Neumark, Georg

GEORG NEUMARK (1621-1681) received his early education at Schleusingen and Gotha. On his way to study law at the University of Königsberg he was robbed, so he was forced to take a tutorship in Kiel for two years. Finally he reached Königsberg and stayed five years, studying law and poetry. He had several years of scant employment, but in 1652 he was appointed court poet, librarian and registrar to the Duke of Weimar, and later secretary of the ducal archives. He was blind during the last year of his life. He produced 34 hymns, many written in times of difficulty and misfortune. He left one principal volume of sacred and secular songs, Fortgeflantzter Musikalisch-Poetischer Lustwald (1657). He is best remembered in hymnody for his text, "If You Will Trust in God to Guide You," paired with his tune, WER NUR DEN LIEBEN GOTT.