Role

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Composer

Period

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Renaissance

 

 

Baroque

Genre

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Choral

 

Nikolaus Decius was a German composer and musician who lived during the Renaissance period. He was born in 1485 in the town of Hof, which is located in the region of Franconia in Germany. Not much is known about his early life, but it is believed that he received his musical education in the town of Nuremberg, which was a center of musical activity during the Renaissance. Decius is best known for his contributions to the development of Protestant hymnody. He was a contemporary of Martin Luther, and like Luther, he was a strong advocate for the use of music in worship. Decius was a skilled composer and arranger, and he wrote many hymns that are still sung today. One of Decius's most famous hymns is "Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr" (To God on High Be Glory). This hymn is based on the Gloria section of the Latin Mass, and it was translated into German by Luther. Decius arranged the melody for the hymn, and it became one of the most popular hymns of the Reformation. The hymn is still sung in churches today, and it is considered to be one of the most important hymns of the Protestant tradition. Decius also wrote many other hymns, including "Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her" (From Heaven Above to Earth I Come), which is a Christmas hymn that is still sung today. He also wrote "Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g'mein" (Now Rejoice, Dear Christians All), which is a hymn that is often sung during the Easter season. In addition to his work as a composer, Decius was also a church musician. He served as the cantor at the St. Sebaldus Church in Nuremberg, which was one of the most important churches in Germany during the Renaissance. As the cantor, Decius was responsible for leading the choir and organizing the music for the church services. Decius's music was highly regarded during his lifetime, and he was considered to be one of the most important composers of his time. His hymns were widely sung in churches throughout Germany, and they helped to establish the Protestant tradition of congregational singing. Decius died in 1541, but his music continued to be sung and performed for centuries after his death. His hymns are still an important part of the Protestant tradition, and they continue to be sung in churches around the world. Decius's contributions to the development of Protestant hymnody have had a lasting impact on the history of music, and his legacy continues to be celebrated today.

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