Dornig ist die finstre Wüsten

Author: John Dreisbach

Dreisbach, John (or Johannes). (Buffalo Valley, Pennsylvania, 1789--1871). Evangelical. Self-educated, proficient in both German and English. Licensed at age 17, was assistant to Albright, the founder of his denomination. Was leader of his denomination from 1808: secretary of Conference, presiding elder 1814, publishing agent 1820. With Henry Niebel compiled Das Geistliche Saitenspiel (1817), with Daniel Bertolet compiled Eine Sammlung Neuer Geistlicher Lieder (1821), which included many of his own hymns. Wrote or translated 31 of the 149 hymns in the extremely popular and persistent Geistlich Viole (1818), which has been described as the most important German-language hymnbook of the pre-Civil War period. Dreisbach's purchase (at a cost… Go to person page >