Johann Rosenmüller (Composer, Hymn-Writer)

Born: 1615 - Oelsnitz, near Zwickau, Saxony, Germany
Died: September 10, 1684 - Wolfenbüttel, Lower Saxony, Germany

Johann Rosenmüller received his early musical training at the Lateinschule at Oelsnitz and matriculated in the theological faculty of the University of Leipzig in 1640. There he most likely continued his musical studies with Tobias Michael, Kantor of the Thomasschule, and he is listed as an assistant there in 1642, teaching music in the lower classes. By 1650 he had become the first assistant; in 1651 he was also appointed organist of the Nicolaikirche.

Johann Rosenmüller took over all the duties as Director of Music for the major Leipzig churches because the Thomaskantor, Tobias Michael, was ailing. On the basis of this the Leipzig City Council promised him in 1653 that he would become the next Thomaskantor. In the following year he also became director of music in absentia to the Altenburg court. This promising career came to an abrupt halt in spring 1655, when he and several of the schoolboys were arrested and imprisoned on suspicion of homosexuality He escaped from gaol and is thought to have gone to Hamburg, though there is no documentary evidence for his presence there.

By 1658, Johann Rosenmüller had moved to Venice, Italy, where he composed and played the trumpet at San Marco. He spent the waning years of his career as Kapellmeister to the court at Wolfenbüttel.

Source: Cyber Hymnal Website; Grove Music Online, © Oxford University Press 2006, acc. 6/13/06 (Author: Kerala J. Snyder); MGG1 (Bärenreiter, 1986l Author: MGG1 (Bärenreiter, 1986)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (May 2003); Thomas Braatz (June 2006)

Johann Rosenmüller: Short Biography | Johann Rosenmüller & Bach

Works previously attributed to J.S. Bach

Chorale Welt ade, ich bin dein muede, BWV Anh 170

Works in J.S. Bach's Library

Sonate a 4 B-dur

Texts of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

BWV 162/6

Chorale Texts used in Bach’s Vocal Works

Alle Menschen müssen sterben (or by Johann Georg Albinus) (1652)

Chorale Melodies used in Bach’s Vocal Works

Welt, ade! Ich bin dein müde (1649; Zahn 6531)

Use of Chorale Melodies in his works

Nunc dimittis, 1v, 3 str, bc (CM: Das Nunc dimittis)

Nunc dimittis, 4vv, 5 str, bc [probably in Latin] (CM: Das Nunc dimittis)

5-pt. setting for voices Alle Menschen müssen sterben (The melody used by Rosenmüller is unrelated to the CM Alle Menschen müssen sterben)

Gelobet sei der Herr for 4 or more voices + instruments (CM: Gelobet sei der Herr (O Gott, du frommer Gott - Melody 3)

Links to other Sites

Johann Rosenmüller (Cyber Hymnal)

Bibliography