Paulinerkirche, Leipzig

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Paulinerkirche
Fotothek df roe-neg 0000284 002 Augustusplatz mit Paulinerkirche.jpg
The Paulinerkirche, the university church of Leipzig, view from the Augustusplatz, 1948, facade by Arwed Roßbach
Paulinerkirche, Leipzig
Location Leipzig
Country Germany
Denomination Lutheran
Previous denomination Catholic
History
Dedication St. Paul
Architecture
Style Gothic
Groundbreaking 1229
Completed1231
Demolished30 May 1968
Paulineraltar, the back side Pauliner Altar Thomaskirche.jpg
Paulineraltar, the back side

The Paulinerkirche was a church on the Augustusplatz in Leipzig. It was built in 1231 as the Klosterkirche St. Pauli for the Dominican monastery in Leipzig. From the foundation of the University of Leipzig in 1409, it served as the university church. After the Protestant Reformation it was donated to the university and was inaugurated in 1545 by Martin Luther as the Universitätskirche St. Pauli (University Church of St Paul), later also called Unikirche. Johann Sebastian Bach was director of music for "festal" (holiday) services in 1723−25.

Contents

The church survived the war practically unscathed but was dynamited in 1968 during the communist regime of East Germany. After the reunification of Germany, it was decided to build a new university church on the site in the shape of the former church. [1] A new building, the Paulinum (formally: "Aula und Universitätskirche St. Pauli", i.e. "Assembly Hall and University Church St. Paul"), was built on the site beginning in 2007.

History

Dominican Abbey

In 1229, friars of the Dominican Order settled in Leipzig and started building the Paulinerkirche in 1231 as their abbey church, within the city walls close to the gate "Grimmaisches Tor". It was built in the typical fashion of a church of a Mendicant order of the 13th century, with a choir and a nave with two aisles in the "Langhaus". [2] The church was consecrated in 1240 by archbishop Wilbrand from Magdeburg to St. Paul. [3] The church was part of a larger complex of medieval buildings which together formed the Dominican monastery of Leipzig.

University Church

The Paulinerkirche in the 17th century, lithograph by Ernst Wilhelm Strassberger, ca. 1839 Leipzig Universitatskirche.JPG
The Paulinerkirche in the 17th century, lithograph by Ernst Wilhelm Straßberger, ca. 1839

Since the foundation of the University of Leipzig in 1409, the church was closely related to the university. [2] A tradition of "Universitätsgottesdienst" (university service) started then, [3] with preachers appointed by the university since 1419. [4] The altar from the 15th century is now in the Thomaskirche. [5] Several faculty members of the university and their relatives were buried in the church, commemorated on epitaphs of artistic value, people such as Johann Christoph Marci (law), Christian Friedrich Franckenstein (historian) and Benedikt Carpzov (1595-1666, law), whose epitaph was restored in 2011. [6] Johann Tetzel, a Dominican preacher famous for selling indulgences, was buried in 1519. [2]

After the Protestant Reformation the order was dissolved, and on 22 April 1544 Moritz von Sachsen signed the donation of the former monastery (i.e. the church and the adjunct monastery buildings) to the university. [7] The Paulinerkirche was inaugurated as a Protestant university church by Martin Luther on 12 August 1545. [2] Luther's sermon on this occasion is extant in his handwriting, the so-called Zerbster Handschrift ("Eine predigt || D. Martini || Lutheri, newlich zu Leip= || tzig gethan. || Wittemberg. || Durch Hans Lufft. || 1545."), [8] printed in Nuremberg in 1545 ("Ein nütze Lehr, unnd || schöne vermanung, || Wie Gott durch das H. Euangeli= || on uns heimgesuchet, unnd wir || uns dagegen halten sollen. || Gepredigt zu Leipzig, || durch || D. M. Luther || M.D.XLV. ... Gedruckt zu Nürm= berg durch Johan vom Berg, || und Ulrich Newber, wonhafft auff dem Newen= || baw bey der Kalckhütten. Anno 1545.), [9] and printed in Leipzig in 1817 when the church was reopened after the Battle of Leipzig. [10]

The church was used for services and, from 1543 to 1768, also as Aula, an auditorium for academic functions. [3] Samuel Rüling was music director in Leipzig, also for the Paulinerkirche, from 1610 to 1612, when he moved on to the Kreuzkirche in Dresden. Werner Fabricius was the first "Director musices Paulini" (director of music of St Paul) from 1656 to 1679. He was succeeded by Johann Schelle (1679–1701) and Johann Kuhnau (1701–1722). [11] An organ at the western wall was first heard on 2 November 1679. In 1717 the new organ by Johann Scheibe was inspected by Johann Sebastian Bach in his function as an organ consultant. Johann Gottlieb Görner was the organist from 1717. His comment was: "nicht gnugsam rühmen und loben können, sonderlich deren Raren Register" ([he could] not praise enough, especially its unusual stops). [3]

When Bach was cantor in Leipzig from 1723, he also performed "festal" (holiday) services at the Paulinerkirche in 1723-25, while Görner was director for regular Sunday services. Possibly Bach performed a new cantata already for Pentecost, Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten, BWV 59 , on 16 May 1723, before he began his tenure as cantor at the Thomaskirche and the Nikolaikirche two weeks later, Sunday after Trinity. [12] On 17 October 1727 Bach performed the funeral ode Laß, Fürstin, laß noch einen Strahl, BWV 198 , requested by the university to mark the death of Christiane Eberhardine, the wife of August II the Strong. Bach performed his motet Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf, BWV 226 , first on 21 October 1729 in a memorial service for Johann Heinrich Ernesti (1652-1729), rector of the Thomasschule. [3] Probably in 1733, Bach performed his cantatas Laßt uns sorgen, laßt uns wachen, BWV 213 (Hercules at the Crossroads), for the birthday of the heir to the throne of the elector, and Tönet, ihr Pauken! Erschallet, Trompeten! BWV 214 , for the birthday of the queen, a cantata which he used as a model for parts of his Christmas Oratorio , namely its opening chorus. [2] Probably in 1735 Bach performed the homage cantata Die Freude reget sich, BWV 36b , to Johann Florens Rivinius on his appointment to the Rectorship of the university in October 1735.

In 1778 Johann Adam Hiller was appointed music director and served until 1785. [11]

19th century

During the Battle of Leipzig in 1813, the church served as a camp for hostages and a military hospital. In the 19th century most of the remaining buildings of the monastery were demolished and replaced by the Augusteum, built from 1831 to 1836. The church had originally faced the city walls, which were torn down in 1785. The church faced the new representative square, later called Augustusplatz. Therefore Albert Geutebrück erected in 1836 a Neoclassical facade, replaced by a Neo-Gothic facade of Arwed Roßbach in 1897. [2]

Felix Mendelssohn conducted his oratorio on the church's patron saint, Paulus , in the first performance in Leipzig on 16 March 1837. [2] [13] The composer's funeral was held in the church on 7 November 1847. [3] In 1907 Max Reger was appointed music director of the university. [3]

Destruction in 1968

Plaque on the site of the church, noting its destruction Gedenktafel Paulinerkirche Leipzig.jpg
Plaque on the site of the church, noting its destruction

The church survived the war practically unscathed, unlike the Augusteum next to it. On 4 April 1968 the Leipziger Universitätschor performed Bach's St Matthew Passion , conducted by Hans-Joachim Rotzsch. [3]

On 30 May 1968, under the communist regime, and after a decision by the SED-led city administration and the university administration, [2] [3] the Paulinerkirche was dynamited to make way for a redevelopment of the university, eventually carried out between 1973 and 1978. Protestors against the blasting operation were arrested.

A plaque at the site was unveiled 25 years later, on 30 May 1993. [3] [14] An A-frame sculpture in the dimensions and at the location of the former facade at the Augustusplatz was a memorial. [15]

The Paulineraltar, the Gothic altar, was rescued and temporarily installed at the Thomaskirche. It was moved to the new church (see below) in 2014. [4]

Rebuilding debate

Since the 1990s the rebuilding of the church had been discussed. Among the people demanding a rebuilding was Nobel Prize-winning biologist Günter Blobel, arguing:

This is much more than a church — this is a shrine of German cultural history, connected to the most important names in German cultural history. [15]

New university church

Construction of the new Paulinum, 2009 Universitat Leipzig Augustusplatz Neubau.jpg
Construction of the new Paulinum, 2009
Paulinum in 2012 PaulinumAugusteum72012.JPG
Paulinum in 2012
View of the prayer room, with historical figures and objects, on the day of the inauguration, 3 December 2017 20171203 Blick zum Altarraum anlasslich der Weihe.jpg
View of the prayer room, with historical figures and objects, on the day of the inauguration, 3 December 2017
View from the choir to the assembly hall 20171201 Blick zur Jehmlich-Orgel.jpg
View from the choir to the assembly hall

The new buildings at the university's main campus are inspired by the form and shape of the old church. The newly built heart of the university includes a room for common prayer and regular religious services, located exactly at the place of the former church. [3] The whole complex has a double function as a church (using the historical name Universitätskirche St. Pauli - University Church St. Paul) and as an assembly hall (Aula). The short name for the whole building with both functions is Paulinum. The first service in the new church was held on 6 December 2009 (the second Sunday in Advent), and it included a performance of Bach's cantata Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 61. [16]

Related Research Articles

Throughout his life as a musician, Johann Sebastian Bach composed cantatas for both secular and sacred use. His church cantatas are cantatas which he composed for use in the Lutheran church, mainly intended for the occasions of the liturgical year.

St. Thomas Church, Leipzig Church in Germany

St. Thomas Church is a Lutheran church in Leipzig, Germany. It is associated with several well-known composers such as Richard Wagner and Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, and especially Johann Sebastian Bach, who worked here as a Kapellmeister from 1723 until his death in 1750. Today, the church also holds his remains. Martin Luther preached here in 1539.

Bach cantata Cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach

The cantatas composed by Johann Sebastian Bach, known as Bach cantatas, are a body of work consisting of over 200 surviving independent works, and at least several dozen that are considered lost. As far as known, Bach's earliest cantatas date from 1707, the year he moved to Mühlhausen, although he may have begun composing them at his previous post in Arnstadt. Most of Bach's church cantatas date from his first years as Thomaskantor and director of church music in Leipzig, a position which he took up in 1723.

<i>Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe</i>, BWV 22 Church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach composed for the last Sunday before Lent within the liturgical year

Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe, BWV 22, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach composed for Quinquagesima, the last Sunday before Lent. Bach composed it as an audition piece for the position of Thomaskantor in Leipzig and first performed it there on 7 February 1723.

<i>Du wahrer Gott und Davids Sohn</i>, BWV 23

Du wahrer Gott und Davids Sohn, BWV 23, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed it in Köthen between 1717 and 1723 for Quinquagesima Sunday and performed it as an audition piece for the position of Thomaskantor in Leipzig on 7 February 1723. The Sunday was the last occasion for music at church before the quiet time of Lent.

<i>Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes</i>, BWV 40

Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, BWV 40, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed it in 1723, his first year in Leipzig, for the Second Day of Christmas, and first performed it on 26 December that year in both main churches, Thomaskirche and Nikolaikirche. It was the first Christmas cantata Bach composed for Leipzig. The title of the cantata also appears in more modern German as Dazu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes.

Augusteum (Leipzig)

The Augusteum was a building on the Augustusplatz in Leipzig, Germany, to the left of the Paulinerkirche. It was built on the original site of the University of Leipzig and served as its main building.

<i>Sehet, welch eine Liebe hat uns der Vater erzeiget</i>, BWV 64

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<i>Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes</i>, BWV 76

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Thomaskantor

Thomaskantor is the common name for the musical director of the Thomanerchor, now an internationally known boys' choir founded in Leipzig in 1212. The official historic title of the Thomaskantor in Latin, Cantor et Director Musices, describes the two functions of cantor and director. As the cantor, he prepared the choir for service in four Lutheran churches, Thomaskirche, Nikolaikirche, Neue Kirche and Peterskirche. As director, he organized music for city functions such as town council elections and homages. Functions related to the university took place at the Paulinerkirche. Johann Sebastian Bach was the most famous Thomaskantor, from 1723 to 1750.

<i>Nimm von uns, Herr, du treuer Gott</i>, BWV 101

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<i>Es reißet euch ein schrecklich Ende</i>, BWV 90

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<i>Jauchzet, frohlocket! Auf, preiset die Tage</i>, BWV 248 I

Jauchzet, frohlocket! Auf, preiset die Tage, BWV 248I, is a 1734 Christmas cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach that serves as the first part of his Christmas Oratorio. Bach was then Thomaskantor, responsible for church music at four churches in Leipzig, a position he had assumed in 1723. For the oratorio, the libretto by an unknown author followed the nativity of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke, interspersed with reflecting texts for recitatives and arias, and stanzas from Lutheran hymns.

Leipziger Universitätsmusik

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<i>Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend</i>, BWV 248 II

Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend, BWV 248II, is a 1734 Christmas cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach as the second part of his Christmas Oratorio. Bach was then Thomaskantor, responsible for music at four churches in Leipzig, a position he had assumed in 1723.

Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen, BWV 248III, is a 1734 church cantata for the third day of Christmas (27 December) which Johann Sebastian Bach composed as the third part of his Christmas Oratorio. The Christmas cantata was first performed in 1734, in Leipzig.

References

  1. ↑ "'Black day' as Leipzig rector resigns in church protest". Times Higher Education . 2003. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Chronik paulinerkirche.org (in German)
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Geschichte der Universitätskirche St. Pauli und des Universitätsgottesdienstes University of Leipzig 2011 (in German)
  4. 1 2 Worship in the University Church of Leipzig Foundation "University Church of St Paul, Leipzig"
  5. ↑ Die Thomas Kirche und das Bachdenkmal leipzig-sachsen.de 2011 (in German)
  6. ↑ Gerettete Kunstwerke aus der Unikirche werden restauriert Mitteldeutsche Zeitung 31 March 2011 (in German)
  7. ↑ Haupturkunde, die Schenkung des Paulinums nebst Zugehör an die Universität Leipzig betreffend, datirt Weissensee, am 22. April 1544 paulinerkirche.org (in German)
  8. ↑ Eynn predigtt D. Martini Lutheri, zcu Leipczigk am zcehendenn Taghe Augusti geschehenn sc paulinerkirche.org
  9. ↑ Eine predigt D. Mart. Luthers gethan zu Leiptzig, am 12. Augusti 1545. paulinerkirche.org
  10. ↑ D. Martin Luthers / Einweihungspredigt, / die er zu Leipzig in der renovirten Paulinerkirche am 12. Aug. 1545 gehalten. / Nebst einer kurzen Nachricht von dieser Kirche. paulinerkirche.org
  11. 1 2 Leipziger Universitätsmusik / Große Tradition - Vielfältige Gegenwart uni-leipzig.de 2011
  12. ↑ John Eliot Gardiner (2006). "Cantatas for Whit Sunday / Holy Trinity, Long Melford" (PDF). monteverdiproductions.co.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  13. ↑ Paulus Oratorium 2011 Archived 2011-08-24 at the Wayback Machine . Accessed 16 June 2011 (in German)
  14. 1 2 Translation: On 30 May 1968 the university church was blown up. This arbitrary act was not prevented by municipal councillors or by the Leipzig University. They did not resist the pressure of a dictatorial regime.
  15. 1 2 Perils of Paulinerkirche / Leipzig Debates Bid to Rebuild Church Razed by Communists National Public Radio 22 June 2003
  16. ↑ Martin Petzoldt: Chronicle of the University Church of St Paul (1240 - 1968) 2009

Coordinates: 51°20′20″N12°22′48″E / 51.338923412°N 12.3799610138°E / 51.338923412; 12.3799610138

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