Georg Rhau
Illustration — Portrait by Lucas Cranach the Elder, c. 1542 Georg Rhau (Rhaw) (1488 – 6 August 1548) was a German publisher and composer. He was one of the most significant music printers in Germany in the first half of the 16th century, during the early period of the Protestant Reformation.
Georg Rhau
Attributed to Lucas Cranach the Elder · Public domain
- Born
- 1488 · Eisfeld.
- Died
- 1548 · Lutherstadt Wittenberg.
- Nationality
- Germany
- Occupation
- composer · musicologist · choir director · conductor · music theorist · editor · printer
- Education
- Leipzig University
- Languages
- German
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Illustration — Portrait by Lucas Cranach the Elder, c. 1542 Georg Rhau (Rhaw) (1488 – 6 August 1548) was a German publisher and composer. He was one of the most significant music printers in Germany in the first half of the 16th century, during the early period of the Protestant Reformation.
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wikidata · Q95638 · wikipedia · Georg Rhau
In this article
Life
Life
He was principally active in Wittenberg, Saxony, the town where Martin Luther is said to have nailed the Ninety-five Theses to the door of the Castle Church, initiating the Reformation. Rhau's support as a printer was critical to Luther's success.
Born in the Thuringian town of Eisfeld, then part of Ernestine Saxony, Rhau from 1513 onwards studied philosophy at the newly established University of Wittenberg. From 1518 he continued his studies at the University of Leipzig where he also worked as a tutor. He was the cantor of Leipzig Thomanerchor from 1518 to 1520. During Luther's Leipzig Debate, he performed his mass Missa de Sancto Spiritu for twelve voices on 27 June 1519. In 1520 Rhau had to leave Leipzig, due to his favourable attitude towards the Reformation, and went on to serve as a schoolmaster in the Mansfeld town of Eisleben and in Hildburghausen. From 1522 he worked as a printer in Wittenberg, where he established his own printing shop and publishing house. In 1528, he is again documented as Thomanerchor organist. Rhau published methodbooks and various significant prints of music by contemporary composers, such as Heinrich Finck, Thomas Stoltzer, Arnold von Bruck, and Ludwig Senfl. His collection is an important document for the development of Lutheran church music.
Identity
Identity
Georg Rhau is recorded as composer, musicologist, choir director, conductor and music theorist.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1548
Georg Rhau died at Lutherstadt Wittenberg.
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Eisfeld.
Birth place
Lutherstadt Wittenberg.
Death place
Primary material
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reference work
- “Georg Rhau”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q95638: Georg Rhau
General reference · Wikidata
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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