Cyriacus Schneegaß

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Cyriacus Schneegaß (also: Snegassius; born October 5, 1546 in Bufleben , † October 23, 1597 in Friedrichroda ) was a German Protestant pastor and hymn poet .

Life

Schneegaß was born in 1546 in the village of Bufleben , north of Gotha . He presumably came from a rural family and experienced a youth that was moved by warlike and theological turmoil. The Schmalkaldic War, with its significant consequences for the Thuringian countries, such as the siege and capture of Gotha by the Elector August of Saxony , occurred in the years of his childhood and education.

Until 1565, Schneegass attended the grammar school in Gotha. Of his teachers, the rector Cyriacus Lindemann should be emphasized, who had a significant influence on him. Schneegass then enrolled at the University of Jena .

Evidence of his life can only be found again in 1573, when he took up his first spiritual office as the fifth Protestant pastor at St. Blasius Church in the forest town of Friedrichroda . At the same time he held the position of an adjunct of the Weimar superintendent. During this time he married Dorothea Lindemann, the only daughter of his teacher who died in 1568. The couple had eight daughters, four of whom are mentioned by name in the preface to their sacred songs and psalms . In addition, two sons who died prematurely are known.

As a pastor, Schneegass developed a fruitful activity for his community. As can be seen from his casual speeches that still exist, he closely followed the fate of his parishioners. That his activity fell on very fertile ground is testified by the numerous bequests in favor of the poor relief and school facilities of his community during his administration .

family

His wife Dorothea nee Lindemann was a granddaughter of the Gotha superintendent Friedrich Myconius and a great niece of Martin Luther .

plant

One volume from his series of publications contains letters from outstanding men of the Reformation period (Schmalkalden 1598), unique testimonies from important reformers (including Luther, Cruziger).

In 1595 he published the Weyhenacht and New Year motets of 4 votes (published in two parts in Erfurt). In addition to Schneegass's own compositions, the book also contains works by other composers.

His most successful publication was the publication of 73 sacred songs .

Of his hymns, the song In dir is joy in all sorrow, based on a melody by Giovanni Giacomo Gastoldi, has a permanent place in the evangelical song liturgy ( EG 398). A better-known Christmas poem by Schneegaß is called The Newborn Child .

literature

  • Albert Schumann:  Schneegaß, Cyriacus . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 32, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1891, pp. 92-96.
  • Eduard Emil Koch : History of the hymn and hymn of the Christian Protestant church. Belser Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart 1867, 1st main part, 2nd volume, p. 252 ( full text in the Google book search).
  • Hermann Harrassowitz: Schneegaß, Cyriakus. In: Wolfgang Herbst (Ed.): Who is who in the hymnal? Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2001, ISBN 3-525-50323-7 , p. 279 ( limited preview in the Google book search).

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Max Schneider: New studies on the older history of the Gothaer Gymnasium, in: Communications of the Association for Gotha History and Antiquity Research, pp. 23–55, Gotha 1913
personal data
SURNAME Schneegaß, Cyriacus
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Snegassius
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Protestant pastor and hymn poet
DATE OF BIRTH October 5, 1546
PLACE OF BIRTH Bufleben
DATE OF DEATH October 23, 1597
Place of death Friedrichroda