Johann Michael Altenburg

Johann Michael Altenburg was born at Alach, near Erfurt, on Trinity Sunday, June 14, 1584. Following the completion of his studies, he served as a teacher and precentor in Erfurt. He was appointed pastor of Ilversgehofen and Marbach in 1608, moving to Tröchtelborn in 1611 and Gross-Sommern (Sömmerda) near Erfurt in 1621. Amid the turmoil of the Thirty Years' War, he was forced to flee to Erfurt in 1631. Upon hearing news of the Protestant victory at the Battle of Leipzig on September 17, 1631, he composed his most famous hymn. He remained in Erfurt without a formal charge until 1637, when he became deacon of the Augustinian Church, and in 1638, pastor of St. Andrew's Church. He died at Erfurt on February 12, 1640. Altenburg was an accomplished musician and likely composed the melodies as well as the texts for several hymns ascribed to him.

Two of Altenburg's hymns were translated into English:

1. "Aus Jakob's Stamm ein Stern sehr klar" (Christmas), published in his Christliche liebliche und andächtige newe Kirchen- und Hauss-Gesänge (Erfurt, 1620) in three five-line stanzas, though earlier printed in J. Forster's Hohen Festtags-Schreinlein (1611). It was translated by Miss Manington as "From Jacob's root, a star so clear" (1864).

2. "Verzage nicht, du Häuflein klein" (In Trouble), widely known as King Gustavus Adolphus's Battle Hymn. Though traditionally associated with Gustavus Adolphus, who is said to have sung it with his army before the Battle of Lützen in 1632, the five-stanza text in common use was compiled by Altenburg and published in Jeremias Weber's Leipzig Gesangbuch (1638). Catherine Winkworth translated the text as "Fear not, O little flock, the foe" in Lyra Germanica (1855), which gained widespread adoption in British and American hymnals. Other translations include Elizabeth Rundle Charles's "Be not dismay'd, thou little flock" (1858) and Matthias Loy's "Thou little flock, be not afraid" (1880).