Nikolaus Decius Explained

Nikolaus Decius (also Degius, Deeg, Tech a Curia, and Nickel von Hof;^[1] c. 1485 – 21 March 1541 (others say 1546^[2]) was a German monk, hymn-writer, Protestant reformer and composer.

Biography

He was probably born in Hof in Upper Franconia, Bavaria, around 1485. He studied at the University of Leipzig and obtained a master's degree at Wittenburg University in 1523 and became a monk.^[3] Although a monk, he was an advocate of the Protestant Reformation and a disciple of Martin Luther.^[3] He was Probst of the cloister at Steterburg from 1519 until July 1522 when he was appointed a master in the St. Katherine and Egidien School in Braunschweig.^{[4] [5]} He wrote in 1523 "Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr", a German paraphrase of the Latin Gloria, adapted by Luther in 1525.^[6] Decius's version was first sung on Easter Day at Braunschweig on 5 April 1523.^[7] Decius's Low German version first appeared in print in Gesang Buch by Joachim Sluter, printed in 1525.^[7]

In 1526, Decius became preacher at the Church of St. Nicholas in Stettin at the same time as Paulus von Rhode was appointed preacher at St. James's in Stettin.^[4] In 1535 he became pastor of St. Nicholas and died there in March 1541 after a suspected poisoning.^[4] Shortly before his death he wrote the hymn "O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig" (O Lamb of God, innocent) sung on a tune from the 13th century. Decius's version was first published in Anton Cornivus's Christliche Kirchen-Ordnung in 1542.^[3] Johann Sebastian Bach used it as a cantus firmus in the opening chorus of his St Matthew Passion. It was translated into English by Arthur Tozer Russell in the 19th century.^[3]

Sources

• Ludger Stühlmeyer: Nikolaus Decius – ein Kirchenlieddichter aus Hochfranken. In: Jahrbuch der Erzdiözese Bamberg 2014. Heinrichs-Verlag Bamberg, 89. Jahrgang 2013, S. 72–76.
• Ludger Stühlmeyer: Die Kirchenlieder des Hofers Nicolaus Decius. In:Curia sonans. Die Musikgeschichte der Stadt Hof. Eine Studie zur Kultur Oberfrankens. Von der Gründung des Bistums Bamberg bis zur Gegenwart. Phil.Diss., Bayerische Verlagsanstalt, Heinrichs-Verlag Bamberg 2010,, S. 110–112, 135–137, 357–358.
• Werner Merten: Decius, Nikolaus. In: Wolfgang Herbst: Wer ist wer im Gesangbuch? S. 73-74 Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2001,
  • Th. Ruys. P. D. Utrecht 1919 (Diss. Amsterdam). H. J. Jaanus. P. D. (Documenta Reformatoria 1960, 247ff.).

Notes and References

1. Müller . Hans-Christian . Korth . Hans-Otto . Decius, Nikolaus. amp.
2. Web site: Decius, Nikolaus. In: Neue Deutsche Biographie (NDB). . Fornacon, Siegfried . Band 3, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin . 1957. 542.
3. Book: McKim, LindaJo K.. The Presbyterian hymnal companion. 3 April 2012. 1 June 1993. Westminster John Knox Press. 978-0-664-25180-2. 76.
4. Web site: Nikolaus Decius (Hymn-Writer, Composer). Bach Cantatas.com. 3 March 2012.
5. Book: Goltz, Georg Friedrich Gottlob. Ausführliche erklärung einiger der vorzüglichsten evangelischen kirchenlieder für schule und haus. 3 April 2012. 1843. T. Scherk. 201.
6. Book: Leahy, Anne. J. S. Bach's "Leipzig" Chorale Preludes: Music, Text, Theology. 3 April 2012. 16 October 2011. Scarecrow Press. 978-0-8108-8181-5. 179.
7. Book: Glover, Raymond F.. The Hymnal 1982 companion. 3 April 2012. February 1995. Church Publishing, Inc.. 978-0-89869-143-6. 789.