All for Hymn

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.

~~~~~

O Lord, once lifted on that glorious tree,
As Thou hast promised, draw us unto Thee.

~~~~~

Friday, January 6, 2012

Epiphany Carol: How Lovely Shines the Morning Star

[Improvisation by Ulfert Smidt]

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(?)]

~~~~~

A word-for-word English translation of the German can be found here.

[Improvisation: Evert Groen]

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Fantasia on [obscure] Christmas Carols

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 all both rich and poor

The first thing which I will relate

Is that God did man create

The next thing which to you I'll tell

Woman was made with man to dwell

Then after this was God's own choice

To place them both in paradise

There to remain from evil free

Except they ate of such a tree

And they did eat which was a sin

And thus their ruin did begin

Ruined themselves, both you and me

And all of their posterity

Thus we were heirs to endless woes

Till God the Lord did interpose

And so a promise soon did run

That he would redeem us by His Son

By His Son

Come all you worthy gentlemen that may be standing by

Christ our blessed Saviour was born on Christmas day.