Musician. He received recognition as a German music teacher, organist, poet, and composer, who is remembered in the 21st century for the 1824 Christmas carol, "O Christmas Tree". Although not credited as the composer, his Christmas carol is often heard in a variety of Christmas show airings on American television. As his most widely known work, the carol, "O Tannenbaum", was based on a 16th-century Silesian folk song by Melchior Franck. Anschütz added the second and third verses. "O Tannenbaum" was translated into English as "O Christmas Tree." He is also known for his account of the August 27, 1824 death of Johann Christian Woyzeck, who was beheaded for the crime of murdering his mistress Christiane Woost in a jealous rage. Woyzeck's ordeal was later adapted into a stage play, which plot continues to be popular on the German stage in the 21st century. The son of a minister, Anschutz studied theology and received in 1802 a degree in philosophy in Leipzig. After his father's 1806 death, the parish offered him the position of clergy but he declined, deciding to have a musical career instead. First published in 1824, "Musikalisches Schulgesangbuch," which was based on his decades-long collection of German folk songs, contained 262 songs. He later updated the collection in 1828 and 1830. He kept detailed diaries, which were later printed but most did not survive through 1953. Brilliantly, he played the piano, organ, violin, cello and clarinet and gave private lessons on these instruments as well as being a public-school teacher in Leipzig for 50 years. He was a long-time Mason, which may have been the reason for his lack of advancement as an educator. He was a pioneer supporter of teaching music in public schools. Always living in near poverty, he married and had seven children.
Musician. He received recognition as a German music teacher, organist, poet, and composer, who is remembered in the 21st century for the 1824 Christmas carol, "O Christmas Tree". Although not credited as the composer, his Christmas carol is often heard in a variety of Christmas show airings on American television. As his most widely known work, the carol, "O Tannenbaum", was based on a 16th-century Silesian folk song by Melchior Franck. Anschütz added the second and third verses. "O Tannenbaum" was translated into English as "O Christmas Tree." He is also known for his account of the August 27, 1824 death of Johann Christian Woyzeck, who was beheaded for the crime of murdering his mistress Christiane Woost in a jealous rage. Woyzeck's ordeal was later adapted into a stage play, which plot continues to be popular on the German stage in the 21st century. The son of a minister, Anschutz studied theology and received in 1802 a degree in philosophy in Leipzig. After his father's 1806 death, the parish offered him the position of clergy but he declined, deciding to have a musical career instead. First published in 1824, "Musikalisches Schulgesangbuch," which was based on his decades-long collection of German folk songs, contained 262 songs. He later updated the collection in 1828 and 1830. He kept detailed diaries, which were later printed but most did not survive through 1953. Brilliantly, he played the piano, organ, violin, cello and clarinet and gave private lessons on these instruments as well as being a public-school teacher in Leipzig for 50 years. He was a long-time Mason, which may have been the reason for his lack of advancement as an educator. He was a pioneer supporter of teaching music in public schools. Always living in near poverty, he married and had seven children.
Bio courtesy of: Wikipedia
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