Hitzler, Daniel

Hitzler, Daniel, German theologian, music theorist, and editor of hymnbooks; b. Heidenheim an der Brenz, Württemberg, Sept. 26, 1576; d. Strasbourg, Sept. 6, 1635. He received training in theology, music, and other subjects at the Univ. of Tübingen (1595–97). After teaching at the ducal “Stipendium” in Tübingen (1600–03), he became deacon in Waiblingen in 1603, and later was the first Protestant pastor there. In 1609 he became pastor in Güglingen. In 1612 he went to Linz as superintendent, preacher, and teacher of theology at the Protestant school for the nobility. His theological dispute with Kepler led to his opponent’s excommunication from the Protestant faith in 1619. After Bavaria took control of Upper Austria, Hitzler was imprisoned for his advocacy of the Bohemian Confederation (1621–22). Deprived of his positions, he went to Peuerbach, Upper Austria, in 1624 as Kantor of the Protestant church. In 1625 he was made special superintendent and pastor in Kirchheim unter Tech. From 1625 to 1630 he was also general superintendent and abbot of the Bebenhausen monastery. In 1634 he became general superintent in Stuttgart, but was compelled to flee later that year with the approach of the imperial army. Hitzler did valuable labor as a music theorist and editor of hymnbooks. He also wrote theological tomes and poems. His publs. on music include Neue Musica (e. 1615), Extract aus der Neuen Musica oder Singkunst (Nuremberg, 1623), Neue Musica oder Singkunst…editio seeunda et auetior (Tübingen, 1628), Christliche Kirchen-Gesang, Psalmen und geistliche Lieder (Strasbourg, 1634), Musicalisch figurierte Melodien aller und jeder gebräuchigen Kirchen- Gesang, Psalmen und geistlichen Lieder, a 4, von beruhmbten autori-bus musicis (Strasbourg, 1634).

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire