Beneken, Friedrich Burchard 08/13/1760 - 09/22/1818

Friedrich Burchard Beneken (1760-1818) was a German Protestant clergyman and composer. He received a clerical education and became deacon in Ronnenburg in 1790 and pastor in Wülfinghausen in 1802. Little is known and preserved of his musical creativity. However, he wrote the air and a choral movement "Wie sie so sanft ruhn, alle die Seligen," to text by Samuel David Roller, which may still be heard today at ceremonies of mourning. This melody was also used for Johann Timotheus Hermes' sacred poem "Ich habe von ferne, Herr, deinen Thron erblickt" and numerous other texts.