Beuttner, Nikolaus 1592 - 1610

Nikolaus Beuttner (* before 1592 in Gerolzhofen; † after 1610 in Sankt Lorenzen im Mürztal) was a German teacher and church servant who achieved fame as editor of a Catholic hymn book.

In 1602 Georg Widmanstetter[3] printed in Graz (now Austria) the ''Catholische Gesang-Buch'' (Catholic Hymn Book) published by Beuttner which is one of the most important collections of church songs before David Gregor Corner's ''Groß Catholisch Gesangbuch'' (Great Catholic Hymn Book) (1625). In 1609 Beuttner published a revised edition and until 1718 at least twelve editions appeared. The collection is oriented more towards folk liturgy than catechetics[4] and is aimed less at the singing congregation than at cantors and clergy. It consists mainly of popular, mostly pre-Reformation "Kirchfahrter-Rueff" (i.e. pilgrimage songs; in the late Middle Ages "Ruf" denotes a poetic form of litanies rich in verses[5][6]). Beuttner also took inspiration from the edification book ''Das güldene Hauskleinot'' (1594) by David Mörlin (c. 1565 - after 1608). Some songs from Beuttner's collection are still in use today including: ''Unser lieben Frauen Traum'', ''Es flog ein Täublein weiße'', ''Es wollt ein Jäger jagen, wohl in des Himmels Thron'' (Der geistliche Jäger)[7] ''Christe, du Lamm Gottes'' (GL 204; GLalt 502)