- Albert von Brandenburg
- Michael Altenburg
- Anna Sophia II
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Emilie Juliane of Barby-Mühlingen
- Martin Behm
- Sigmund von Birken
- Carl Boberg
- Birgitte Cathrine Boye
- Hans Adolph Brorson
- Johan Nordahl Brun
- Joachim a Burck
- Dieterich Buxtehude
- Christian Cappelen
- Elisabeth Cruciger
- Johann Crüger
- Simon Dach
- Wolfgang Dachstein
- Nikolaus Decius
- Paul Eber
- Ludmilla Elisabeth
- Princess Eugénie
- Jacobus Finno
- Paul Fleming
- Johann Franck
- Michael Franck
- Melchior Franck
- Salomon Franck
- Frans Michael Franzén
- Erik Gustaf Geijer
- Paul Gerhardt
- Bartholomäus Gesius
- Johannes Gigas
- N. F. S. Grundtvig
- Britt G. Hallqvist
- Andreas Hammerschmidt
- Claus Harms
- Fredrik Gabriel Hedberg
- Christian Fürchtegott Gellert
- Johann Heermann
- Ludwig Helmbold
- Valerius Herberger
- Nikolaus Herman
- Johannes Hermann
- Sebald Heyden
- Anders Hovden
- Konrad Hubert
- Bernhard Severin Ingemann
- Justus Jonas
- Sigfrid Karg-Elert
- Christian Keymann
- Balthasar Kindermann
- Thomas Kingo
- Børre Knudsen
- Johann Kolross
- Johann Balthasar König
- Julius Krohn
- Magnus Brostrup Landstad
- Ludvig Mathias Lindeman
- Elias Lönnrot
- Matthäus Apelles von Löwenstern
- Matthias Loy
- Sigurd Lunde
- Martin Luther
- Wilhelmi Malmivaara
- Hemminki of Masku
- Felix Mendelssohn
- Johann Matthäus Meyfart
- Georg Neumark
- Erdmann Neumeister
- Philipp Nicolai
- Johann Pachelbel
- Hallgrímur Pétursson
- Michael Praetorius
- Christian Heinrich Postel
- Adam Reusner
- Bartholomäus Ringwaldt
- Martin Rinkart
- Johann Rist
- Christian Knorr von Rosenroth
- Daniel Rumpius
- Johan Runeberg
- Gottfried Wilhelm Sacer
- Lina Sandell
- Carl Schalk
- Martin Schalling
- Heinrich Scheidemann
- Johann Hermann Schein
- Benjamin Schmolck
- Cyriakus Schneegass
- Johann Schop
- Johann Balthasar Schupp
- Heinrich Schütz
- Nikolaus Selnecker
- Eyvind Skeie
- Haquin Spegel
- Lazarus Spengler
- Paul Speratus
- Philipp Spitta
- Paul Stockmann
- Jesper Swedberg
- Jiří Třanovský
- Melchior Teschner
- N. Samuel of Tranquebar
- Zachris Topelius
- Leonard Typpö
- Jaroslav Vajda
- Gottfried Vopelius
- Philipp Wackernagel
- Johan Olof Wallin
- Johann Walter
- Michael Weiße
- Georg Weissel
- Olle Widestrand
- Carl David af Wirsén
- Catherine Winkworth
- Johannes Zahn