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Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus

540 - 600 Person Name: Venantius Fortunatus (530-609) Scripture: Psalm 68:18 Author of "Welcome, happy morning, age to age shall say" in Many Voices; or, Carmina Sanctorum, Evangelistic Edition with Tunes Venantius Honorius Clematianus Fortunatus (b. Cenada, near Treviso, Italy, c. 530; d. Poitiers, France, 609) was educated at Ravenna and Milan and was converted to the Christian faith at an early age. Legend has it that while a student at Ravenna he contracted a disease of the eye and became nearly blind. But he was miraculously healed after anointing his eyes with oil from a lamp burning before the altar of St. Martin of Tours. In gratitude Fortunatus made a pilgrimage to that saint's shrine in Tours and spent the rest of his life in Gaul (France), at first traveling and composing love songs. He developed a platonic affection for Queen Rhadegonda, joined her Abbey of St. Croix in Poitiers, and became its bishop in 599. His Hymns far all the Festivals of the Christian Year is lost, but some of his best hymns on his favorite topic, the cross of Jesus, are still respected today, in part because of their erotic mysticism. Bert Polman ================== Fortunatus, Venantius Honorius Clementianus, was born at Ceneda, near Treviso, about 530. At an early age he was converted to Christianity at Aquileia. Whilst a student at Ravenna he became almost blind, and recovered his sight, as he believed miraculously, by anointing his eyes with some oil taken from a lamp that burned before the altar of St. Martin of Tours, in a church in that town. His recovery induced him to make a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Martin, at Tours, in 565, and that pilgrimage resulted in his spending the rest of his life in Gaul. At Poitiers he formed a romantic, though purely platonic, attachment for Queen Rhadegunda, the daughter of Bertharius, king of the Thuringians, and the wife, though separated from him, of Lothair I., or Clotaire, king of Neustria. The reader is referred for further particulars of this part of the life of Fortunatus to Smith and Wace's Dictionary of Christian Biography, vol. ii. p. 552. It is sufficient to say here that under the influence of Rhadegunda, who at that time lived at Poitiers, where she had founded the convent of St. Croix, Fortunatus was ordained, and ultimately, after the death of Rhadegunda in 597, became bishop of Poitiers shortly before his own death in 609. The writings, chiefly poetical, of Fortunatus, which are still extant, are very numerous and various in kind; including the liveliest Vers de Societé and the grandest hymns; while much that he is known to have written, including a volume of Hymns for all the Festivals of the Christian Year, is lost. Of what remains may be mentioned, The Life of St. Martin of Tours, his Patron Saint, in four books, containing 2245 hexameter lines. A complete list of his works will be found in the article mentioned above. His contributions to hymnology must have been very considerable, as the name of his lost volume implies, but what remains to us of that character, as being certainly his work, does not comprise at most more than nine or ten compositions, and of some of these even his authorship is more than doubtful. His best known hymn is the famous "Vexilla Regis prodeunt," so familiar to us in our Church Hymnals in some English form or other, especially, perhaps, in Dr. Neale's translation, "The Royal Banners forward go." The next most important composition claimed for him is "Pange, lingua, gloriosi praelium certaminis," but there would seem to be little doubt according to Sirmond (Notis ad Epist. Sidon. Apollin. Lib. iii., Ep. 4), that it was more probably written by Claudianus Mamertus. Besides these, which are on the Passion, there are four hymns by Fortunatus for Christmas, one of which is given by Daniel, "Agnoscat omne saeculum," one for Lent, and one for Easter. Of "Lustra sex qui jam peregit," of which an imitation in English by Bishop. Mant, "See the destined day arise," is well-known, the authorship is by some attributed to Fortunatus, and by some to St. Ambrose. The general character of the poetry of Venantius Fortunatus is by no means high, being distinguished neither for its classical, nor, with very rare exceptions, for its moral correctness. He represents the "last expiring effort of the Latin muse in Gaul," to retain something of the "old classical culture amid the advancing tide of barbarism." Whether we look at his style, or even his grammar and quantities, we find but too much that is open to criticism, whilst he often offends against good taste in the sentiments he enunciates. Occasionally, as we see in the "Vexilla Regis," he rises to a rugged grandeur in which he has few rivals, and some of his poems are by no means devoid of simplicity and pathos. But these are the exceptions and not the rule in his writings, and we know not how far he may have owed even these to the womanly instincts and gentler, purer influence of Rhadegunda. Thierry, in his Récits des Temps Mérovingiens, Récit 5, gives a lively sketch of Fortunatus, as in Archbishop Trench's words (Sacred Latin Poetry, 1874,p. 132), "A clever, frivolous, self-indulgent and vain character," an exaggerated character, probably, because one can hardly identify the author of "Vexilla Regis," in such a mere man of the world, or look at the writer of "Crux benedicta nitet, Dominus qua carne pependit" q.v., as being wholly devoid of the highest aspirations after things divine. A quarto edition of his Works was published in Rome in 1786. [Rev. Digby S. Wrangham, M.A.] - John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ==================== Fortunatus, V. H. C., p. 384, i. The best edition of his poems is F. Leo's edition of his Opera Poetica, Berlin, 1881 (Monumenta Germaniae, vol. iv.). --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

John Baptiste Calkin

1827 - 1905 Scripture: Psalm 68:18 Composer of "FESTA DIES" in Many Voices; or, Carmina Sanctorum, Evangelistic Edition with Tunes John Baptiste Calkin United Kingdom 1827-1905. Born in London, he was reared in a musical atmosphere. Studying music under his father, and with three brothers, he became a composer, organist, and music teacher. At 19, he was appointed organist, precenter, and choirmaster at St. Columbia's College, Dublin, Ireland, 1846 to 1853. From 1853 to 1863 we was organist and choirmaster at Woburn Chapel, London. From 1863 to 1868, he was organist of Camden Road Chapel. From 1870 to 1884 he was organist at St. Thomas's Church, Camden Town. In 1883 he became professor at Guildhall School of Music and concentrated on teaching and composing. He was also a professor of music and on the council of Trinity College, London, and a member of the Philharmonic Society (1862). In 1893 he was a fellow of the College of Organists. John and wife, Victoire, had four sons, each following a musical carer. He wrote much music for organ and scored string arrangements, sonatas, duos, etc. He died at Hornsey Rise Gardens. John Perry

Philip Pusey

1799 - 1885 Scripture: Psalm 68:19 Author of "Lord of Our Life, and God of Our Salvation" in Hymns for the Living Church Pusey, Philip, eldest son of Mr. Philip Pusey, and brother of Dr. Pusey, was born June 25, 1799, and died July 9, 1855. His father, a son of the first Viscount Folkestone, had assumed the name of Pusey instead of that of Bouverie. [George Arthur Crawford, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

F. F. Flemming

1778 - 1813 Person Name: Friedrich F. Flemming Scripture: Psalm 68:19 Composer of "FLEMMING" in Hymns for the Living Church Friedrich Ferdinand Flemming Germany 1778-1813. Born in Neuhausen, Erzgebirge, Germany, he studied medicine at Wittenberg, 1796-1800, Jena, Vienna, and Trieste. He practiced as a physician in Berlin until his death, but, musically, is remembered for his setting of Horace's ode beginning “Integer Vitae”, from which the tune “Flemming” is adapted. He was active in musical circles and composed many songs for a male vocal ensemble, “Liedertafel”. He died in Berlin. John Perry

John Stainer

1840 - 1901 Person Name: John Stainer (1840-1901) Scripture: Psalm 68:13 Composer of "CHARITY" in Ancient and Modern

Charles Zeuner

1795 - 1857 Person Name: Heinrich C. Zeuner Scripture: Psalm 68 Composer of "MISSIONARY CHANT" in The Hymnal Also: Zeuner, Heinrich Christoph, 1795-1857 Zeuner, Heinrich Christopher, 1795-1857

Aleksēi Federovich L'vov

1798 - 1870 Person Name: Alexis Theodore Lwoff (1799-1810) Scripture: Psalm 68 Composer of "RUSSIAN HYMN" in Many Voices; or, Carmina Sanctorum, Evangelistic Edition with Tunes Alexis Federovich L’vov Estonia 1798-1870. Born at Reval, Estonia, son of the St. Petersburg imperial court chapel director, he learned violin as a child and gave regular concerts in his home at age 9. Studying under a number of teachers until age 19, he then studied independently and developed his own personal style of playing. He entered the Russian army in 1818, became a civil engineer there eventually a General in 1828, when he was appointed Aide-de-camp to Tsar Nicholas I. He married Praskovya Aggeyevna, and they had a son and two daughters. He eventually took over his father’s post after he died in 1837 and stayed at that position for 24 years. He formed a string quartet in St. Petersburg and held weekly concerts at his private residence, which were attended by members of high society, including Franz Liszt, Robert and Clara Schumann, and Berlioz. In charge of the Russian chapel choir, it was described by Berlioz as of exceptional quality, expressing regret that Europeans were unable to hear the extraordinary sounds of the chapel choir (80 singers). L’vov took his quartet on several European tours where he could play to public audiences. He met Mendelssohn, Meyerbeer, and Spontini, who became personal friends. L’vov codified the Russian liturgical musical style ‘Obikhod’, the standard repertory of most Russian Orthodox churches in the world. L’vov was a member of the Russian musical establishment. Two of his friends who attained musical fame were Glinka and Berlioz, both impressed with L’vov’s superb violin playing and composing abilities. He composed violin music, operas and various religious pieces. His opera “Undine” (1846) became famous. In 1850 he founded the Russian Concert Society. His musical style was eclectic, combining traditions of Russian culture with Italian and German influences. He retired in 1867 due to deafness. He died near Kovno, Lithuania. John Perry

Charles Wesley

1707 - 1788 Person Name: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788 Scripture: Psalm 68:11 Author of "See how great a flame aspires" in Singing the Faith Charles Wesley, M.A. was the great hymn-writer of the Wesley family, perhaps, taking quantity and quality into consideration, the great hymn-writer of all ages. Charles Wesley was the youngest son and 18th child of Samuel and Susanna Wesley, and was born at Epworth Rectory, Dec. 18, 1707. In 1716 he went to Westminster School, being provided with a home and board by his elder brother Samuel, then usher at the school, until 1721, when he was elected King's Scholar, and as such received his board and education free. In 1726 Charles Wesley was elected to a Westminster studentship at Christ Church, Oxford, where he took his degree in 1729, and became a college tutor. In the early part of the same year his religious impressions were much deepened, and he became one of the first band of "Oxford Methodists." In 1735 he went with his brother John to Georgia, as secretary to General Oglethorpe, having before he set out received Deacon's and Priest's Orders on two successive Sundays. His stay in Georgia was very short; he returned to England in 1736, and in 1737 came under the influence of Count Zinzendorf and the Moravians, especially of that remarkable man who had so large a share in moulding John Wesley's career, Peter Bonier, and also of a Mr. Bray, a brazier in Little Britain. On Whitsunday, 1737, [sic. 1738] he "found rest to his soul," and in 1738 he became curate to his friend, Mr. Stonehouse, Vicar of Islington, but the opposition of the churchwardens was so great that the Vicar consented that he "should preach in his church no more." Henceforth his work was identified with that of his brother John, and he became an indefatigable itinerant and field preacher. On April 8, 1749, he married Miss Sarah Gwynne. His marriage, unlike that of his brother John, was a most happy one; his wife was accustomed to accompany him on his evangelistic journeys, which were as frequent as ever until the year 1756," when he ceased to itinerate, and mainly devoted himself to the care of the Societies in London and Bristol. Bristol was his headquarters until 1771, when he removed with his family to London, and, besides attending to the Societies, devoted himself much, as he had done in his youth, to the spiritual care of prisoners in Newgate. He had long been troubled about the relations of Methodism to the Church of England, and strongly disapproved of his brother John's "ordinations." Wesley-like, he expressed his disapproval in the most outspoken fashion, but, as in the case of Samuel at an earlier period, the differences between the brothers never led to a breach of friendship. He died in London, March 29, 1788, and was buried in Marylebone churchyard. His brother John was deeply grieved because he would not consent to be interred in the burial-ground of the City Road Chapel, where he had prepared a grave for himself, but Charles said, "I have lived, and I die, in the Communion of the Church of England, and I will be buried in the yard of my parish church." Eight clergymen of the Church of England bore his pall. He had a large family, four of whom survived him; three sons, who all became distinguished in the musical world, and one daughter, who inherited some of her father's poetical genius. The widow and orphans were treated with the greatest kindness and generosity by John Wesley. As a hymn-writer Charles Wesley was unique. He is said to have written no less than 6500 hymns, and though, of course, in so vast a number some are of unequal merit, it is perfectly marvellous how many there are which rise to the highest degree of excellence. His feelings on every occasion of importance, whether private or public, found their best expression in a hymn. His own conversion, his own marriage, the earthquake panic, the rumours of an invasion from France, the defeat of Prince Charles Edward at Culloden, the Gordon riots, every Festival of the Christian Church, every doctrine of the Christian Faith, striking scenes in Scripture history, striking scenes which came within his own view, the deaths of friends as they passed away, one by one, before him, all furnished occasions for the exercise of his divine gift. Nor must we forget his hymns for little children, a branch of sacred poetry in which the mantle of Dr. Watts seems to have fallen upon him. It would be simply impossible within our space to enumerate even those of the hymns which have become really classical. The saying that a really good hymn is as rare an appearance as that of a comet is falsified by the work of Charles Wesley; for hymns, which are really good in every respect, flowed from his pen in quick succession, and death alone stopped the course of the perennial stream. It has been the common practice, however for a hundred years or more to ascribe all translations from the German to John Wesley, as he only of the two brothers knew that language; and to assign to Charles Wesley all the original hymns except such as are traceable to John Wesley through his Journals and other works. The list of 482 original hymns by John and Charles Wesley listed in this Dictionary of Hymnology have formed an important part of Methodist hymnody and show the enormous influence of the Wesleys on the English hymnody of the nineteenth century. -- Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ================== Charles Wesley, the son of Samuel Wesley, was born at Epworth, Dec. 18, 1707. He was educated at Westminster School and afterwards at Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated M.A. In 1735, he took Orders and immediately proceeded with his brother John to Georgia, both being employed as missionaries of the S.P.G. He returned to England in 1736. For many years he engaged with his brother in preaching the Gospel. He died March 29, 1788. To Charles Wesley has been justly assigned the appellation of the "Bard of Methodism." His prominence in hymn writing may be judged from the fact that in the "Wesleyan Hymn Book," 623 of the 770 hymns were written by him; and he published more than thirty poetical works, written either by himself alone, or in conjunction with his brother. The number of his separate hymns is at least five thousand. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A., 1872.

Georg Weissel

1590 - 1635 Person Name: G. Weissel, 1590-1635 Scripture: Psalm 68:5 Author of "Macht hoch die thor, die thüren weit" in Deutsches Gesangbuch für die Evangelisch-Luterische Kirche in den Vereinigten Staaten Weissel, Georg, son of Johann Weissel, judge and afterwards burgomaster at Doranau, near Königsberg, was born at Domnau in 1590. He studied at the University of Königsberg, from 1608 to 1611, and thereafter, for short periods, at Wittenberg, Leipzig, Jena, Strassburg, Basel and Marburg In 1614 he was appointed rector of the school at Friedland near Domnau, but resigned this post after three years, and returned to Königsberg to resume his studies in theology. Finally, in 1623, he became pastor of the newly erected Altrossgart church at Königsberg, where he remained till his death, on August 1, 1635. Weissel was one of the most important of the earlier hymn-writers of Prussia. His hymns, about 20 in all, are good in style, moderate in length, and varied in metre. The earliest seem to have been written for use at the consecration of the Altrossgart church on the 2nd Sunday in Advent, 1623. The majority are for the greater festivals of the Christian year. The best are No. ii. below, and those for the dying. They appeared mostly in the Königsberg hymn-books, 1639-1650, and in the Preussische Fest-Lieder, pt. i., Elbing, 1642; pt. ii., Königsberg, 1644 [Berlin Library]. Those of Weissel's hymns which have passed into English are:— i. Im finstern Stall, o W under gross. Christmas. First published in B. Derschau's Ausserlesene geistliche Lieder, Königsberg, 1639, p. 7, in 5 stanzas of 5 lines In the Preussische Fest-Lieder, pt. i., 1642, No. 14, it is entitled "On the Birth of Christ, Lux in tenebris lucet.” The translation in common use is:— 0 miracle of love and might This is a somewhat free translation, omitting stanza v., by Dr. Kennedy, as No. 104 in his Hymnologia Christiana, 1863. ii. Macht hoch die Thür, das Thor macht weit. Advent. This is a Hymn of Triumph for the Entry of the King of Glory, founded on Ps. xxiv.; and is one of the finest German Advent hymns. First published in the Preussische Fest-Lieder, pt. i., 1642, No. 2, in 5 stanzas of 8 lines, marked as "On the 1st Sunday of Advent." The translations in common use are:— 1. Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates. This is a good and full translation by Miss Winkworth, in herLyra Germanica, 1st Ser., 1855, p. 10, and her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 25. In the Congregational Church Hymnal, 1887, the Evangelical Hymnal, N. Y., 1880, and others, the original form is followed. Other forms are:— (1) Behold One cometh from afar (i. alt.). This (partly from Mercer) is in the Supplement to the New Congregational Hymn Book, and the 1874 Appendix. to the Leeds Hymn Book. (2) Behold He cometh from afar. In J. L. Porter's Collection, 1876, altered from No. l. (3) Oh! hallowed is the land and blest (iii. lines 1, alt.). In the American Sabbath Hymn Book, 1858, &c. (4) 0 blest the souls, for ever blest (iii. lines1, alt.). In Hymns of the Spirit, Boston, U.S., 1864. (5) Fling wide the portals of your heart (iv.). In the American Unitarian Hymn Book, 1868. 2. The mighty gates of earth unbar. This is by W. Mercer, based on Miss Winkworth's translation, in his Church Psalm & Hymn Book, 1857, No. 14 (Ox. ed., 1864, No. 71), repeated in Kennedy, 1863. Another translation is: "Lift up, lift up your heads, ye gates," by G. Moultrie, in his Espousals of St. Dorothea, 1870. iii. Wo ist dein Stachel nun, o Tod? Easter. Founded on 1 Cor. xv., 55-58. First published as No. 3 in pt. ii., 1644, of the Preussische Fest-Lieder, in 5 stanzas of 8 lines, entitled "For the Easter festival." Thence in the Königsberg Gesang-Buch, 1650, p. 193, and others. The form which has passed into English is that in the Hannover Gesang-Buch, 1657, No. 74, in 10 stanzas. This, beginning "O Tod, wo ist dein Stachel nun," is entirely rewritten, probably by Justus Gesenius. Translated as:— O Death! where is thy cruel sting? This is a full and good version of the 1657 text, as No. 80 in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880, marked as a compilation. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] -- Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Oliver Wendell Holmes

1809 - 1894 Person Name: Oliver W. Holmes Scripture: Psalm 68:6 Author of "Thou Gracious Power" in The Hymnal of The Evangelical United Brethren Church Holmes, Oliver Wendell, M.D, LL.D., son of the Rev. Abiel Holmes, D.D. of Cambridge, U.S.A., was born at Cambridge, Aug. 29, 1809, and educated at Harvard, where he graduated in 1829. After practising for some time in Boston, he was elected in 1847 to the chair of Anatomy, in Harvard. His writings in prose and verse are well known and widely circulated. They excel in humour and pathos. Although not strictly speaking a hymnwriter, a few of his hymns are in extensive use, and include:— 1. Father of mercies, heavenly Friend. Prayer during war. 2. Lord of all being, throned afar. God's Omnipresence. This is a hymn of great merit. It is dated 1848. 3. 0 Lord of hosts, Almighty King. Soldiers’ Hymn. Dated 1861. 4. 0 Love divine that stoop'st to share. Trust. 1859. Of these Nos. 2 and 4 are in his Professor at the Breakfast Table, and are in common use in Great Britain, in Martineau's Hymns, 1873, and others. In 1886 the D.C.L. degree was conferred upon Professor Holmes by the University of Oxford. He was a member of the Unitarian body. He died Oct 7, 1894. [Rev. F. M. Bird, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ================== Holmes, O. W. , p. 530, i. His Songs in Many Keys was published in 1861, his Poems, 1869, and the Cambridge edition of his Complete Poetical Works, 1895. Additional hymns of his have come into common use of late, including:— 1. Land where the banners wave last in the sun. [American National Hymn.] Appeared in his Songs in Many Keys, 1861 (7th ed. 1864, p. 289) as "Freedom, our Queen." 2. Lord, Thou hast led us as of old. [Promised Unity.] In his Before the Curfew and other Poems, chiefly occasional, Boston, 1888, as "An hymn set forth to bo sung by the Great Assembly at Newtown [Mass.]." In the Complete Poetical Works it is dated 1886. The hymn "Soon shall the slumbering morn awake," in Hymns for Church and Home, Boston, 1895, is composed of stanzas v.-vii. 3. Our Father, while our hearts unlearn The creeds that wrong Thy name. [Fruits of the Spirit.] Written for the 25th Anniversary Reorganization of the Poston Young Men's Christian Union, May 31, 1893. In his Complete Poetical Works, 1895, p. 298, Horder's Worship Song, 1905, and other collections. 4. Thou gracious [God] Power Whose mercy lends. [Reunion.] "Written for the annual meeting of the famous class '29, Harvard University, in 1869. ln the Methodist Hymn Book, 1904, it begins "Thou gracious God, Whose mercy lends." [Rev. L. F. Benson, D.D.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)