Nikolaus Decius (Hymn-Writer, Composer)

Born: 1480 or 1485 - probably Hof (originally, Tech), Upper Franconia, Bavaria, Germany
Died: March 21, 1541 - Stettin, Germany

Nikolaus Decius became a monk, and was in 1519 Probst of the cloister at Steterburg, near Wolfenbüttel. Inclining to Martin Luther’s positions, he left Steterburg in July, 1522, and went to Brunswick, where he was appointed a master in the St. Katherine and Egidien School. In 1523, he was invited by the burgesses of Stettin to work there as an evangelical preacher, along with Paulus von Rhode. He became preacher at the Church of St. Nicholas; was probably instituted by the town council in 1526, when von Rhode was instituted at St. Jacob’s; and at the visitation in 1535 was recognized as pastor of St. Nicholas. Some suspected he was poisoned by his enemies.

Source: Cyber Hymnal Website
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (June 2003)

Texts of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

BWV 244/1; BWV 401

Chorale Texts used in Bach’s Vocal Works

Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr (adapted by Martin Luther) (1525; EKG 131)

O Lamm Gottes unschuldig (1522-1523/1531; NLGB 79; GH 104; EKG 55)

Chorale Melodies used in Bach’s Vocal Works

Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr (1522; EKG 131; Zahn 4457)

O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig (1523/1531; Zahn 4361a)

Use of Chorale Melodies in his works

Aleyne God yn der Höge sy eere a 4-pt. setting for voices [This is the original Low German spelling of the title of this famous chorale] (CM: Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr)

Links to other Sites

Nikolaus Decius (Cyber Hymnal)

Bibliography