I was engaged some time back by the Rev. Jon Vieker to write some biographies for the forthcoming Lutheran Service Book, Hymnal Companion.  The companion is a monumental task, and I am very happy to only be responsible for a small portion of it.  These are the ten men and one women whom I am writing biographies on.

Hermann H. M. Brueckner (1866-1942
Andreas Gryphius (1616-1664)
Heinrich Held (1620-1659)
Frederick W. Herzberger (1859-1930)
Balthasar Kindermann (1636-1706)
Paul E. Kretzmann (1883-1965)
August Lemke (1820-1913)
Anna M. Meyer (1867-1941)
Friedrich O. Reuter (1863-1924)
Oliver C. Rupprecht (1903-2000)
George A. T. Rygh (1860-1942)

It’s an interesting collection.  Mostly German, and largely American Lutheran (as is one of my areas of interest).  I really only knew about a few of them before taking on this project, so it has been/is/shall be an interesting exercise.  I’m partway through, and the deadline is January 2, 2009.

So do any of my gentle readers have any insights into these fine folks?

-LL