Michael Altenburg

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Michael Altenburg
Memorial plaque on the Alach church door

Michael Altenburg (born May 27, 1584 in Alach near Erfurt ; † February 12, 1640 in Erfurt) was a German theologian and composer . He is important as the creator of popular hymn melodies and as their arranger in contemporary musical forms.

Life

Michael Altenburg was the son of the blacksmith Ulrich Altenburg, was born in Erfurt and attended the Ratsgymnasium there . In 1601 Altenburg became cantor at the Andreaskirche, studied theology until 1602 and in 1607 became rector of the Erfurt Reglerschule . In 1609 he gave up the apprenticeship and was pastor in Ilversgehofen and Marbach near Erfurt until 1610. From 1610 to 1622 a pastor's position followed in Tröchtelborn , and from the beginning of 1622 in Großen-Sömmerda . In Tröchtelborn he apparently found an efficient choir, which he expanded and for which he composed most of his pieces; from here his musical fame penetrated the country, so that Michael Praetorius entrusted him with the musical education of his sons.

The approaching horrors of the Thirty Years' War prevented Altenburg from further compositions. He and his family suffered from marching through troops, billeting and looting. His community was drastically reduced by the plague, his wife Katharina and ten of his 13 children died. He fled the fighting back to Erfurt, where he was a deacon with the Augustinians in 1637 and pastor at St. Andrew's Church from 1638.

Works

Altenburg is of particular importance in music history as the inventor of hymn melodies and as their arranger in contemporary forms of music, especially in the polyphonic style of the 16th century. Altenburg's most famous songs are:

  • A very clear star from Jacobs tribe
  • Lord God, now unlock the sky
  • Lord God Father, I believe in you
  • Jesus, you little lamb of God
  • Do not despair, little bunch
  • What God does is well done, not a single person can blame him .

Presumably Altenburg is not only the composer, but also the author of these songs. It is controversial whether Altenburg is the author and composer of the song Verzage, du heap small , which is known as Gustav Adolf's Swan Song because it was sung in the Swedish army before the battle of Lützen .

  • Passion according to Isaiah 53 for eight voices. Erfurt, 1608
  • Wedding motets for seven voices. Erfurt, 1613
  • Gaudium Christianum. Jena, 1617
  • Musical umbrella and shield of the citizens etc. or the 55th Psalm for six voices. Erfurt, 1618
  • Cantiones de adventu. Erfurt, 1620
  • First part Newer Lieblicher and Zierlicher Intraden for six voices. Erfurt, 1620
  • Christian lovely and devout new church and house chants for five, six and eight voices. 3 parts. Erfurt, 1620-21
  • Cantiones de adventu for five, six and eight voices. Erfurt, 1621
  • Musical Christmas and New Year decorations for four to nine voices. Erfurt, 1621
  • Musical structure for five to fourteen voices. Four parts (only three and four survived). Erfurt, 1623

literature

Web links

Commons : Michael Altenburg  - Collection of images, videos and audio files


personal data
SURNAME Altenburg, Michael
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German composer
DATE OF BIRTH May 27, 1584
PLACE OF BIRTH Alach near Erfurt
DATE OF DEATH February 12, 1640
Place of death Erfurt