The hymn Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten, composed in 1641, remains the most enduring legacy of Georg Neumark, a versatile figure whose career spanned literature, music, and archival administration across the Holy Roman Empire. His life unfolded during a period of upheaval, eventually anchoring him in Thuringia under the patronage of the local nobility.
Early Education and Academic Pursuit
Born in 1621 in Bad Langensalza, Neumark attended gymnasia in Schleusingen and Gotha before enrolling at the University of Königsberg in 1640 to study law. His path was interrupted by war, forcing a temporary relocation to Kiel to work as a tutor. He eventually returned to Königsberg in 1643, where he refined his musical skills with the assistance of Simon Dach.
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Following a period of travel that included stays in Danzig and Thorn, Neumark returned to his native Thuringia in 1651. Councilor Plattner facilitated an introduction to Duke Wilhelm IV of Saxe-Weimar, who appointed him as a librarian and Kanzleiregistrator in 1652. His literary standing grew through his induction into the Fruitbearing Society, where he was assigned the nickname der Sprossende and the emblem of a dark-brown carnation. By 1656, he served as the guardian of the society's shrine. Later, in 1679, he gained membership in the Pegnesische Blumenorden, a society based in Nürnberg.
Musical and Literary Contributions
Neumark’s creative output included both sacred and secular poetry, alongside continuo songs that utilized violin and gamba accompaniment. His melodies were widely regarded during his lifetime. Beyond his famous 1641 hymn, which Johann Sebastian Bach later integrated into his cantata BWV 93, Neumark authored several notable volumes, including Poetisch- und Musikalisches Lustwäldchen, published in Hamburg in 1652, and Poetische Tafeln, released in Nürnberg in 1668. His final work, Thränendes Haus-Kreutz, was printed in Weimar in 1681.
Fast facts
- Born: 1621, Bad Langensalza
- Died: 1681, Weimar
- Education: University of Königsberg
- Religious Affiliation: Lutheranism
- Notable Membership: Fruitbearing Society
- Primary Occupations: Poet, composer, librarian
- Final Resting Place: Jacobsfriedhof, Weimar
Questions readers ask
What is Georg Neumark's most significant contribution?
He is best known for his 1641 hymn, Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten, which later appeared in the works of Johann Sebastian Bach.
What roles did Neumark hold in Weimar?
He served as a librarian and Kanzleiregistrator under Duke Wilhelm IV of Saxe-Weimar.
