Philipp Nicolai

Philipp Nicolai (August 10 1556 in Bad Arolsen-Mengeringhausen – October 26 1608 in Hamburg) was a German Lutheran pastor, poet, and composer, author of two famous hymns: "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" and "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern". These two chorales have inspired many composers, including Johann Sebastian Bach, whose cantatas BWV 1 and BWV 140 are based on "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" and "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme", respectively. The organ transcription of the latter, as published in the Schübler Chorales, has become world famous. Nicolai is supposed to be the last example of the Meistersinger tradition, in which words and music, text and melody stem from one and the same person.

He is commemorated as a hymnwriter in the Calendar of Saints of the Lutheran Church on October 26 with Johann Heermann and Paul Gerhardt.

External links

* [http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/n/i/c/nicolai_p.htm Philipp Nicolai 1556-1608] (The Cyber Hymnal)
* [http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/Biographies/philipp_nicolai.htm Philipp Nicolai (1556-1608)] (The Hymns and Carols of Christmas)
* [http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/12.html Philipp Nicolai Biography]