Georg Weissel (1590 – 1 August 1635) was a German

Lutheran Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Cathol ...

minister and

hymn writer A hymnwriter (or hymn writer, hymnist, hymnodist, hymnographer, etc.) is someone who writes the text, music, or both of hymns. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, the composition of hymns dates back to before the time of David, who composed many of ...

. Born in

Domnau Domnovo (russian: До́мново; german: Domnau; pl, Domnowo; lt, Dumnava) is a rural locality (a settlement) in Pravdinsky District of Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, located near the Poland–Russia border, about southeast of Kaliningrad, the ...

Ducal Prussia The Duchy of Prussia (german: Herzogtum Preußen, pl, Księstwo Pruskie, lt, Prūsijos kunigaikštystė) or Ducal Prussia (german: Herzogliches Preußen, link=no; pl, Prusy Książęce, link=no) was a duchy in the region of Prussia establishe ...

, a vassal of the

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, formally known as the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and, after 1791, as the Commonwealth of Poland, was a bi- confederal state, sometimes called a federation, of Poland and Lithuania ru ...

. Weissel studied theology and music at the

University of Königsberg The University of Königsberg (german: Albertus-Universität Königsberg) was the university of Königsberg in East Prussia. It was founded in 1544 as the world's second Protestant academy (after the University of Marburg) by Duke Albert of Pruss ...

, with the musicians Johann Eccard and

Johann Stobäus Johann Stobäus (6 July 158011 September 1646) was a North German composer and lutenist. Life Stobäus was born at Graudenz, now in Poland. From 1599 to 1608 he was a pupil of Johannes Eccard, the Kapellmeister of Königsberg. In 1601 he jo ...

, among others. After working as a rector in Friedland, he was ordained as minister of the

Altrossgarten Church Altrossgarten Church (german: Altroßgärter Kirche, also spelled ''Altroßgärtner'') was a Prussian Union (Evangelical Christian Church), Protestant church (building), church in northeastern Königsberg, Germany. Johann Friedrich Schultz, an Age o ...

in Königsberg on the second Sunday in Advent 1623. Weissel was a member of the group of poets , along with

Simon Dach Simon Dach (29 July 1605 – 15 April 1659) was a German lyrical poet and hymnwriter, born in Memel, Duchy of Prussia (now Klaipėda in Lithuania). Early life Although brought up in humble circumstances (his father was a poorly paid court in ...

Heinrich Albert Heinrich Friedrich Albert (12 February 1874 to 1 November 1960) was a German civil servant, diplomat, politician, businessman and lawyer who served as minister for reconstruction and the Treasury in the government of Wilhelm Cuno in 1922/1923. ...

, , and . Weissel died in Königsberg. 23 of his songs, written following the rules of Opitz, are extant. His most popular hymn was written on the occasion of the inauguration of the Altrossgarten Church in 1623. The Advent hymn "

Macht hoch die Tür "Macht hoch die Tür" (Fling wide the door) is a German popular Advent hymn, written in Ducal Prussia in the 17th century. The lyrics were written by Georg Weissel in 1623, for the inauguration of the Altroßgärter Kirche in Königsberg. The mel ...

", paraphrasing

Psalm 24 Psalm 24 is the 24th psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "The earth is the 's, and the fulness thereof". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint version of the Bible and the ...

, begins the current Protestant hymnal '' Evangelisches Gesangbuch'' (EG). Evangelisches Gesangbuch (EG) Nr. 1,

Gotteslob ''Gotteslob'' ("Praise of God") is the title of the hymnbook authorized by the Catholic dioceses in Germany, Austria, South Tyrol, Luxembourg and Liège, Belgium. First published in Advent 2013, it is the current official hymnal for German-speaki ...

(GL) No. 218 It is now present in most Christian hymnal including the Catholic ''

'' (GL 218). The current Protestant hymnal has two more of his hymns, "" (EG 113) and "" (EG 346), which he wrote on the occasion of his ordination in Königsberg.

Catherine Winkworth Catherine Winkworth (13 September 1827 – 1 July 1878) was an English hymnwriter and educator. She translated the German chorale tradition of church hymns for English speakers, for which she is recognized in the calendar of the Evangelical Luth ...

translated the

Advent hymn Advent songs (german: Adventslieder, link=no) are songs and hymns intended for Advent, the four weeks of preparation for Christmas. Topics of the time of expectation are the hope for a Messiah, prophecies, and the symbolism of light, among others. ...

in 1853 as "Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates".

Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the '' Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard wo ...

used Weissel's hymn "" in Part V of his ''

Christmas Oratorio The ''Christmas Oratorio'' (German: ''Weihnachtsoratorium''), , is an oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach intended for performance in church during the Christmas season. It is in six parts, each part a cantata intended for performance on one of ...

''.

References

Literature

* Johannes Block: ''Georg Weissel.'' In: Wolfgang Herbst (ed.): ' Göttingen 1999 * * Werner Krause: '. Verlag der St. Johannis-Druckerei, Lahr-Dinglingen 1900 (4th edition. 2004). . {{DEFAULTSORT:Weissel, Georg German Protestant hymnwriters German Lutherans Clergy from Königsberg 1590 births 1635 deaths