Gregor Ritzsch

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Gregor Ritzsch (* 1584 in Skytal , Bohemia, † April 15, 1643 in Leipzig ) was a printer and Protestant hymn poet of the Baroque period .

Life

As a 16-year-old orphan, Ritzsch was apprenticed to his uncle, the Leipzig book printer owner Michael Lantzenberger , in 1600 , then went on a hike, returned in 1610 to marry a Leipzig woman and took over the printing business in 1612. Under his leadership it developed into one of the largest in Leipzig and brought him wealth and prestige. The main source of income was the production of a considerable number of the funeral sermons that were fashionable at the time , each of which was accompanied by an appendix of mourning poems, the so-called epices .

Gregor Ritzsch was the author of numerous hymns of deep piety, and the editor of entire hymn books . His poetry testifies to the events of the Thirty Years' War , in which Leipzig was directly involved in the Battle of Breitenfeld (1631) and again by the Battle of Lützen (1632). During the fighting, in which the Swedish king Gustav Adolf lost his life, Ritzsch's printing works, located in front of the city walls, were also affected. His song I have seen the Swedes with my eyes, I think I like it , was recorded by Clemens Brentano in Des Knaben Wunderhorn . For the reopening of the printing works in 1633, Paul Fleming presented an extensive alexandrine poem .

The high esteem of the Nestor of German book printers was evident when Ritzsch published a commemorative publication in 1640 for the 200th return of the invention of the art of printing , the first of its kind worldwide. Poets from all parts of Germany contributed with poetic contributions, including Christian Brehme , Christian Gueintz , Johannes Heermann , Martin Rinckart and Wolfhart Spangenberg .

After Ritzsch's death in 1643, the printing company was taken over by his poetically gifted son Timotheus Ritzsch , who published the world's first daily newspaper . His grandson was the poet David Elias Heidenreich .

Works (selection)

  • A golden pointer or heart jewel. Leipzig 1625.
  • (Ed.) Spiritual songs ... by ... Martino Luthero and other witty men. Leipzig 1627.
  • Passion mirror from the Leyden of Jesus Christ. Leipzig 1628.
  • Jubilaeum Typographorum or bicentenary book printer jubilee festival. Leipzig 1640.

Literature (selection)

  • Ernst Kroker : Leipzig in songs and poems of the 30 years war. In: Schriften des Verein für Geschichte Leipzigs , 5, 1896, pp. 31–99.
  • Stephen Rose: Music Printing in Leipzig during the Thirty Years War. In: Notes , 61.2, 2004, pp. 323-349.
  • Georg Witkowski : History of literary life in Leipzig . Leipzig 1909.
  • J. Braun:  Ritzsch, Gregorius . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 28, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1889, p. 705.

List of works and references

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Ritzsch, Gregor
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German printer and Protestant hymn poet of the Baroque period in Leipzig
DATE OF BIRTH 1584
PLACE OF BIRTH Skytal , Bohemia
DATE OF DEATH April 15, 1643
Place of death Leipzig