Johann Beer (also spelled Bähr, Baer, or Behr, Latinized as Ursus or Ursinus; (28 February 1655, in Sankt Georgen – 6 August 1700, in Weissenfels) was an Austrian author, court official and composer.

Biography

Beer was born in Austria to Protestant parents. In 1676 he entered the service of

Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels Augustus of Saxe-Weissenfels (Dresden, 13 August 1614 – 4 June 1680, Halle), was a Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels-Querfurt of the House of Wettin and administrator of the Archbishopric of Magdeburg. He was the fourth (but second surviving) son of J ...

as a countertenor. In 1700 he died, aged 45, as the result of a hunting accident. His comic writings are reminiscent of

Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen (1621/22 – 17 August 1676) was a German author. He is best known for his 1669 picaresque novel ''Simplicius Simplicissimus'' (german: link=no, Der abenteuerliche Simplicissimus) and the accompanyi ...

. His work of music theory ''Musikalische Discurse'' reveals German baroque performance practice.

Works and editions

Comic novels * ''Der Simplicianische Welt-Kucker.'' The Simplician World-Observer 4 Vols. Halle and Saale 1677–79 * ''Der Abenteuerliche Ritter Hopffen-Sach.'' The adventurous Knight Hop-Sack. Halle 1678 * ''Der Politische Feuermäuer-Kehrer.'' Leipzig 1682 * ''Teutsche Winternächte''. Nuremberg 1682, English translation German winter nights 1988. Music theory * ''Musikalische Discurse durch die Philosophie deducirt'' Music * Missa S. Marcellini for 8 soloists and double choir.edition - für 8 Solisten, 2 vierstimmige Chöre und Instrumente. Erstausgabe von Ursula Jürgens

References

1655 births 1700 deaths Austrian male composers Austrian composers Austrian male writers Austrian music theorists 17th-century novelists Austrian male novelists 17th-century classical composers 17th-century Austrian musicians 17th-century Austrian writers 17th-century male writers 17th-century male musicians {{music-theory-stub