Many of the authors and composers of the Zion’s Harp are unknown. Even though history does not record the names, these long-forgotten men who wrote of their love and devotion toward GOD, even on prison walls, surely were no less inspired than those who are widely acclaimed for their credentials. In fact, personal experiences of faith can give a depth to songs that cannot be matched by mere training. With that in mind, we are reminded to give thanks to GOD above all for such a rich musical inheritance.
These composers are accurate only for the Zion's Harp 2000 edition.
(Other translations have not adopted the same melodies.)
Ahle, Johann Rudolph (1625-1673)
Ahnfelt, Oscar (1813-1882) Arne, Thomas A. (1710-1778) Bach, J. Christoph (1642-1703) Barth, Christian G. (1799-1862) Baumgartner, John (1901-1970) Beethoven, Ludwig Van (1770-1827) Bliss, Philip P. (1838-1876) Bortniansky, Dimitri S. (1751-1825) Bradbury, William B. (1816-1868) Briegel, W. C. (1626-1712) Croft, William (1678-1727) Cruger, Johann (1598-1662) Decious, Nikolous (Circa 1490-1541) Drese, Adam (1620-1701) Fischer, Peter (unknown) Freylinghausen, Johann A. (1670-1739) Gastorious, Severus (1646-1682) Gilliom, Herman (1897-1962) Gregor, Christian (1723-1801) Herder, Johann Gottfried (1744-1803) Hintze, Jakob (1622-1702) Hoerr, Robert (1956-) Knecht, Justin Heinrich (1752-1817) Kocher, Conrad (1786-1872) Konig, Johann Balthaser (1691-1758) |
McGranahan, James (1840-1907)
Mozart, Wolfgang A. (1756-1791) Nageli, Johann Georg (1768-1836) Neander, Joachin (1650-1680) Neumark, George Christian (1621-1681) Nicolai, Philipp (1556-1608) Rassi, Mary Ann Yergler (1933-) Ritter, Peter (1768-1836) Rousseau, Jean-Jacques (1712-1778) Sallmann, Ernst Gottfried (1748-1807) Schein, Johann Hermann (1586-1630) Schmidt, Johann E. (1669-1745) Schop, Johaann (1590-1667) Sohren, Peter (Circa 1630-1692) Steffler, Albert (unknown) Stoller, Rodney (1953-) Storl, Johann G. (unknown) Teschner, Melchior (1584-1635) Thommen, Johann (1711-1783) Vulpius, Melchior (1560-1616) Wehrly, Bertha M. Neff (1897-2001) Whihtol, Austris (1889-1974) Wyeth, John (1770-1858) |
Ahle, Johann Rudolph (1625-1673)
Ahle was an outstanding composer and organist of his day and made many contributions to German sacred music and secular music. Ahle wrote over 400 sacred arias, from which many hymn tunes have been adapted. Many of his tunes were harmonized by J.S. Bach. He was the organist at Muhlhausen. His son Johann Georg, also a well-known composer and organist, was his immediate successor shortly before the father Johann's death. Interestingly, Johann Sabastian Bach was the next organist there for a brief period between 1707 and 1708.
Ahnfelt, Oscar (1813-1882)
Ahnfelt was born May 21, 1813, in Gullarp, Sweden. He was a Pietist and traveled through Scandinavia singing hymns and accompanying himself with his 10-string guitar.
Arne, Thomas A. (1710-1778)
Arne was a well-known 18th century English composer. He loved music so much that as a youth, he smuggled a spinet into his room, and dampening the sounds with his handkerchief, would secretly practice during the night while his family slept. He is best known for composing the British national anthem. He composed secular and some sacred music.
Bach, J. Christoph (1642-1703)
Bach has only one composition in the Zion's Harp, which was written in 1680. He was a cousin to the father of Johann Sebastian Bach, the famous composer. His father, Heinrich Bach, personally provided thorough musical training to the young Christoph. Christoph was born in Arnstadt, Germany, where he later became organist at the castle chapel as a young man. He died at Eisenach, Germany, where he was court organist and harpsichordist in the few years preceding his death. Christoph was a highly respected composer among his Bach kin. Due to lack of documentation, only a small number of works are accredited to him.
Barth, Christian G. (1799-1862)
Barth was the founder of the Missionary Society, devoting himself as a writer and preacher to children, and also to the cause of the missions to the heathen and the Jews. He wrote many books, among them a Bible History that was translated into 50 languages and reached its 160th edition in 1872.
Baumgartner, John (1901-1970)
Baumgartner was a brother and song leader in the Bluffton, Indiana Apostolic congregation. He wrote specifically for the 1958 edition of the Zion's Harp.
Beethoven, Ludwig Van (1770-1827)
Born in Germany, Beethoven is widely regarded as the greatest composer who ever lived. He gradually lost his hearing as an adult but continued composing music even after he was deaf. Having a great influence on music, he is famous for writing nine symphonies. Beethoven's music is included in the Zion's Harp.
Bliss, Philip P. (1838-1876)
Born in Pennsylvania, Bliss was an American author and hymn writer. His father taught the family to read the Bible and trust in GOD. Bliss had little formal education, being taught at home by his mother with the Bible for a textbook. While selling vegetables door to door at age ten, he heard his first piano. He listened in rapture and consoled himself that someday he would learn to play that beautiful instrument. Working diligently, he became a school teacher and eventually a music teacher. This was made possible by a loan from his wife's grandmother. Bliss wrote the words and music for many hymns, none of which were copyrighted. What little he did receive from royalties, he used to fund his evangelical endeavors or gave to charities. Bliss's life ended tragically when he and his young wife perished in a train accident. His trunk, somehow surviving the crash, was recovered. It contained the manuscript for the well-known hymn, "I Will Sing of My Redeemer".
Bortniansky, Dimitri S. (1751-1825)
A Russian composer, Bortniansky studied in St. Petersburg and Venice. He was the court composer during the time of Catherine the Great. After writing two operas and numerous other pieces, he turned to write mainly church music, combining Russian and Italian styles.
Bradbury, William B. (1816-1868)
Born in Maine, Bradbury is one of the few American-born composers whose work has found its way into the Zion's Harp. In 1830, when his parents moved to Boston, he saw and heard a piano and an organ for the first time. The effect of this was so great that it led him to devote his life to the service of providing beautiful music.
Briegel, W. C. (1626-1712)
Briegel was born in Bavaria. As a boy, he was a student at Nuremberg and sang in the Frauenkirche Choir. He grew up to be an organist and composer and held the high position of Kapellmeister for the Duke at Darmstadt. He also composed music for the Darmstaeder Cantional around 1687.
Croft, William (1678-1727)
Although George F. Handel (1685-1759) has been given the credit for this composition, he only adapted it into one of his longer works. Handel was one of the greatest composers of the late Baroque era, noted particularly for his operas, oratorios (long dramatic musical compositions, usually based on a religious theme), and instrumental works. His well-known oratorio, The Messiah, is one of the most famous and popular works of music. It was composed in an incredibly short time of three weeks. Let attention be given to the lesser known Croft, who exerted much influence over English composers in the time period. Many talented musicians passed through the capable hands of Croft during his time at the Chapel Royal as a chorister. He later became the organist of the Westminster Abbey.
Cruger, Johann (1598-1662)
Born April 9, 1598, at GrossBress, in the northern part of Germany, Cruger was one of the most distinguished musicians of his time. The melodies he wrote are generally noble and simple in style. They are still in use in many hymnals and have been sung by choirs of many denominations throughout the world.
Decious, Nikolous (Circa 1490-1541)
Born at the close of the 15th century, Decious lived near Upper Franconia in Bavaria. He was first a monk in the Roman Catholic Church, but after becoming a convert to Martin Luther's views, he left the Catholic Church. At that time, he moved to Brunswick in 1522, where he taught school for one year. Then, in the remaining years of his life, he became both a preacher and an accomplished musician, composing three hymn tunes himself. Two of his compositions, composed in 1539, have found their way into our Zion's Harp.
Drese, Adam (1620-1701)
Drese was born in December 1620, in Darmstadt, Thuringia (Germany). He studied music in Warsaw, Poland, under Italian Marco Sacchi. He went on to become the Kapellmeister to Duke Wilhelm IV of Weimar. Then in 1683, he moved to Armstadt where he joined the Pietist movement. He burned his operas and devoted much time to the Pietists who often met in his home.
Fischer, Peter
Gastorious, Severus (1646-1682)
Herder, Johann Gottfried (1744-1803)
An 18th-century German philosopher of language, history, and religion, Herder turned to composition as an expression of his philosophy. Born in a poor household, he educated himself from his father's Bible and songbook.
Hintze, Jakob (1622-1702)
Hintze was born in 1622 and died in 1702 in Berlin, Germany. Hintze wrote many hymn tunes and even edited the hymn book Praxis Pietatis Melica after the death of Johann Crugar, thereby helping to complete Crugar's work.
Hoerr, Robert (1956-)
Hoerr was a member of the Zion's Harp 2000 Revision Committee. The music he had written was adopted by the committee to be used in the 2000 edition. Hoerr is a brother and a song leader in the Peoria, IL, congregation.
Knecht, Justin Heinrich (1752-1817)
Knecht had a broad background in musical training and performance at Stuttgart, Germany. In addition to being church organist and choir conductor, he published a large hymn book known as the Wuerttemberger Choralbuch. His tunes were noted for their lively rhythms.
Kocher, Conrad (1786-1872)
While the original composer remains unknown, Kocher has been credited with arranging this reverent melody in 1838. He contributed and edited several chorale books and also wrote a treatise on church music.
Konig, Johann Balthaser (1691-1758)
Konig served as a music director in Frankfurt and published a large collection of chorales in 1738 entitled Harmonischer Liederschatz. Little more is known about his life.
McGranahan, James (1840-1907)
McGranahan was born July 4, 1840, in Adamsville, PA. He had a beautiful tenor voice and an ambition to be a famous opera singer. His plans were changed, however, when his close friend, Philip P. Bliss, was killed in a train wreck. Bliss, just days before embarking the train that would end his young life, felt compelled to take the time to write a letter to McGranahan. In this letter, Bliss urged him to give his talent for the Lord's work and not for worldly fame. These words were still working in the heart of McGranahan when, one week later, he learned of the train crash. He rushed to the scene and there met Major Whittle, the evangelist with whom Bliss worked. As McGranahan and Whittle grieved together, they shared their common feeling that it was GOD's will McGranahan should take Bliss' place. McGranahan felt he was fulfilling Bliss' plea to "strike into the grain to reap for the Master". Thus, he began a hymn writing career that would bring forth many melodies. He died July 9, 1907, in Kinsman, OH.
Mozart, Wolfgang A. (1756-1791)
Mozart was regarded by many as the greatest musical genius of all time. He was one of the world's leading operatic composers and one of the central figures of the Viennese classical school. Volumes have already been written on Mozart. It should be noted that he did not compose specifically for the Zion's Harp; however, the orderly and reverential tone of some of his compositions lend itself beautifully to inspiring hymns.
Nageli, Johann Georg (1768-1836)
Nageli was born in Switzerland. His father, a clergyman, provided his son's musical training. He opened a private music shop and publishing firm in the 1790s. In 1803, he began publishing the Repertoire des Clavecinistes, which included the first edition of keyboard pieces by well-known composers such as Beethoven. Nageli founded several choral societies in Zurich. He has even been called "the man who taught Switzerland to sing." Two of his compositions are found in the Zion's Harp. Nageli was virtually a national hero of popular music and folk singing. Many of his keyboard works are still popular today and have been adapted by other composers. A monument in his honor still stands in Zurich. As was common in this era, a melody had a name and would be printed separately from the lyrics to a song. While we enjoy Nageli's two compositions in the Zion's Harp, he also wrote the tune named "Dennis" which many recognize be listed was the name of the tune for "Blest Be the Tie".
Neumark, George Christian (1621-1681)
Neumark was born March 16, 1621, in Langensalza, Thuringia (Germany). No stranger to trials, he was twice stripped of all his earthly possessions. The first instance he was a young man traveling from Leipzig to Lubeck with a number of other merchants. He was robbed and left only with a prayer book and a little money that was sewn into his clothes. He returned home, but could not find employment. After some anxiety, he finally was given a position as a tutor to a judge's family. In his thanksgiving to GOD, he wrote a hymn, "Wer nur den liben Gott lasst walten-- If thou but suffer GOD to guide thee". Neumark was not only a composer but also a noted hymn writer. In his lifetime, he was appointed court poet, librarian, and registrar of administration. Shortly before his death, he became blind. Having endured many hardships in life, he learned how to put his trust in GOD.
Ritter, Peter (1768-1836) Zion’s Harp 99
Rousseau, Jean-Jacques (1712-1778)
A composer of music 18th-century European thinker, Rousseau, wrote and inspired the leaders of the French Revolution. A noted writer of political and philosophical essays, Rousseau was a novelist as well. To a lesser extent, he was a great musician and theorist.
Sallmann, Ernst Gottfried (1748-1807) Zion’s Harp 138
Schein, Johann Hermann (1586-1630)
Born in Grunhain, Germany, Schein was a well-known composer who combined the traditional Lutheran chorales with newer Italian styles. As a child, Schein showed unusual musical promise, singing as a soprano in the boys' choir. While a student at prestigious Schulpforta School for Musical Training, he published his first work, Venus Krantzlein, a musical setting of his own poems. In 1628, Schein composed hymn #57, among others, after several years of personal hardships. During the decade of the 1620s, his first wife died, and most or probably all of his children born by his second wife died before adulthood. His own health was declining and after suffering tuberculosis, scurvy, and kidney stones for most of his adult life, he died at the age of 44 years. This is his only hymn tune in the Zion's Harp; however, he authored hymn #173.
Schop, Johaann (1590-1667)
Schop composed during the "Baroque" musical era. An admired musician and violinist, he set impressive technical demands for violin music. Even Leopold Mozart, father and teacher of Wolfgang Mozart, commented on the difficulty of Schop's music. Bach added his own flourishes to some of Schop's compositions.
Sohren, Peter (Circa 1630-1692)
Sohren was born in West Prussia around 1630. Little is known of his early life. While in his 30's, he taught school and served as an organist in Elbing near Danzig. He spent much time composing, which is evident by the copious amounts of his known works. Included in these works is the Frankfurt edition of Johann Cruger's Praxis Pietatis Melica (Practicing Godliness in Song). In 1668, he not only made minor changes to Cruger's work but also added about 220 melodies of his own composition. His second hymnal, Musikalischer Vorschmack (Musical Foretaste of A Soul's Rejoicing in Eternity) was written in 1683 when he was cantor and organist of the Elbing Congregation. It is said to contain between 240 and 250 of his own melodies. Although he is credited with composing four hymns in the Zion's Harp, two sets are the same. The musical composition of hymn #5 was written in 1660. Specific records concerning this composer are sparse, but it is clear that this hymn has always been recognized as of great worth, and has stood the test of time to be included in Christian music throughout the world in many languages and denominations. The reverent harmony of this magnificent hymn has resulted in its being included in orchestral as well as vocal presentations.
Steffler, Albert Zion’s Harp 22, 24, 92
Stoller, Rodney (1953-)
Stoller was a member of the Zion's Harp 2000 Revision Committee. While working on that committee, he proposed music he had written be used for this song. After deliberation with other alternatives, the committee chose this melody was the replacement melody for the 2000 Edition of the Zion's Harp. Stoller is a brother and song leader in the Latty, OH, church at the time of this writing.
Storl, Johann G. Zion’s Harp 53
Teschner, Melchior (1584-1635)
Teschner was born in Prussia. Little is known of his early life. At the age of 18, he studied at the Zittau Gymnasium and enrolled at the University of Frankfurt in 1602. There he studied philosophy and theology. He was cantor and teacher in Schmiegel and at Zum Kripplein Christi Church, Fraustadt, in 1609. He was 51 when he died and was buried in Posen.
Thommen, Johann (1711-1783)
Vulpius, Melchior (1560-1616)
Vulpius was born to a poor family in Germany but still became a composer at a young age. He was also a schoolmaster. He compiled music for four voices, the first of its kind. In spite of his lowly beginnings, he became the most important composer of Protestant hymns in Germany in his day and was held in high regard by his peers.
Whihtol, Austris (1889-1974)
Whihtol was born in Latvia, which borders Russia. He moved to California in 1909 and lived most of his life there.
Wyeth, John (1770-1858)
Wyeth was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. As a boy, Wyeth was apprenticed to a printer. At age 21, he became the manager of a printing company in Santo Domingo, only to barely escape with his life in the insurrection there. In 1792, he returned to America and settled in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he became involved in the publishing business and co-owned a newspaper, The Oracle of Dauphin. It was during his time here that he began editing music. After only a year at this post, President George Washington appointed him postmaster. However, five years later he lost his post when President John Adams declared the position to be incompatible with involvement in newspapers. Wyeth wrote two successful volumes of sacred music. 52 is his only composition in the Zion's Harp. His death occurred about the time that the Apostolic Christian Church was making a beginning in America.
Ahle was an outstanding composer and organist of his day and made many contributions to German sacred music and secular music. Ahle wrote over 400 sacred arias, from which many hymn tunes have been adapted. Many of his tunes were harmonized by J.S. Bach. He was the organist at Muhlhausen. His son Johann Georg, also a well-known composer and organist, was his immediate successor shortly before the father Johann's death. Interestingly, Johann Sabastian Bach was the next organist there for a brief period between 1707 and 1708.
Ahnfelt, Oscar (1813-1882)
Ahnfelt was born May 21, 1813, in Gullarp, Sweden. He was a Pietist and traveled through Scandinavia singing hymns and accompanying himself with his 10-string guitar.
Arne, Thomas A. (1710-1778)
Arne was a well-known 18th century English composer. He loved music so much that as a youth, he smuggled a spinet into his room, and dampening the sounds with his handkerchief, would secretly practice during the night while his family slept. He is best known for composing the British national anthem. He composed secular and some sacred music.
Bach, J. Christoph (1642-1703)
Bach has only one composition in the Zion's Harp, which was written in 1680. He was a cousin to the father of Johann Sebastian Bach, the famous composer. His father, Heinrich Bach, personally provided thorough musical training to the young Christoph. Christoph was born in Arnstadt, Germany, where he later became organist at the castle chapel as a young man. He died at Eisenach, Germany, where he was court organist and harpsichordist in the few years preceding his death. Christoph was a highly respected composer among his Bach kin. Due to lack of documentation, only a small number of works are accredited to him.
Barth, Christian G. (1799-1862)
Barth was the founder of the Missionary Society, devoting himself as a writer and preacher to children, and also to the cause of the missions to the heathen and the Jews. He wrote many books, among them a Bible History that was translated into 50 languages and reached its 160th edition in 1872.
Baumgartner, John (1901-1970)
Baumgartner was a brother and song leader in the Bluffton, Indiana Apostolic congregation. He wrote specifically for the 1958 edition of the Zion's Harp.
Beethoven, Ludwig Van (1770-1827)
Born in Germany, Beethoven is widely regarded as the greatest composer who ever lived. He gradually lost his hearing as an adult but continued composing music even after he was deaf. Having a great influence on music, he is famous for writing nine symphonies. Beethoven's music is included in the Zion's Harp.
Bliss, Philip P. (1838-1876)
Born in Pennsylvania, Bliss was an American author and hymn writer. His father taught the family to read the Bible and trust in GOD. Bliss had little formal education, being taught at home by his mother with the Bible for a textbook. While selling vegetables door to door at age ten, he heard his first piano. He listened in rapture and consoled himself that someday he would learn to play that beautiful instrument. Working diligently, he became a school teacher and eventually a music teacher. This was made possible by a loan from his wife's grandmother. Bliss wrote the words and music for many hymns, none of which were copyrighted. What little he did receive from royalties, he used to fund his evangelical endeavors or gave to charities. Bliss's life ended tragically when he and his young wife perished in a train accident. His trunk, somehow surviving the crash, was recovered. It contained the manuscript for the well-known hymn, "I Will Sing of My Redeemer".
Bortniansky, Dimitri S. (1751-1825)
A Russian composer, Bortniansky studied in St. Petersburg and Venice. He was the court composer during the time of Catherine the Great. After writing two operas and numerous other pieces, he turned to write mainly church music, combining Russian and Italian styles.
Bradbury, William B. (1816-1868)
Born in Maine, Bradbury is one of the few American-born composers whose work has found its way into the Zion's Harp. In 1830, when his parents moved to Boston, he saw and heard a piano and an organ for the first time. The effect of this was so great that it led him to devote his life to the service of providing beautiful music.
Briegel, W. C. (1626-1712)
Briegel was born in Bavaria. As a boy, he was a student at Nuremberg and sang in the Frauenkirche Choir. He grew up to be an organist and composer and held the high position of Kapellmeister for the Duke at Darmstadt. He also composed music for the Darmstaeder Cantional around 1687.
Croft, William (1678-1727)
Although George F. Handel (1685-1759) has been given the credit for this composition, he only adapted it into one of his longer works. Handel was one of the greatest composers of the late Baroque era, noted particularly for his operas, oratorios (long dramatic musical compositions, usually based on a religious theme), and instrumental works. His well-known oratorio, The Messiah, is one of the most famous and popular works of music. It was composed in an incredibly short time of three weeks. Let attention be given to the lesser known Croft, who exerted much influence over English composers in the time period. Many talented musicians passed through the capable hands of Croft during his time at the Chapel Royal as a chorister. He later became the organist of the Westminster Abbey.
Cruger, Johann (1598-1662)
Born April 9, 1598, at GrossBress, in the northern part of Germany, Cruger was one of the most distinguished musicians of his time. The melodies he wrote are generally noble and simple in style. They are still in use in many hymnals and have been sung by choirs of many denominations throughout the world.
Decious, Nikolous (Circa 1490-1541)
Born at the close of the 15th century, Decious lived near Upper Franconia in Bavaria. He was first a monk in the Roman Catholic Church, but after becoming a convert to Martin Luther's views, he left the Catholic Church. At that time, he moved to Brunswick in 1522, where he taught school for one year. Then, in the remaining years of his life, he became both a preacher and an accomplished musician, composing three hymn tunes himself. Two of his compositions, composed in 1539, have found their way into our Zion's Harp.
Drese, Adam (1620-1701)
Drese was born in December 1620, in Darmstadt, Thuringia (Germany). He studied music in Warsaw, Poland, under Italian Marco Sacchi. He went on to become the Kapellmeister to Duke Wilhelm IV of Weimar. Then in 1683, he moved to Armstadt where he joined the Pietist movement. He burned his operas and devoted much time to the Pietists who often met in his home.
Fischer, Peter
Gastorious, Severus (1646-1682)
Herder, Johann Gottfried (1744-1803)
An 18th-century German philosopher of language, history, and religion, Herder turned to composition as an expression of his philosophy. Born in a poor household, he educated himself from his father's Bible and songbook.
Hintze, Jakob (1622-1702)
Hintze was born in 1622 and died in 1702 in Berlin, Germany. Hintze wrote many hymn tunes and even edited the hymn book Praxis Pietatis Melica after the death of Johann Crugar, thereby helping to complete Crugar's work.
Hoerr, Robert (1956-)
Hoerr was a member of the Zion's Harp 2000 Revision Committee. The music he had written was adopted by the committee to be used in the 2000 edition. Hoerr is a brother and a song leader in the Peoria, IL, congregation.
Knecht, Justin Heinrich (1752-1817)
Knecht had a broad background in musical training and performance at Stuttgart, Germany. In addition to being church organist and choir conductor, he published a large hymn book known as the Wuerttemberger Choralbuch. His tunes were noted for their lively rhythms.
Kocher, Conrad (1786-1872)
While the original composer remains unknown, Kocher has been credited with arranging this reverent melody in 1838. He contributed and edited several chorale books and also wrote a treatise on church music.
Konig, Johann Balthaser (1691-1758)
Konig served as a music director in Frankfurt and published a large collection of chorales in 1738 entitled Harmonischer Liederschatz. Little more is known about his life.
McGranahan, James (1840-1907)
McGranahan was born July 4, 1840, in Adamsville, PA. He had a beautiful tenor voice and an ambition to be a famous opera singer. His plans were changed, however, when his close friend, Philip P. Bliss, was killed in a train wreck. Bliss, just days before embarking the train that would end his young life, felt compelled to take the time to write a letter to McGranahan. In this letter, Bliss urged him to give his talent for the Lord's work and not for worldly fame. These words were still working in the heart of McGranahan when, one week later, he learned of the train crash. He rushed to the scene and there met Major Whittle, the evangelist with whom Bliss worked. As McGranahan and Whittle grieved together, they shared their common feeling that it was GOD's will McGranahan should take Bliss' place. McGranahan felt he was fulfilling Bliss' plea to "strike into the grain to reap for the Master". Thus, he began a hymn writing career that would bring forth many melodies. He died July 9, 1907, in Kinsman, OH.
Mozart, Wolfgang A. (1756-1791)
Mozart was regarded by many as the greatest musical genius of all time. He was one of the world's leading operatic composers and one of the central figures of the Viennese classical school. Volumes have already been written on Mozart. It should be noted that he did not compose specifically for the Zion's Harp; however, the orderly and reverential tone of some of his compositions lend itself beautifully to inspiring hymns.
Nageli, Johann Georg (1768-1836)
Nageli was born in Switzerland. His father, a clergyman, provided his son's musical training. He opened a private music shop and publishing firm in the 1790s. In 1803, he began publishing the Repertoire des Clavecinistes, which included the first edition of keyboard pieces by well-known composers such as Beethoven. Nageli founded several choral societies in Zurich. He has even been called "the man who taught Switzerland to sing." Two of his compositions are found in the Zion's Harp. Nageli was virtually a national hero of popular music and folk singing. Many of his keyboard works are still popular today and have been adapted by other composers. A monument in his honor still stands in Zurich. As was common in this era, a melody had a name and would be printed separately from the lyrics to a song. While we enjoy Nageli's two compositions in the Zion's Harp, he also wrote the tune named "Dennis" which many recognize be listed was the name of the tune for "Blest Be the Tie".
Neumark, George Christian (1621-1681)
Neumark was born March 16, 1621, in Langensalza, Thuringia (Germany). No stranger to trials, he was twice stripped of all his earthly possessions. The first instance he was a young man traveling from Leipzig to Lubeck with a number of other merchants. He was robbed and left only with a prayer book and a little money that was sewn into his clothes. He returned home, but could not find employment. After some anxiety, he finally was given a position as a tutor to a judge's family. In his thanksgiving to GOD, he wrote a hymn, "Wer nur den liben Gott lasst walten-- If thou but suffer GOD to guide thee". Neumark was not only a composer but also a noted hymn writer. In his lifetime, he was appointed court poet, librarian, and registrar of administration. Shortly before his death, he became blind. Having endured many hardships in life, he learned how to put his trust in GOD.
Ritter, Peter (1768-1836) Zion’s Harp 99
Rousseau, Jean-Jacques (1712-1778)
A composer of music 18th-century European thinker, Rousseau, wrote and inspired the leaders of the French Revolution. A noted writer of political and philosophical essays, Rousseau was a novelist as well. To a lesser extent, he was a great musician and theorist.
Sallmann, Ernst Gottfried (1748-1807) Zion’s Harp 138
Schein, Johann Hermann (1586-1630)
Born in Grunhain, Germany, Schein was a well-known composer who combined the traditional Lutheran chorales with newer Italian styles. As a child, Schein showed unusual musical promise, singing as a soprano in the boys' choir. While a student at prestigious Schulpforta School for Musical Training, he published his first work, Venus Krantzlein, a musical setting of his own poems. In 1628, Schein composed hymn #57, among others, after several years of personal hardships. During the decade of the 1620s, his first wife died, and most or probably all of his children born by his second wife died before adulthood. His own health was declining and after suffering tuberculosis, scurvy, and kidney stones for most of his adult life, he died at the age of 44 years. This is his only hymn tune in the Zion's Harp; however, he authored hymn #173.
Schop, Johaann (1590-1667)
Schop composed during the "Baroque" musical era. An admired musician and violinist, he set impressive technical demands for violin music. Even Leopold Mozart, father and teacher of Wolfgang Mozart, commented on the difficulty of Schop's music. Bach added his own flourishes to some of Schop's compositions.
Sohren, Peter (Circa 1630-1692)
Sohren was born in West Prussia around 1630. Little is known of his early life. While in his 30's, he taught school and served as an organist in Elbing near Danzig. He spent much time composing, which is evident by the copious amounts of his known works. Included in these works is the Frankfurt edition of Johann Cruger's Praxis Pietatis Melica (Practicing Godliness in Song). In 1668, he not only made minor changes to Cruger's work but also added about 220 melodies of his own composition. His second hymnal, Musikalischer Vorschmack (Musical Foretaste of A Soul's Rejoicing in Eternity) was written in 1683 when he was cantor and organist of the Elbing Congregation. It is said to contain between 240 and 250 of his own melodies. Although he is credited with composing four hymns in the Zion's Harp, two sets are the same. The musical composition of hymn #5 was written in 1660. Specific records concerning this composer are sparse, but it is clear that this hymn has always been recognized as of great worth, and has stood the test of time to be included in Christian music throughout the world in many languages and denominations. The reverent harmony of this magnificent hymn has resulted in its being included in orchestral as well as vocal presentations.
Steffler, Albert Zion’s Harp 22, 24, 92
Stoller, Rodney (1953-)
Stoller was a member of the Zion's Harp 2000 Revision Committee. While working on that committee, he proposed music he had written be used for this song. After deliberation with other alternatives, the committee chose this melody was the replacement melody for the 2000 Edition of the Zion's Harp. Stoller is a brother and song leader in the Latty, OH, church at the time of this writing.
Storl, Johann G. Zion’s Harp 53
Teschner, Melchior (1584-1635)
Teschner was born in Prussia. Little is known of his early life. At the age of 18, he studied at the Zittau Gymnasium and enrolled at the University of Frankfurt in 1602. There he studied philosophy and theology. He was cantor and teacher in Schmiegel and at Zum Kripplein Christi Church, Fraustadt, in 1609. He was 51 when he died and was buried in Posen.
Thommen, Johann (1711-1783)
Vulpius, Melchior (1560-1616)
Vulpius was born to a poor family in Germany but still became a composer at a young age. He was also a schoolmaster. He compiled music for four voices, the first of its kind. In spite of his lowly beginnings, he became the most important composer of Protestant hymns in Germany in his day and was held in high regard by his peers.
Whihtol, Austris (1889-1974)
Whihtol was born in Latvia, which borders Russia. He moved to California in 1909 and lived most of his life there.
Wyeth, John (1770-1858)
Wyeth was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. As a boy, Wyeth was apprenticed to a printer. At age 21, he became the manager of a printing company in Santo Domingo, only to barely escape with his life in the insurrection there. In 1792, he returned to America and settled in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he became involved in the publishing business and co-owned a newspaper, The Oracle of Dauphin. It was during his time here that he began editing music. After only a year at this post, President George Washington appointed him postmaster. However, five years later he lost his post when President John Adams declared the position to be incompatible with involvement in newspapers. Wyeth wrote two successful volumes of sacred music. 52 is his only composition in the Zion's Harp. His death occurred about the time that the Apostolic Christian Church was making a beginning in America.