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Born: November 1, 1618 - Suhl, Thuringia, Germanyl
Died: January 7, 1678 - Stralsund, Pomerania |
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Johann [Johannes] Flittner [Flitner, Flietner; Latinized John Flitnerus] was a German Protestant-Lutheran clergyman, hymn writer and composer. His father owned an iron ore mine (ironmaster) and traded in wine, iron and weapons. Until 1633 Johann Flittner studied at the Stadtschule in Suhl, then the Gymnasium in Schleusingen. In 1637 he began studying theology at the University of Wittenberg, moved in 1640 to the University of Jena and later to the University of Leipzig. In 1643 he came to the University of Rostock. There he heard lectures by Johann Quistorp dem Älteren (the Elder).
On a trip through Pomerania Johann Flittner learned in Tribsees of the vacant Kantor position in Grimmen (near Greifswald), for which he successfully applied. At Easter 1644 he became Kantor, occasionally also took sermons. In 1646 he became Diakon at the Stadtkirche of Grimmen and remained in this position until the end of his life. Just one month after assuming office, he married the widow of his predecessor. Although the minister's post was vacant several times in his time (1664, 1673 and 1676), it was never given to him. He did not have a good relationship with the city pastors who were assigned to him by the senate of the University of Greifswald, who had church patronage.
During the Second Nordic War (Prusso-Swedish war), Johann Flittner fled to Stralsund, but returned to Grimmen in May 1660. In 1659, in exile, he wrote the Himmlische Lust-Gärtlein, which he had printed in Greifswald in 1661, a collection of prayers and hymns. The fifth part Suscitabulum musicum (Musical alarm clock.) contains eleven songs written by himself, of which he set most of the music himself. Nine were included in the Nürnberger Gesangbuch (Nuremberg hymn book) of 1677. J.S. Bach composed several movements on choral stanzas by Flittner (BWV 259, BWV 361, BWV 473). Four were still in use in Pomerania in the 19th century.
During the Swedish-Brandenburg war, Johann Flittner fled again to Stralsund. He died there after suffering for a long time from the White Ruhr. His body was transferred to Grimmen and buried there in front of the altar in Marienkirche.
On May 2, 1646, Johann Flittner married Anna Margarethe Aven, the daughter of the mayor Nicolaus Aven and widow of the Diakon Caspar Helm. The two had five children, three of whom died early. His son of the same name became mayor of Grimmen. |
