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Leigh Penman Member
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AKA Johann Staritz, Johann a Strein etc. Does anyone know of any scholarly articles or analyses devoted to this mysterious and "Ausgabe freudige" (Peuckert) alchemist/chiliast/publisher/freelance writer/religious controversialist? He edited the 'Heldenschatz', a collection of recipes for making magical armour and various herbal cures in the 1610s, as well as several editions of works of Weigel and Paracelsus in the 1620s. He is also known to have undertaken disputations with Jakob Boehme, and to have been involved with Balthasar Walther and Joachim Morsius in Luebeck, also in the 1620s. I have scoured all the Boehme literature (and Peuckert's 'Gabalia') for references to him, in which there are several, but I was wondering if anyone knew of a more sustained treatment of this particularly elusive character? Last edited on Sat Nov 8th, 2008 11:44 am by Leigh Penman |
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Paul Ferguson Member 
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1. All I know of is: Helmut Möller Staricius und sein Heldenschatz: Episoden eines Akademikerlebens Basta: GÖTTINGEN 2003 Don't have an ISBN unfortunately. 2. Didn't this guy also compose (organ?) music? Since there's a lot of interest in 'alchemical' music on this forum it might be worthwhile for someone to explore this angle. Paul |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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The following book may also contain some information about him: Schneider, Heinrich: Joachim Morsius und sein Kreis: Zur Geistesgeschichte des siebzehnten Jahrhunderts (Lübeck, 1929). |
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Leigh Penman Member
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Paul, you are fantastic! I dimly recalled something by an author beginning with M, and you have hit the nail on the head. Many thanks! |
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Leigh Penman Member
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By the way, I've ordered the Moeller book via ILL. When it arrives I'll pass on any information regarding Staricius' musical pursuits. |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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1. A modern edition of the Heldenschatz published in 1978 by Aurum, Freiburg im Breisgau, is available second-hand here, at item 11: http://www.abebooks.de/servlet/SearchResults?vci=8466026&vcat=6569842&vcatn=Volkskunde,+Aberglaube+%26amp;+Zauberei 2. Some information about a madrigal composer called Johann Staricius who was organist at S. Lorenz in Frankfurt a. M. around 1609 is available here, though it may not be the same person: http://de.wikisource.org/wiki/ADB:Staricius,_Johann Paul |
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Grantley McDonald Member 
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Dear Leigh, I guess you know Hereward Tilton's article "OF ELECTRUM AND THE ARMOUR OF ACHILLES: MYTH AND MAGIC IN A MANUSCRIPT OF HEINRICH KHUNRATH (1560-1605)", Aries 6.2 (2006), pp. 117-157, which has a bit on Staricius? The old edition of the German musical encyclopaedia "Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart" [Bd. 12, p. 1186, copyright Bärenreiter-Verlag 1986 / Digitale Bibliothek Band 60) has the following information on Staricius by Harald Kümmerling: Staricius, Johann, Lebensdaten unbekannt. Auf dem Titelbl. von 1609 bezeichnet sich Staricius als Org. in Frankfurt/M., als poeta laureatus und aus Schkeuditz gebürtig. Staricius ist gewiß der Autor der sämtl. Texte; das sächs. Idiom wird mehrmals deutlich. Die Anlage des Werkes ist außergewöhnlich. Die fünfst. Sätze stehen vor den vierst., eine Vorr. fehlt. Die Setzart ist uneinheitlich und läßt auf mehrere Komp. schließen. In einer seltenen Vielfalt sind der Reihe nach (unbezeichnet) Canzone, Madrigal, Ballett, Canzonette und Allemande vertreten. Wie aus mancherlei Betonungsfehlern und sinnwidrigen Textteilungen ersichtlich ist, sind alle Texte offensichtlich nachträglich unterlegt. Für die Nr. 2 hat E. Bohn die Nr. 7 aus Th. Morleys Ballets, 1595, und für die Nrn. 7-13 die Nrn. 7-9, 12 (zweimal), 13 und 1 aus Morleys Madrigals, 1594, als notengetreue Vorlagen nachgewiesen. Auf die ursprünglichen Texte nimmt Staricius keinen Bezug. Da Staricius es wagt, sich als Autor eindeutig fremder Kompos. zu bezeichnen, sind auch für die restlichen Stücke ausländische Quellen zu vermuten. Die Vorlagen für die Nrn. 18-20 können auch instr. Täntze gewesen sein. Staricius scheint V. Haußmann nachahmen zu wollen, denn in der 2. Strophe von Nr. 11 ist dieser der »Componist, welchen die Götter so nah sind verwandt.« Werk: Newer Teutscher Weltlicher Lieder nach Art der Welschen Madrigalen neben etzlichen Teutschen Tänzen, 1609, 4 Stb. (Nr. 1-6 à 5, Nr. 7-23 à 4), alle Nrn. textiert u. mit lat. Motto als Überschrift. Literatur: E. Bohn, 50 hist. Konz. in Breslau 1881-92. Nebst einer bibliogr. Beigabe: Bibl. des gedr. mehrst, weltl. deutschen Liedes vom Anfang des 16. Jh. bis ca. 1640, Breslau 1893, Hainauer. The following entry is in Grove Music Online (Oxford Music Online, accessed November 17, 2008) Staricius, Johann [Johannes] (b Schkeuditz, nr Leipzig; fl 1609). German ?composer, poet and organist. His place of birth and the only other known facts about him – that he was a Poet Laureate and an organist at Frankfurt – are given in his only publication: Newer teutscher weltlicher Lieder nach Art der welschen Madrigalen neben etzlichen teutschen Tänzen (RISM 1609²9); the first six pieces are for five voices, the remaining 17 for four. He himself certainly wrote the texts, which include words in the Saxon dialect and are prefaced by Latin mottoes. The pieces include canzonas, canzonets, ballettos, madrigals and allemandes, though none is labelled as such. Bohn established that for no.2 Staricius borrowed no.7 of Morley’s book of five-part balletts of 1595, and that nos.7–13 are identical with nos.7–9, 12 (which he used twice), 13 and 1 respectively of Morley’s four-part madrigals of 1594. This unacknowledged borrowing encourages the assumption that he took other foreign pieces, perhaps including further English ones, as the basis of the other numbers and raises doubts as to whether he was a composer at all. Certain maladroit features of the texts suggest that he found it difficult to fit his words to the pre-existing music. He was probably a friend of Valentin Haussmann, whom he addressed in no.11 as ‘the composer to whom the gods are so closely related’ and who, significantly, brought out at Nuremberg in 1609 a German edition of Morley’s balletts of 1595, properly attributed. Bibliography KermanEM E. Bohn: Fünfzig historische Conzerte in Breslau, 1881–1892, nebst einer bibliographischen Beigabe: Bibliothek des gedruckten mehrstimmigen weltlichen deutschen Liedes vom Anfang des 16. Jahrhunderts bis ca. 1640 (Breslau, 1893) Friedrich Baser |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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Also a brief mention here, in the "Biographisch-bibliographisches Quellen-Lexikon der Musiker und Musikgelehrten der christlichen Zeitrechnung bis zur Mitte des neunzehnten Jahrhunderts": http://www.archive.org/stream/biographischbibl09eitn/biographischbibl09eitn_djvu.txt |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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A dissertation "Das deutsche Lied von Orlando di Lasso bis Johann Hermann Schein" downloadable here: http://www.dissertationen.unizh.ch/2006/bruns/diss.pdf also contains several references to Staritius' music. |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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Leigh, You may have already picked up the following reference to Staricius, but just in case you haven't: La philosophie de Jacob Boehme by Alexandre Koyre Published by Ayer Publishing, 1929 ISBN 083371953X, 9780833719539 page 49, and footnote 14 on that page |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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See also page xi of: A Rosicrucian Notebook: The Secret Sciences Used by Members of the Order by Willy Schrodter Published by Weiser, 1992 ISBN 0877287570, 9780877287575 |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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See also page 36 of: Verborgene Weisheit: Johann Arndts "vier Bücher vom wahren Christentum" als Programm einer spiritualistisch-hermetischen Theologie By Hermann Geyer Published by Walter de Gruyter, 2001 ISBN 3110170566, 9783110170566 where he is referred to as 'Jonas a Strein'. Last edited on Tue Nov 18th, 2008 04:38 pm by Paul Ferguson |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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Also: Philosophie in Deutschland zwischen Reformation und Aufklaerung: 1550-1650 By Siegfried Wollgast Published by Akademie Verlag, 1993 ISBN 3050020997, 9783050020990 page 513 Last edited on Tue Nov 18th, 2008 07:00 pm by Paul Ferguson |
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Leigh Penman Member
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Thanks for the references Paul. I have seen all of them except for Schroedter's book. I'm not sure if it's a particularly reliable book, in any event! Well, thanks to Grantley's excellent detective work on the musical side of things, (and before I have seen Moeller's book, which is still yet to reach these improbably distant shores) it seems that we can indeed tentatively confirm that the organist and composer Johann Staricius, Poet Laureate, is also the same Johann Staricius, poeta coronatus, (aka Jonas a Strein, etc ad nauseum) author of Heldenschatz and editor of some of Weigel's works. The most interesting investigation I have found of Staricius so far is from Opel's 'Valentin Weigel' (Leipzig: 1864), 86 (also on google books, I believe). Opel has jumped through all these hurdles before us but concluded that Staricius was NOT the editor of the Heldenschatz, the production of which he found incompatible with authors' other activities... Of all things, I have still not been able to find a copy of his 'Newe Teutsche Weltliche Lieder' (1609) either through the vd17 or KVK. Will report back when I know more! |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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To whet your appetite, here is the table of contents from Moeller's volume (attached). Attachment: 367517302.pdf (Downloaded 1367 times) |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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One more (rather obscure) reference: Haberkamm, Klaus, in “Allegorical and Astrological Forms in the Works of Grimmelshausen with Special emphasis on the Prophecy Motif,” contained in Otto, Karl F., Jr., ed. A Companion to the Works of Grimmelshausen. Rochester, NY: Camden House, 2003, footnote pp. 39-40, seems to think that Grimmelshausen may have been influenced by Staricius in some of his choice of imagery. Last edited on Wed Nov 19th, 2008 03:09 pm by Paul Ferguson |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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Leigh Penman wrote:Thanks for the references Paul. I have seen all of them except for Schroedter's book. I'm not sure if it's a particularly reliable book, in any event! Sorry, it is a bit of a dodgy one. I didn't look too closely  |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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Leigh Penman wrote:
I know that the Chor ArtKapella from Schkeuditz have performed some of his songs at concerts, so there must be a performing edition. art-Kapella Schkeuditz e.V. Teichstr. 07 04435 Schkeuditz http://www.artkapella.de/ |
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Leigh Penman Member
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ok, I have received and read Moeller's book. It is an interesting little text, with some perceptive commentaries on various unusual aspects of early-modern life (one digression concerning the matriculation records of the UNiversity of Leipzig turned out to be especially useful for me, albeit in a very different context.) I am not sure if this is the place for a (very brief) review, but I will just state that I think it unfortunate that Moeller concentrated on the 'episodic' nature of the narrative. While this reflects Staricius frustratingly enigmatic entries and exits into recorded history, the author was unwilling to really attempt to link Staricius to broader movements or ideas. In addition to musical interests, Staricius also authored a couple of purely political tracts, which cried out for more attention. While some speculation is of course necessary to do so (which is probably what Moeller was trying to avoid), I get the sense that at the end of the day there was little of interest presented in this work for people not specifically concerned with Staricius himself. Anyway, it was a good little read. |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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A couple more musical references, just in case you don't have them: Vetter, Walther Das Frühdeutsche Lied : Ausgewahlte Kapitel aus der Entwicklungsgeschichte und Aesthetik des Ein- und Mehrstimmigen Deutschen Kunstliedes, Erstes Band Von Walther Vetter Emsdetten, Westf.: Verlage Lechte, 1928, 350 p. Gerber, Ernst Ludwig Neues historischbiographisches Lexikon der Tonkunstler, welches Nachrichten von dem Leben und den Werken musikalischer Schriftsteller, berühmter Componisten, Sunger, Maister auf Instrumenten, Orgel- und Instrumentenmacher etc. aus allen Nationen enthalt ... 4 Bde. Leipzig: 1812-14 |
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Leigh Penman Member
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Actually, the music thing is interesting on Staricius' part. Having read Moeller's book, I am still not sure if his songbook of 1609 still exists. However, later, in the early 1620s, he propduced several editions of the same collection of verse-form poems, which could be sung according to the tune of various hymns, etc. His Newe Teutsche Liede was probably a plagiarism of others' work. However, the books from the 1620s comprise of lyrics written by Staricius. Several copies of these works indeed survive, although there is not the slightest 'alchemical' element to them. Staricius' case has thrown this stuff about "alchemical music", "musical alchemists" and "alchemy and music" in a curious light. I will write a more indepth post on this matter shortly... |
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Grantley McDonald Member
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Dear Leigh, You will find a full set of four partbooks (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) for Staricius' Newer Teutscher Weltlicher Lieder : nach Art der Welschen Madrigalen ; neben etlichen lieblichen Teutschen Täntzen, sobol in lebendiger Stimmen als auff allerhand Musicalischen Instrumenten und Seytenspielen gantz lieblich zugebrauchen mit fuenff und vier Stimmen (Frankfurt: Steinius, 1609) in the Niedersächsische Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek in Göttingen under the shelfmark MUS.003.002.004 Saec. XVII. I expect that any dedicatory, explanatory or subsidiary texts will be in the tenor partbook. (The library also has a stack of other material by Staricius.) It will be interesting to see how much of the music he actually wrote... Grantley |
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Paul Ferguson Member
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Grantley McDonald wrote:Dear Leigh, Great find! Here is a URL: http://opac.sub.uni-goettingen.de/DB=1/SET=1/TTL=1/START_WELCOME A search for "Staricius" gives 20 hits. Items 16-20 are the Lieder. |
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