Melchior Teschner
1584 - 1635
Lutheran
Biography
Melchior Teschner (1584–1635) was a German Lutheran cantor, pastor, and composer. Born at Fraustadt in Silesia, now Wschowa in Poland, he studied philosophy, theology, and music at Frankfurt an der Oder and continued his studies at Helmstedt and Wittenberg. From 1609 to 1614 he served as cantor in the Lutheran church at Fraustadt, after which he became pastor at Oberpritschen near his home region.
Teschner is remembered chiefly for the chorale melody now known as ST. THEODULPH or VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN. The tune was associated with Valerius Herberger's hymn “Valet will ich dir geben” and entered a wide international hymn tradition. English-language hymnals later used it for several texts, most famously the Palm Sunday hymn “All Glory, Laud, and Honor.”
ST. THEODULPH has also been printed with James Montgomery's “Hail to the Lord's Anointed,” including Presbyterian and other collections. Teschner's surviving reputation therefore rests less on a large known body of music than on a single durable melody whose rhythmic strength and flexible meter allowed it to travel across languages, denominations, and centuries.
Teschner is remembered chiefly for the chorale melody now known as ST. THEODULPH or VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN. The tune was associated with Valerius Herberger's hymn “Valet will ich dir geben” and entered a wide international hymn tradition. English-language hymnals later used it for several texts, most famously the Palm Sunday hymn “All Glory, Laud, and Honor.”
ST. THEODULPH has also been printed with James Montgomery's “Hail to the Lord's Anointed,” including Presbyterian and other collections. Teschner's surviving reputation therefore rests less on a large known body of music than on a single durable melody whose rhythmic strength and flexible meter allowed it to travel across languages, denominations, and centuries.
Hymns by Melchior Teschner
All Glory, Laud, and Honor
Role: Composer
Hail to the Lord's Anointed
Role: Composer