Michael Schirmer

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Michael Schirmer (baptized on July 18, 1606 in Leipzig ; † May 4, 1673 in Berlin ) was a teacher and hymn poet of the Baroque period .

Life

Although the son of a small Leipzig city official and grew up in relatively modest circumstances, Michael Schirmer still enjoyed a good high school education. His baptism (the date of birth is unknown) took place in the Leipzig Thomaskirche . He attended the Thomas School in Leipzig . In accordance with normal Leipzig custom at the time, he was enrolled early as a child at Leipzig University in 1619 , which was mistakenly attributed to a special talent.

It was not until much later, after graduating from high school, that he actually moved to the university in order to obtain the master's degree here in 1630, which enabled him to teach. There is no evidence of his first employment, but as early as 1636 he was appointed sub-rector at the famous Berlin high school for the Gray Monastery . From then on he remained at the Gray Monastery, from 1651 as Vice-Rector (with Gotthilf Treuer as Sub- Rector ) until his retirement in 1668.

But it was only in the poetic hours outside of his professional career that his real talent unfolded. His fame as a hymn poet spread rapidly, and other poets such as Paul Gerhardt , Nicolaus Peucker and Johann Rist were among his friends. His hymns such as “ Well shout, all you pious ” and “O holy spirit come to us” were soon on everyone's lips. A multifaceted poet, imperial crowned poet, in Berlin also particularly connected to Paul Gerhardt. Repeatedly suffering from severe depression, Schirmer was therefore also called "the German Job".

Works (selection)

Remembrance day

May 4th in the Evangelical Name Calendar .

literature

  • Lothar Noack, Jürgen Splett: Bio Bibliographies. Brandenburg scholars of the early modern period. Berlin-Cölln. Mark Brandenburg with Berlin-Cölln 1506–1640 (= publications on Brandenburg cultural history in the early modern period). Akademie Verlag, Berlin 1999, ISBN 978-3-05-003318-1 , p. 373 ff.
  • JF Bachmann: M. Michael Schirmer ... after his life and poetry . Berlin 1859
  • M. Diterich: Berlin monastery and school history . Berlin 1732
  • Georg Gottfried Küster : Old and New Berlin , 4 parts Berlin 1737-69
  • Fritz Jonas :  Schirmer, Michael . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 31, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1890, p. 315.

List of works and references

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Michael Schirmer in the ecumenical dictionary of saints

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Schirmer, Michael
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German pedagogue and hymn poet
DATE OF BIRTH July 18, 1606
PLACE OF BIRTH Leipzig
DATE OF DEATH May 4, 1673
Place of death Berlin