Saturday, November 28, 2009

Advent I: Savior of the Nations, Come

Dating back to Ambrose (340-397)and translated to German by Martin Luther, "Savior of the Nations, Come" is a wonderful way to ring in Advent and the "new year" of the church.

Not by human flesh and blood,
By the Spirit of our God,
Was the Word of God made flesh - 
Woman's offspring, pure and fresh.



For a word-for-word translation of the German text, check out the first half of this video. The translation appears in text while the organ plays the chorale.



Here's a guy just having fun with the tune. I call it "Hymn and Toccata in G-Dorian."



And this guy has fun with the tune and likes the harmonies in both Lutheran Worship and Lutheran Service Book.



For all you orchestral fans out there, this is a lovely instrumental arrangement by JS Bach. If it ain't baroque, fix it!



From Cantata 61, in German. This is not your ordinary church choir; they can do a trill in unison!



For You are the Father's Son
Who in flesh the vict'ry won.
By Your mighty pow'r make whole
All our ills of flesh and soul.

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