Ludwig Helmbold, also spelled Ludwig Heimbold, (21 January 1532 – 8 April 1598) was a poet of Lutheran hymns.[1] He is probably best known for his hymn "Nun laßt uns Gott dem Herren", of which J. S. Bach used the fifth stanza for his cantata O heilges Geist- und Wasserbad, BWV 165; Bach also used his words in BWV 73, 79 and 186a.

Ludwig Helmbold
Born21 January 1532
Died8 April 1598(1598-04-08) (aged 66)
Occupations
  • Poet
  • Philosopher
  • Ecclesiastical minister
Known forLutheran hymns

Biography

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Helmbold was born in Mühlhausen. He became a professor of Philosophy an der Erfurt University in 1554. In 1571 he was appointed a minister at the Marienkirche in Mühlhausen, later as Superintendent.[2]

Helmbold was crowned poeta laureatus by Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor, in 1566 on the Reichstag at Augsburg.[2]

Hymns

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The Mühlhausen cantors Joachim a Burck and Johannes Eccard set many of Helmbold's more than hundred hymns to music. Some of his works were used by Johann Sebastian Bach in his cantatas, such as

A few of his hymns are still included in the German Protestant hymnal Evangelisches Gesangbuch (EG):

  • EG 320: "Nun lasst uns Gott, dem Herren"
  • EG 365: "Von Gott will ich nicht lassen" (Also in Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary, #465)
  • EG (Nordelbien) 558: "Amen, Gott Vater und Sohne"

Other recognition

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In 1998, a street named Helmboldstraße, next to Bonatstraße, was named after him in Mühlhausen.

References

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  1. ^ Schweitzer, Albert (1995). Die Orgelwerke Johann Sebastian Bachs: Vorworte zu den "Sämtlichen Orgelwerken". Georg Olms Verlag. p. 135. ISBN 978-3-487-41697-7.
  2. ^ a b "Ludwig Helmbold (Hymn-Writer, Composer)". bach-cantatas.com. 2006. Retrieved 2010-07-15.

Literature

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