Balthasar Resinarius (Composer)

Born: c1486 (or 1485, or 1480) - Jessen, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
Died: April 12, 1567 (or 1544, or 1546)

The German composer, Balthasar Resinarius, is possibly, but not certainly, identified with Balthasar Harzer or Hartzer. He took holy orders and became Bishop of Laipa in Bohemia, about 1543. He had been a chorister under Isaac in Maximilian I's court chapel. He became a Catholic priest in the service of Hans von Salhausen, but was an early convert to Lutheranism and an important member of the first generation of Protestant composers.

Georg Rhau issued in Wittenberg in 1543, Balthasar Resinarius' Responsorium numero orctoginta de tempore et festis… libri duo. These 80 responsories were Latin pieces aimed at the Lutheran schools, and he was generously represented in Rhaw's chorale collection of 1544 by some thirty settings, on the whole conservative in their cantus firmus style, imitative writing, and old-fashioned (under-third) cadences. One of these works is a Te Deum for two choirs in alternation.

Source: HOASM Website; Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians (1952 Edition)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (December 2005)

Use of Chorale Melodies in his works

Title

Chorale Melody

Year

Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein, Motet-like setting

Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein

1544

Chorale for 3 voices Erhalt uns herr bei Deinem Wort/Verleih uns Freiden gnädiglich

Erhalt uns, Herr bei deinem Wort

Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, 4-pt. Chorale Motet

Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ

1544

Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, for voices

Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland

Links to other Sites

HOASM: Balthasar Resinarius

Bibliography