부산대학교 도서관

(b Parchim, Mecklenburg, Oct 19, 1632; d Hamburg, May 21, 1704). German theologian, poet and librettist. His parents were originally from Hamburg. He studied theology at Jena, Wittenberg and Leipzig from 1650. He later worked at two Hamburg churches: on 18 March 1660 he became deacon at St Katharinen, from 1673 he was archdeacon and from 19 December 1696, presumably until his death, preacher at St Hiob. His Dramatologia antiquo-hodierna (Hamburg, 1688/R) is an important pamphlet in which he defended opera against the virulent attacks of the Pietist preachers who, since the founding of the Hamburg Opera in 1678, had led impassioned assaults on opera from the pulpits of several of the city’s churches. As one of the members of the orthodox Lutheran clergy opposing the Pietists, Elmenhorst viewed opera as a reasonable form of entertainment, clearly not morally wicked and in no way condemned by biblical pronouncements. His publication helped to gain the support of the city council and their permission to allow the opera to continue. He was himself an important early writer of librettos for Hamburg opera composers, including J.W. Franck, Förtsch and probably Theile. But of greater significance for the history of music are his texts for the ...