A Little Night Music, Part II

Similar to Der Mond Ist Aufgegangen, the two selections in the next video fall under the heading of German folk songs or Volklied.

The first hymn, does not fit any tune in Lutheran Service Book or the Lutheran Hymnal. You would have to use, say, "Come to Calvary's Holy Mountain" or "Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty" and repeat the last to musical phrases to make it work. These tunes are not quite suited for an evening song.

Another option would be to sing LSB 428, "Cross of Jesus" with its meter 87.87. followed immediately by LSB 468, "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" with its meter 77.77.

The use of two tunes with one text isn't uncommon in German hymnody, but these particular tunes are not in the same style and were not ever meant to be put together.

Here is the text in German, followed by a word-for-word translation.

~~~~~

Weisst du, wieviel Sternlein stehen
an dem blauen Himmelszelt?
Weißt du, wieviel Wolken gehen
weit hinueber alle Welt?
Gott, der Herr, hat sie gezaehlet,
dass ihm auch nicht eines fehlet
an der ganzen grossen Zahl,
an der ganzen grossen Zahl,



~~~~~

Do you know how many stars are standing
in the blue sky?
Do you know how many clouds go
far across the world?
God, the Lord has number them,
that in Him also not one lacks
of the entire big number,
of the entire big number.



~~~~~

Where the first folk song is metered 87.87.77.77., the second folk song is metered 77.77.87.87. Again, there is no tune in TLH or LSB that can be used. Now, I wouldn't recommend it, but you could sing the tune for LSB 486, "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" followed by LSB 428, "Cross of Jesus." Ugh! Don't do it! Perhaps you or another musician can transcribe this beautiful tune instead. I personally would love to learn this one!

Please note this particular song has at it's center the moon and not Jesus, so perhaps the discussion on tunes is futile if we are talking about the Divine Service or perhaps Evening Prayer.

~~~~~

Guter Mond, du gehst so stille
durch die Abendwolken hin.
Deines Schoepfers weiser Wille
hiess auf jene Bahn dich zieh'n.
Leuchte freundlich jedem Mueden
in das stille Kaemmerlein
und dein Schimmer giesse Frieden
ins bedraengte Herz hinein!



~~~~~

Dearest Moon, you go so quietly
through the evening clouds.
The will of your Creator
takes you on the path.
Friendly light of every tired one
be in that quiet little chamber
and pour your light of peace
into the troubled heart.

A Little Night Music, Part I

The Evening Hymns perhaps make up my favorite section in the hymnal.

I came across an evening hymn service in Germany a few days ago.

As best I can, I will try to give translations. The first is a favorite bedtime prayer for many who are of German ancestry. So, dim the lights, set the video to full screen, light your own candle, and enjoy!

~~~~~

Müde Bin Ich

Muede bin ich, geh' zur Ruh',
schließe beide Aeuglein zu.
Vater lass die Augen dein
ueber meinem Bette sein.

Hab ich Unrecht heut getan,
sieh es lieber Gott, nicht an!
Deine Gnad' und Jesu Blut
machen allen Schaden gut.

Alle, die mir sind verwandt,
Gott lass ruhn in deiner Hand.
Alle Menschen gross und klein,
sollen dir befohlen sein.

Back in high school, we learned this hymn alongside Now the Light Has Gone Away. This was first year German, and I had no idea these two hymns were not at all related! For more on the latter's hymn writer, check out this post featuring Francis Havergal over at Wordwise Hymns.

Here is a rough word-for-word translation, with a group effort from the Wittenberg Trail community on stanza 3. Special thanks to Trail friend Rik for piecing together everyones' translation bits into one cohesive stanza.

I am tired, I go to rest.
My little eyes are sleepy.
Father, let Your eyes
Be over my bed.

The wrong I have done today,
Look not on it, Loving God!
Your grace and Jesus' blood
Make all sorrow good.

(Let) all who are akin to me,
Rest, God, in Your hand.
(Keep) all mankind, great and small,
Commended to Your care.

Of course, if you want to sing along in English, you can always sing this fine hymn, which was originally penned in English and is paired with the tune, "Muede Bin Ich."

Now the light has gone away;
Father, listen while I pray,
Asking Thee to watch and keep
And to send me quiet sleep.

Jesus, Savior, wash away
All that has been wrong today;
Help me every day to be
Good and gentle, more like Thee.

Let my near and dear ones be
Always near and dear to Thee.
Oh, bring me and all I love
To Thy happy home above.

Now my evening praise I give;
Thou didst die that I might live.
All my blessings come from The;
Oh, how good Thou art to me!

Thou, my best and kindest Friend,
Thou wilt love me to the end.
Let me love Thee more and more,
Always better than before.

LCMS Convention Proposals

All for Hymn is a decidedly Confessional Lutheran blog, but the author does not want to bring his denomination's politics into a blog about hymns.

So, if you want to discuss these things, you can check out the facebook page for Iggy Antiochus (the author of All for Hymn) or you can follow the commentary over at Vocation in the Valley. The writer of VV is facebook friend Brian Y., who is a delegate for the convention.

Both Brian and I are walking through each resolution. Brian is more informed, since he has been to delegate meetings and other events to that aid delegates in their decisions.

Brian operates a public blog, so you can go ahead and leave comments at will over there. You probably need to be a facebook friend to see my comments. When requesting facebook friendship, please let me know you are a blog reader using "add a personal message."

For the hymn below, I am providing the public domain words. They will differ slightly from the ones that are sung.

~~~~~

Ach Bleib Uns Herr
Lord Jesus Christ, With Us Abide



Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide,
For round us falls the eventide;
O let Thy Word, that saving light,
Shine forth undimmed into the night.



In these last days of great distress
Grant us, dear Lord, true steadfastness
That we keep pure till life is spent,
Your holy Word and Sacrament.



To hope grown dim, to hearts turned cold
Speak tongues of fire and make us bold
To shine Your Word of saving grace
Into each dark and loveless place.



Restrain, O Lord, the human pride
That seeks to thrust Your truth aside
Or with some man-made thoughts or things
Would dim the words Your Spirit sings.



Stay with us, Lord, and keep us true;
Preserve our faith our whole life through-
Your Word alone our heart's defense,
The Church's glorious confidence.

US Memorial Day: Taps

As the sun has set for the evening, we turn our attention to those who have died in service to our country. Thanks to facebook friend Wayne for this quote.

It is the soldier,
not the reporter,
who has given us the freedom of the press.

It is the soldier,
not the poet,
who has given us the freedom of speech.

It is the soldier,
not the campus organizer,
who gives us the freedom to demonstrate.

It is the soldier who salutes the flag,
who serves beneath the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
who allows the protester to burn the flag.

~~~~~

From facebook friend Wayne...

US Memorial Day: The Coast Guard Hymn

The Coast Guard closes each chapel service at the academy with the following verse...

Eternal Father, Lord of hosts,
Watch o’er all those who guard our coasts.
Protect them from the raging seas
And give them light and life and peace.
Grant them from Thy great throne above
The shield and shelter of Thy love.

It is the same tune as Eternal Father, Strong to Save (the Navy Hymn), and can be added in to that hymn or substituted for stanza 1 (as long as you are not going to offend any Navymen!).

On a personal note, Carolyn, this is for you!

US Memorial Day: The Marine Hymn

The Marine Hymn is decidedly NOT for Divine Service consumption. This hymn is all about the Marines and not about the Lord protecting our nation.

First, the words, then a few interesting video clips.

~~~~~

From the Halls of Montezuma
To the shores of Tripoli
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land, and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marine.

Our flag's unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in every clime and place
Where we could take a gun.
In the snow of far-off Northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job --
The United States Marines.

Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we've fought for life
And never lost our nerve.
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes,
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.

~~~~~

Marine Graduates sing their hymn



~~~~~

Anchors' Aweigh, The Marine Hymn and Dismissal
from a Marine graduation ceremony



~~~~~

First Division Marine Band on parade



~~~~~

Kate Smith
as heard through a Grammaphone
on an EP album

US Memorial Day: The Air Force Hymn

The Navy Hymn and The Army Hymn may be used in the Divine Service. We see in the Air Force Hymn is more specific to their duties. Perhaps if you were honoring pilots during a Sunday Service, this would be appropriate.

~~~~~

Lord, guard and guide the men who fly
Through the great spaces of the sky;
Be with them traversing the air
In darkening storms or sunshine fair

Thou who dost keep with tender might
The balanced birds in all their flight
Thou of the tempered winds be near
That, having thee, they know no fear

Control their minds with instinct fit
What time, adventuring, they quit
The firm security of land;
Grant steadfast eye and skilful hand

Aloft in solitudes of space,
Uphold them with Thy saving grace.
O God, protect the men who fly
Thru lonely ways beneath the sky.