Franz Alfred Muth

Muth's birthplace in Hadamar

Franz Alfred Muth (born June 13, 1839 in Hadamar , † November 3, 1890 in Dombach ) was a German Catholic clergyman , also a writer , poet (also under the pseudonym Franz vom Rheine and Franz Hilarius). After attending high school in Hadamar , he studied theology in Mainz . When in doubt whether he should become a clergyman, he then studied philosophy in Würzburg with the degree Dr. phil.

Under the influence of the religious philosopher and poet Georg Friedrich Daumer , Muth decided to take up the priesthood and continued his studies in Mainz and in the seminary in Limburg . He was ordained priest on March 12, 1863 in the High Cathedral of Limburg. He was then chaplain in Kestert, from 1870 cathedral chaplain in Frankfurt am Main and then parish administrator in Rhauenthal. From 1871 Muth first worked as a parish administrator and from 1873 as a pastor in Dombach and Schwickershausen near Bad Camberg . Muth published numerous articles on various topics in newspapers, periodicals and specialist journals. In numerous publications and several volumes, Muth published more than 250 poems, natural poetry , wandering songs and junkies , which received numerous editions. More than 180 composers, including Josef Rheinberger , Franz Abt , Karl Attenhofer , Albert Becker , Aloys Edenkofer, Michael Haller , Engelbert Humperdinck , Eduard Köllner, Victor E. Nessler , Joachim Raff , Max Reger , Franz Ries , Robert Schwalm (1845 –1912), Horatio Parker and Anton Storch , set Muth's poems to music . There are currently around 500 settings of around 150 different Muth texts.

Franz-Alfred-Muth-Strasse in Hadamar and Pfarrer-Muth-Strasse in Bad Camberg-Dombach are named after him.

literature

Brief portrait in: Renkhoff: Nassauische Biographie (there further literature references)
Hemmerle, Bernhard : Anniversary publication “175 years of Franz Alfred Muth” - with special consideration of the texts set to music by many composers. Villmar, May 2014.