Johann Rosenmüller

Rosenmüller was born in Oelsnitz, near Plauen in Saxony. He studied at the University of Leipzig, graduating in 1640. He served as organist of the Nikolaikirche Leipzig from 1651, and had been assured of advancement to cantor. He became director of music in absentia to the Altenburg court in 1654. In 1655 he was accused of homosexual activities with choirboys. To avoid prison, he fled to Italy and, by 1658, was employed at St Mark's Basilica in Venice. He composed many vocal works while teaching at an orphanage for girls (Ospedale della Pietà), between 1678 and 1682. The works of Giovanni Legrenzi were among his Italian influences and his sacred compositions show the influence of Heinrich Schütz. In his last years, Rosenmüller returned to Germany with Duke Anton-Ulrich of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, at whose court he served as choir master. He died in Wolfenbüttel on 10 September 1684, and is buried there.

Kern-Sprüche mehrentheils aus heiliger Schrifft Altes und Neues Testaments (Core sentences, mostly from holy scriptures Old and New Testament), Leipzig (1648) Aeterne Deus, clementissime Pater, 1v, 2 str, bc Christum lieb haben, 3vv, 2 str, bc Coeli enarrant gloriam Dei, 3vv, 2 str, bc Danket dem Herren und prediget, 2vv, 2 str, bc Danksaget dem Vater, 5vv, 2 str, bc Daran ist erschienen die Liebe Gottes, 5vv, 2 str, bc Das ist das ewige Leben, 3vv, bc Das ist ein köstlich Ding, 2vv, 5 str, bc Die Augen des Herren, 4vv, 2 str, bc Ein Tag in deinen Vorhöfen, 3vv, 2 str, bc Habe deine Lust an dem Herren, 1v, 5 str, bc Hebet eure Augen auf gen Himmel, 2vv, 2 str, bc In te Domine speravi, 4vv, 2 str, bc Lieber Herr Gott, 1v, 3 str/brass, bc Mater Jerusalem, civitas sancta Dei, 2vv, 2 str, bc Meine Seele harret nur auf Gott, 3vv, 2 str, bc O admirabile commercium, 2vv, 4 str/brass, bc O Domine Jesu Christe, adoro te, 3vv, bc O nomen Jesu, nomen dulce, 4vv, bc Treiffet ihr Himmel von oben, 1v, 2 str, bc Andere Kern-Sprüche (Other core sentences), Leipzig (1652–1653) Also hat Gott die Welt geliebet, 5vv, 5 str/brass, bc; Amo te Deus meus amore magno, 2vv, 4 str/brass, bc; Christum ducem, qui per crucem, 1v, 2 str, bc; Das ist meine Freude, 1v, 2 str, bc; Der Name des Herren, 5vv, 2 str, bc; Die Gnade unseres Herren Jesu Christi, 4vv, bc; Domine Deus meus, 2vv, 2 str, bc; Herr mein Gott, ich danke dir, 3vv, 2 str, bc; Herr, wenn ich nur dich habe, 1v, 5 str, bc; Ich bin das Brod des Lebens, 3vv, 2 str, bc; Ich hielte mich nicht dafür, 4vv, bc; Ist Gott für uns, 1v, 5 str, bc; Kündlich gross ist das gottselige Geheimnis, 3vv, bc; O dives omnium bonarum dapum, 1v, 3 str/brass, bc; O dulcis Christe, bone Jesu charitas, 2vv, 3 str/brass, bc; Siehe an die Wercke Gottes, 5vv, 5 str/brass, bc; Siehe des Herren Auge, 3vv, 2 str, bc; Vulnera Jesu Christi, 1v, 2 str, bc; Wahrlich, wahrlich ich sage euch, 4vv, 2 str, bc; Weil wir wissen, dass der Mensch, 3vv, 2 str, bc