Johann Beer

Johann Beer (also spelled Bähr, Baer, or Behr, Latinized as Ursus or Ursinus; (28 February 1655, in Sankt Georgen – 6 August 1700, in Weissenfels) was an Austrian author, court official and composer.^[1]

Biography

Beer was born in Austria to Protestant parents. In 1676 he entered the service of Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels as a countertenor. In 1700 he died, aged 45, as the result of a hunting accident.^[2]

His comic writings are reminiscent of Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen.

His work of music theory Musikalische Discurse reveals German baroque performance practice.^[3]

Works and editions

Comic novels

Der Simplicianische Welt-Kucker. The Simplician World-Observer 4 Vols. Halle and Saale 1677–79
Der Abenteuerliche Ritter Hopffen-Sach. The adventurous Knight Hop-Sack. Halle 1678
Der Politische Feuermäuer-Kehrer. Leipzig 1682
Teutsche Winternächte. Nuremberg 1682, English translation German winter nights 1988.^[4]

Music theory

Musikalische Discurse durch die Philosophie deducirt

Music

Missa S. Marcellini for 8 soloists and double choir.^[5]

References

^ James N. Hardin Johann Beer 1983
^ Ferdinand van Ingen, Hans-Gert Roloff, Ulrike Wels Johann Beer: Schriftsteller, Komponist und Hofbeamter, 1655-1700 2003
^ e.g. Philipp Spitta Johann Sebastian Bach: his work and influence 1951 "Johann Bahr, who was in his time Concert-meister at Weissenfels, says that one man conducts with the foot, another with the head, a third with the hand, some with both hands, some again take a roll of paper, and others a stick."
^ German winter nights Johann Beer, John Raymond Russell - 1998
^ edition - für 8 Solisten, 2 vierstimmige Chöre und Instrumente. Erstausgabe von Ursula Jürgens