Nicolai, Philipp

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Nicolai, Philipp

Nicolai, Philipp, German theologian, poet, and composer; b. Mengeringhausen, near Kassel, Aug. 10, 1556; d. Hamburg, Oct. 26, 1608. Following studies with J. à Burck and L. Helmbold in Mühlhausen and F. Beurhaus in Dortmund, he studied theology in Erfurt (1575–76), Wittenberg (1576–79), and at the Volkhardinghausen Monastery. In 1582 he was made pastor in Herdecke. He espoused the Lutheran faith and completed his training in theology with Aegidius Hunnius in Wittenberg, where he took his degree in 1594. In addition to his large output of theological works and poems, he brought out the devotional vol. Der Freudenspiegel des ewigen Lebens (Frankfurt am Main, 1599), which includes his celebrated songs “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern” and “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme.”

Bibliography

L. Curtze, D.P. N.s Leben und Lieder (Halle, 1859); V. Schultze, P. N. (Mengeringhausen, 1909).

—Laura Kaun/Dennis McIntire

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Nicolai, Philipp

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