Johann Matthäus Meyfart (Hymn-Writer)

Born: 1590 - Jena, Germany
Died: 1642

Johann Matthäus Meyfart became a teacher, then the superintendent of the Gymnasium in Coburg and eventually Professor of Theology. Later he was a pastor at St. Augustine Church in Erfurt. His main goal was to awaken “sleeping Christianity” by preaching about the Final Days, including the Day of Last Judgement, as described in Revelations.

Johann Matthäus Meyfart was responsible, in 1633, for adding the 9^th and final verse to the end of Balthasar Schnurr’s text and melody for the chorale “O großer Gott von Macht” which first appeared in Leipzig in 1632.

One chorale text is still included in the present-day EKG: “Jerusalem, du hochgebaute Stadt.”

Source: ?
Contributed by Thomas Braatz (August 2005)

Texts of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

BWV 46

Chorale Texts used in Bach’s Vocal Works

Title

Year

EKG

Zahn

O großer Gott von Macht

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Bibliography