Karl Wilhelm Ramler
Karl Wilhelm Ramler was an influential German poet and scholar, recognized for his contributions to literature in the 18th century. Born to a banking family, he developed a passion for literature and languages during his education in Stettin and Halle. After initially studying theology, he moved to Berlin, where he became immersed in the literary scene and formed a mentorship with Johann Ludwig Gleim. Ramler's career included a notable position as a professor of philosophy, rhetoric, and literature at the Prussian army's cadet-training school, which he held for over four decades.
His most significant literary achievement is the Easter cantata "Der Tod Jesu," composed in the 1750s under the patronage of Princess Amalia, which premiered at the Berlin cathedral. Despite his dedication to perfecting poetic form, which sometimes hindered his creativity, Ramler produced a range of works, including odes and literary anthologies. His scholarly approach, characterized by detailed footnotes, made his writing challenging for some readers. Additionally, he was a sought-after literary consultant, known for his authoritative knowledge of Horace, and later took on the role of director at the royal theater. Ramler's legacy is marked by both his poetic contributions and his influence on contemporary literature.
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Karl Wilhelm Ramler
Poet
- Born: 1725
- Died: 1798
Biography
Poet Karl Wilhelm Ramler was the son of bank inspector Wilhelm Nikolaus Ramler and Elisabeth (Fiddechow) Ramler. His interest in and love for literature and languages developed during his schooling, first at the Latin school in Stettin and then at the reputable Waisenhaus Gymnasium in Halle. Ramler studied theology, apparently without much interest, at the University of Halle for one year before moving to Berlin in 1743. He immersed himself in the city’s burgeoning literary community, taking as his mentor Johann Ludwig Gleim. Roughly four years after his arrival in Berlin, he became a professor of philosophy, rhetoric, and literature at the Prussian army’s cadet-training school, and Ramler kept this position, low-paying thought it was, for the next forty-two years.
Ramler’s first major poetic success came in the 1750’s with the Easer cantata Der Tod Jesu, which was translated as The Passion of Our Lord in 1800. Ramler wrote the piece at the behest of Princess Amalia, and the royal concert master composed music for the poem. The cantata was performed for the first time in the Berlin cathedral in 1755, and it was published the following year.
Though Der Tod Jesu became and remained famous, Ramler’s other works have not, for the most part, been well remembered. Ramler admitted that he was so concerned with perfecting the form of his poems that he often felt that he stifled his creativity. He did, however, write numerous heroic odes and compiled noteworthy anthologies, which were praised by his literary contemporaries. Ramler’s scholarly approach to writing made his work somewhat difficult to understand, and he used extensive footnotes to explain his allusions and allegories.
Ramler became a literary consultant and editor for many prestigious writers of the time. Although other writers sought his opinions, Ramler was openly criticized for rewriting the works that he edited, instead of merely making suggestions that would improve them. Ramler was sought out as an advisor by many writers because of his well-known position as an authoritative scholar of Horace, whose style Ramler tried to imitate in the odes which he wrote. His odes commemorate the events of the royal families in Prussia and they allude to many events in classical mythology. In 1786, Ramler joined with author Johann Jakob Engel in running the royal theater. Upon leaving his longtime position at the cadet school in 1790, Ramler became the theater’s sole director for six years.