Bartholomäus Gesius facts for kids

Bartholomäus Gesius (born around 1562 – died 1613) was a German theologian, a church musician, and a composer. He was also known for writing hymns. He worked in places like Schloss Muskau and Frankfurt (Oder).

Gesius is famous for his choral Passions (musical pieces about the story of Jesus) in both German and Latin. He is also well-known for creating the melody and first musical setting of the Easter hymn "Heut triumphieret Gottes Sohn". This hymn was later used in music by other famous composers, such as Dieterich Buxtehude and Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach's version (BWV 630) is the last piece in the Easter section of his Orgelbüchlein.

Life of Bartholomäus Gesius

Bartholomäus Gesius was born in a town called Müncheberg. From 1578 to 1585, he studied theology at the Alma Mater Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder).

In 1582, Gesius started working as a Kantor (a church music director) in Müncheberg. Then, in 1587, he became a teacher and musician at Schloss Muskau. This castle is now a World Heritage Site.

In 1588, he began composing a Passion based on the Gospel of John. This was a St John Passion written for five singing parts. In the spring of 1593, Gesius became the Kantor at the Marienkirche, Frankfurt (Oder). At the same time, he also taught at the Ratsschule, which is now called the Karl-Liebknecht-Gymnasium.

In 1613, Gesius composed a St Matthew Passion in Latin, written for six singing parts. He died in Frankfurt (Oder) that same year due to the plague.

The Hymn "Heut triumphieret Gottes Sohn"

Gesius wrote the tune and the first musical setting for the Easter hymn "Heut triumphieret Gottes Sohn". This means "This Day in Triumph God the Son". The words for this hymn are thought to have been written by Kaspar Stolzhagen.

The hymn originally had sixteen verses, each with six lines. Every third and sixth line of each verse repeats "Halleluja, Halleluja". The melody is in 6/4 time, which gives it a special rhythm. The tune rises in pitch every time "Halleluja" is sung for the first time in a line.

Gesius published this hymn in his collection of Geistliche deutsche Lieder (Spiritual German Songs) in 1601. It became very popular and appeared in seventeen different hymnals. Today, it is still found in the German Protestant hymnal Evangelisches Gesangbuch as number 109.

Many other composers have used this hymn in their own music. For example, Dieterich Buxtehude created a cantata (a type of vocal music) based on the first verse of the hymn. Also, Johann Sebastian Bach wrote a chorale prelude (a short musical piece for organ) using the hymn's melody. This piece (BWV 630) finishes the Easter section of Bach's famous Orgelbüchlein.

Selected Musical Works

Here are some of the musical collections Gesius published:

• Geistliche Deutsche Lieder (Spiritual German Songs), published in 1601. This book included songs by Martin Luther and other Christians, meant to be sung throughout the year.
• Enchiridium etlicher deutscher und lateinischer Gesänge (Handbook of Several German and Latin Songs), published in 1603.
• Hymni Patrum Cum Canticis Sacris, Latinis Et Germanicis (Hymns of the Fathers with Sacred Songs, Latin and German), published in 1609. This collection included hymns for important yearly festivals.