Former Franziskanerkloster, School of Nikolaus Decius in Hof
Nikolaus Decius (alsoDegius,Deeg,Tech a Curia, andNickel von Hof;[1] c. 1485 – 21 March 1541[2] (others say 1546[3]) was a German monk, hymn-writer,Protestant reformer and composer.
In 1526, Decius became preacher at the Church of St. Nicholas inStettin at the same time asPaulus von Rhode was appointed preacher atSt. James's in Stettin.[2] In 1535 he became pastor of St. Nicholas and died there in March 1541 after a suspected poisoning.[2] Shortly before his death he wrote the hymn "O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig" (O Lamb of God, innocent) sung on a tune from the 13th century. Decius's version was first published inAnton Cornivus'sChristliche Kirchen-Ordnung in 1542.[4]Johann Sebastian Bach used it as acantus firmus in the opening chorus of hisSt Matthew Passion. It was translated into English byArthur Tozer Russell in the 19th century.[4]
Ludger Stühlmeyer:Nikolaus Decius – ein Kirchenlieddichter aus Hochfranken. In:Jahrbuch der Erzdiözese Bamberg 2014. Heinrichs-Verlag Bamberg, 89. Jahrgang 2013, S. 72–76.
Ludger Stühlmeyer:Die Kirchenlieder des Hofers Nicolaus Decius. In:Curia sonans. Die Musikgeschichte der Stadt Hof. Eine Studie zur Kultur Oberfrankens. Von der Gründung des Bistums Bamberg bis zur Gegenwart. Phil.Diss., Bayerische Verlagsanstalt, Heinrichs-Verlag Bamberg 2010,ISBN978-3-89889-155-4, S. 110–112, 135–137, 357–358.
Werner Merten: Decius, Nikolaus. In: Wolfgang Herbst: Wer ist wer im Gesangbuch? S. 73-74 Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2001,ISBN3-525-50323-7
