Bartholomäus Ringwaldt (c. 1530 – probably May 9, 1599) was a German didactic poet and

Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

pastor A pastor (abbreviated to "Ps","Pr", "Pstr.", "Ptr." or "Psa" (both singular), or "Ps" (plural)) is the leader of a Christianity, Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutherani ...

. He is most recognized as a

hymn A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' d ...

writer.

Biography

Bartholomäus Ringwaldt was born in Frankfort-on-the-Oder, Germany. From 1543, he studied theology. After graduating, he first started his career as a teacher. He was ordained into the Lutheran Ministry during 1557 and served as pastor of two parishes. In 1566, he became the pastor of Langenfeld,

Neumark The Neumark (), also known as the New March () or as East Brandenburg (), was a region of the Margraviate of Brandenburg and its successors located east of the Oder River in territory which became part of Poland in 1945 except some villages o ...

. Starting during the 1570s, he wrote songs and poems which focused on his religious and theological beliefs. Ringwaldt was a prolific

hymnist 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 is traditionally ...

, and may have composed tunes as well. Bartholomäus Ringwaldt died probably May 9, 1599 in Langenfeld, today Długoszyn near Sulęcin,

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

Hymns

Ringwaldt's hymns include: * " Herr Jesu Christ, du höchstes Gut" ("Lord Jesus Christ, you highest good"). As well as writing the words, Ringwaldt may have written the anonymous tune. This chorale is the basis for

Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (German: Help:IPA/Standard German, �joːhan zeˈbasti̯an baχ ( – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque music, Baroque period. He is known for his prolific output across a variety ...

chorale cantata A chorale cantata is a church cantata based on a chorale—in this context a Lutheran chorale. It is principally from the Germany, German Baroque music, Baroque era. The organizing principle is the words and music of a Lutheran hymn. Usually a chor ...

''Herr Jesu Christ, du höchstes Gut'', BWV 113 (1724). Bach, who frequently used hymn stanzas in his church cantatas, used verses from the same chorale in (1707/08), and . * "Herr Jesu Christ, ich weiß gar wohl" ("Lord Jesus Christ, I know very well"). Bach used a stanza in . * "Gott Heil'ger Geist, hilf uns mit Grund" (1581), translated into English as ''O Holy Spirit, grant us grace'' by Oluf H. Smeby for "The Lutheran Hymnal", 1909 * "Es ist gewisslich an der Zeit" (ca, 1565), translated into English as ''The day is surely drawing near'' by Philip A. Peter for the "Ohio Lutheran Hymnal", 1880.''The day is surely drawing near'' (cyberhymnal.org)

References

External links

Bartholomäus Ringwaldt (Wikisource)
1530s births 1599 deaths German Lutheran hymnwriters 16th-century German Lutheran clergy German poets People from Frankfurt (Oder) German male non-fiction writers 16th-century hymnwriters {{Germany-theologian-stub

Biography

Hymns

References

Further reading

External links