Matthäus Appelles von Löwenstern (Hymn-Writer)

Born: April 20, 1594 - Neustadt, Silesia, Germany
Died: April 11, 1648 - Breslau, Germany

Matthæus Appeles (Apelles) von Löwenstern was born in Neustadt, Silesia, where his father was a saddlemaker.

The son became famous as a talented musician. In 1625 he was appointed music director and treasurer at Bernstadt by Duke Heinrich Wenzel of Münsterberg. The following year he received the appointment of director of the princely school at Bernstadt. In 1631 he was made Rath and Secretary and also Director of Finance. (royal councillor and chamberlain). Löwenstern then served as Rath for the Emperors Ferdinand II and Ferdinand III. The latter ennobled him. His last office was Staatsrath (secretary of state) at Öls to Duke Carl Friedrich of Münsterberg.

Löwenstern’s thirty hymns were written in imitation of antique verse forms and on the mottoes of the princes under whom he had served. Several of his hymns have been translated into English and other languages.

Source: ELHHB Website [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns; Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (August 2003)

Texts of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

BWV 275, BWV 341, BWV 378, BWV 391, BWV 408, BWV 411, BWV 427

Chorale Texts used in Bach’s Vocal Works

Title

Year

EKG

Zahn

Links to other Sites

Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary Handbook - Biographies and Sources (ELHHB)

Bibliography