Römhild or Römhildt, Johann Theodor

views updated

Römhild or Römhildt, Johann Theodor

Römhild or Römhildt, Johann Theodor , German organist and composer; b. Salzungen, Sept. 23, 1684; d. Merseburg, Oct. 26, 1756. He studied with Johann Jakob Bach in Ruhla, and in 1697 entered the Thomasschule in Leipzig, where he was a pupil of Schelle and Kuhnau; later studied at the Univ. of Leipzig (1705–8). He was Kantor at Spremberg and Freystadt. In 1731 he was appointed court musician in Merseburg, and in 1735 Cathedral organist there. He composed over 250 sacred cantatas, 19 secular cantatas, 2 oratorios, 2 masses, a St. Matthew Passion (publ. in Leipzig, 1921), motets, and some instrumental works.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire