All For Hymn - a blog featuring everybody's favorite topic - HYMNS! Discussions about hymns, their use in the Divine Service, translation issues, etc. will be the focus. Lutheran Service Book will be a primary source. Other traditions may pop up from time to time.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Thanks for stopping by All for Hymn during Holy Week. I've been busy with both secular and sacred work this season, and have not had time to do a blog series for Holy Week. For those of you on Facebook, you can check out the Lenten Lutherans page, where daily readings from Isaiah are posted, plus hymns, a few sermons, other Scripture passages, and (did I mention?) hymns! You can find the Lenten Lutherans page here. This is a "page" and not a "group" so it is easily viewed without having to "join" or "like" something.
The appointed Gospel texts Holy Week are posted there, and the readings for the Great Vigil of Easter and the Resurrection of Our Lord will be posted as well as select hymnody and canticles for both celebrations.
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O Lord, once lifted on that glorious tree, As Thou hast promised, draw us unto Thee.
Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern Voll Gnad' und Wahrheit von dem Herrn, Die süße Wurzel Jesse! Du Sohn David zus Jakobs Stamm, Mein König und mein Bräutigam, Hast mir mein Herz besessen, Lieblich, freundlich, Schön und herrlich, groß und ehrlich, Reich von Gaben, Hoch und sehr prächtig erhaben!
How lovely shines the Morning Star!
The nations see and hail afar
The light in Judah shining.
Thou David's Son of Jacob's race,
My Bridegroom and my King of Grace,
For Thee my heart is pining.
Lowly, Holy,
Great and glorious, Thou victorious
Prince of graces,
Filling all the heavenly places.
[Arrangement: Praetorius]
Ei meine Perl', du werte Kron', Wahr'r Gottes- und Mariensohn, Ein hochgeborner König! Mein Herz heißt dich ein Lilium, Dein süßes Evangelium Ist lauter Milch und Honig. Ei mein Blümlein, Hosianna, himmlisch Manna, Das wir essen, Deiner kann ich nicht vergessen!
O highest joy by mortals won,
True Son of God and Mary's Son,
Thou high-born King of ages!
Thou art my heart's most beauteous Flower,
And Thy blest Gospel's saving power
My raptured soul engages.
Thou mine, I Thine;
Sing hosanna! Heavenly manna
Tasting, eating,
Whilst Thy love in songs repeating.
[Arrangement: Buxtehude]
Geuss sehr tief in mein Herz hinein, Du heller Jaspis und Rubin, Die Flamme deiner Liebe Und erfreu' mich, daß ich doch bleib' An deinem auserwählten Leib Ein' lebendige Rippe! Nach dir ist mir, Gratiosa coeli rosa, Krank und glimmet Mein Herz, durch Liebe verwundet.
Now richly to my waiting heart,
O Thou, my God, deign to impart
The grace of love undying.
In Thy blest body let me be,
E'en as the branch is in the tree,
Thy life my life supplying.
Sighing, Crying.
For the savor Of Thy favor;
Resting never,
Till I rest in Thee forever.
[Arrangement: JS Bach]
Von Gott kommt mir ein Freudenschein, Wenn du mit deinen Äugelein Mich freundlich tust anblicken. O Herr Jesu, mein trautes Gut, Dein Wort, dein Geist, dein Leib und Blut Mich innerlich erquicken! Nimm mich freundlich In dein' Arme, daß ich warme Werd' von Gnaden! Auf dein Wort komm' ich geladen.
A pledge of peace from God I see
When Thy pure eyes are turned to me
To show me Thy good pleasure.
Jesus, Thy Spirit and Thy Word,
Thy body and Thy blood, afford
My soul its dearest treasure.
Keep me Kindly
In Thy favor, O my Savior!
Thou wilt cheer me;
Thy Word calls me to draw near Thee.
[Arrangement: Max Reger]
Herr Gott Vater, mein starker Held, Du hast mich ewig vor der Welt In deinem Sohn geliebet. Dein Sohn hat mich ihm selbst vertraut, Er ist mein Schatz, ich bin sein' Braut, Sehr hoch in ihm erfreuet. Eia, eia, Himmlisch Leben wird er geben Mir dort oben! Ewig soll mein Herz ihn loben.
Thou, mighty Father, in Thy Son
Didst love me ere Thou hadst begun
This ancient world's foundation.
Thy Son hath made a friend of me,
And when in spirit Him I see,
I joy in tribulation.
What bliss Is this!
He that liveth To me giveth
Life forever;
Nothing me from Him can sever.
[Arrangement: JS Bach]
Zwingt die Saiten in Zithara Und laßt die süße Musika Ganz freudenreich erschallen, Daß ich möge mit Jesulein, Dem wunderschönen Bräut'gam mein, In steter Liebe wallen! Singet, springet, Jubilieret, triumphieret, Dankt dem Herren! Groß ist der König der Ehren!
Lift up the voice and strike the string.
Let all glad sounds of music ring
In God's high praises blended.
Christ will be with me all the way,
Today, tomorrow, every day,
Till traveling days be ended.
Sing out, Ring out
Triumph glorious, O victorious,
Chosen nation;
Praise the God of your salvation.
[Arrangement: Samuel Scheidt]
Wie bin ich doch so herzlich froh, Daß mein Schatz ist das A und O. Der Anfang und das Ende! Er wird mich doch zu seinem Preis Aufnehmen in das Paradeis, Des klopf' ich in die Hände. Amen! Amen! Komm, du schöne Freudenkrone, Bleib nicht lange, Deiner wart' ich mit Verlangen!
Oh, joy to know that Thou, my Friend,
Art Lord, Beginning without end,
The First and Last, Eternal!
And Thou at length--O glorious grace!--
Wilt take me to that holy place,
The home of joys supernal.
Amen, Amen!
Come and meet me! Quickly greet me!
With deep yearning,
Lord, I look for your returning.
[The Choir of St. Thomas Episcopal School. Arrangement: JS Bach(?)]
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A word-for-word English translation of the German can be found here.
Macaronic hymns are hymns that use a foreign or classic language and the vernacular of the people. A hymn may come along nicely in English and then end in the Greek phrase, "Kyrie eleison," meaning, "Lord, have mercy."
Sometimes this is a practical choice. The Hebrew word, "hallelujah" (or "alleluia") carries a different tone than it's translation, "Praise the Lord." I mean, Handel's chorus, "Hallelujah" just wouldn't sound the same as, "PRAISE ... THE LO - RD! PRAISE ... THE LO - RD!"
Other times it is left in tact for the beauty of the text. The carol, "In Dulci Jubilo" was originally in German and Latin. For English-speaking folk, most hymnals will translate the entire work into English, but in choral works, the Latin is often left alone.
~~~~~
Setting by Robert Lucas Pearsall (1795-1856)
~
German with Latin:
In dulci jubilo,
Nun singet und seid froh!
Unsers Herzens Wonne
Leit in praesepio;
Und leuchtet wie die Sonne
Matris in gremio. Alpha es et O!
Alpha es et O!
~
English with Latin:
In dulci jubilo,
Let us our homage show!
Our heart's joy reclineth
In praesepio;
And like a bright star shineth
Matris in gremio. Alpha es et O!
Alpha es et O!
~
Full German translation:
Nun singet und seid froh,
Jauchzt all' und saget so:
Unsers Herzens Wonne
Liegt in der Krippe bloß
Leuchtet als die Sonne
In seiner Mutter Schoß.
Du bist A und O.
Du bist A und O.
The embed was disabled for this video, so please click here to view it.
~
Full English translation:
Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart, and soul, and voice;
Give ye heed to what we say:
[News! News!]
Jesus Christ was born to-day:
Ox and ass before Him bow,
And He is in the manger now.
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today!
This English translation is used as the base for Gustav Holst's Christmas Day
which incorporates a number of other obscure carols.
In this translation, the phrase, "News! News!" is added.
~
Full English translation in Lutheran hymnals (TLH 92). It is based on the full German translation:
In sweet rejoicing,
now sing and be glad!
Our hearts' joy
lies in the manger;
And it shines like the sun
in the mother's lap.
You are the alpha and omega!
"I Wonder as I Wander" has it's roots in the Appalachian tradition of North Carolina, but was fully composed in the last century. You can read about it here.
~~~~~
I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
For poor on'ry people like you and like I...
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.
When Mary birthed Jesus 'twas in a cow's stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from God's heaven a star's light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.
If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God's angels in heav'n for to sing,
He surely could have it, 'cause he was the King.
I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
For poor on'ry people like you and like I...
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.
This video features photos taken on Christmas Eve in Appalachia.
Rather than focus on the Christmas account in Luke 2, this carol starts with creation and lays the foundation for the coming Messiah. There is no mention in this carol of shepherds, wise men, angels, mangers, stables, inns, etc. Rather, the focus is on why we need a Savior.
I was able to locate nine verses of this carol. Most settings do not use all of them.
~~~~~
This is the truth sent from above
The truth of God, the God of love
Therefore don't turn me from your door
But hearken will both rich and poor
The first thing that I do relate
Is that God did man create
The next thing which to you I'll tell
Woman was made with man to dwell
And after that, 'twas God's own choice
To place them both in Paradise,
There to remain of evil free
Except they ate of such a tree.
But they did eat, which was a sin,
And so their ruin did begin,
Ruined themselves, both you and me,
And all of their posterity.
Thus we were heirs to endless woes
Till God and Lord did interpose
And so a promise soon did run
That He would redeem us by His Son
And at that season of the year
Our blessed Redeemer did appear
He here did live and here did preach
And many thousands he did teach
Thus He in love to us behaved
To show us how we must be saved
And if you want to know the way
Be pleased to hear what He did say
Go preach the Gospel new, He said,
To all the nations that are made
And he that does believe in me,
From all his sins I’ll set him free.
God grant to all within this place
True saving faith—that special grace,
Which to His people doth belong—
And thus I close my Christmas song.
0:00 Creator Alme Siderum (Plainsong Chant)
1:28 Truth From Above (Setting by Ralph Vaughan Williams)
