Johann Daniel Herrnschmidt (Hymn-Writer)

Born: April 11, 1675 - Bopfingen, Württemberg, Germany
Died: February 5, 1723 - Halle, Germany

Johann Daniel Herrnschmidt was the son of G. A. Herrnschmidt, who was diaconus of Bopfingen, Württemberg and then town-preacher in that community. He entered the University of Altdorf in 1696 and graduated (M.A. ) in 1698. In the autumn of that year he went to Halle.

In 1702 Johann Daniel Herrnschmidt was made assistant to his father. In 1712 he became superintendent, court-preacher, and Consistorialrath at Idstein. The same year he graduated (D. D.) at Halle. He was appointed Professor of Theology at Halle in 1715 and the following year subdirector of the Orphanage and Pädagagium there. His colleague in the management of the Orphan House was August Hermann Francke.

Johann Daniel Herrnschmidt was one of the best of the older Pietistic school. His hymns are Scriptural but do not possess much poetic force. Most of them were written between 1698 and 1702 while Herrnschmidt was at Halle.

Source: ELHHB Website [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (August 2003)

Texts of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

BWV 503

Chorale Texts used in Bach’s Vocal Works

Title

Year

EKG

Zahn

Steh ich bei meinem Gott

1714

5207

Links to other Sites

Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary Handbook - Biographies and Sources (ELHHB)

Bibliography