CONTENTS
Introduction
Dr. Martin Luther's Preface to all good Hymn Books, 1543
FROM THE "EIGHT SONGS," Wittenberg, 1524.
I. - Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g'mein. (1523)
"A Song of Thanksgiving for the great Benefits which God in
Christ has mainifested to us."
DEAR CHRISTIANS, ONE AND ALL REJOICE.
TRANSLATION in part from R. Massie.
FIRST MELODY, 1524. Harmony by H. Schein, 1627.
SECOND MELODY from Klug's Gesangbuch, 1543. Harmony by M. Praetorius, 1610. This choral is commonly known under the title, "Es ist gewisslich an der Zeit," and, in a modified form, in England and America, as "Luther's Judgment Hymn," from its association with a hymn of W. B. Collyer, partly derived from the German, and not written by Luther.
II. - Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh' darein.
PSALM XII - Salvum me fac, Domine.
LOOK DOWN, O LORD, FROM HEAVEN BEHOLD.
TRANSLATION chiefly from Frances Elizabeth Cox, in "Hymns from the German." FIRST MELODY, 1524, is the tune of the hymn of Paul Speratus, "Es ist das Heil uns kommen her," the singing of which under Luther's window at Wittenberg is related to have made so deep an impression on the Reformer. The anecdote is confirmed by the fact that in the "Eight Songs," Luther's three version of Psalms are all set to this tune.. Harmony by A. Haupt, 1869.
SECOND MELODY from Klug's Gesangbuch, 1543. Harmony by Haupt, 1869. This is the tune in common use with this psalm in northern Germany.
III. - Es spricht der Unweisen Mund wohl.
PSALM XIV.-"Dixit insipiens in corde."
THE MOUTH OF FOOLS DOTH GOD CONFESS.
TRANSLATION from R. Massie.
MELODY from Walter's Gesangbuch, 1525. Harmony by
M. Praetorius, 1610.
IV. - Aus tiefer Noth schrei' ich zu dir.
PSALM CXXX. - "De profundis clamavi."
OUT OF THE DEEP I CRY TO THEE.
TRANSLATION by Arthur Tozer Russel.
FIRST MELODY from Walter's Gesangbuch, 1525. Harmony by
John Sebastian Bach, about 1725.
SECOND MELODY in Wolfgang Koephl's Gesangbuch, 1537, and in George Rhau's, 1544. Harmony by A. Haupt, 1869.
FROM THE "ENCHIRIDION," Erfurt, 1524.
V. - Ein neues Lied wir heben an.
"A Song of the Two Christian Martyrs, burnt at Brussels by the Sophists of Louvain. Which took place in the year 1522." [The real date of the event was July 1, 1523; and the ballard gives every token of having been inspired by the first announcement of the story. The excellent translation of Mr. Massie has been conformed more closely to the original in the third and fourth stanzas; also, by a felicitous quatrain from the late Dr. C. T. Brooks, in the tenth stanza.]
BY HELP OF GOD I FAIN WOULD TELL.
TRANSLATION principally that of R. Massie.
MELODY in Walter's Gesangbuch, 1525. Harmony by
M. Praetorius, 1610.
VI. - Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland.
From the Ambrosian Hymn, "Veni, Redemptor, gentium.)
SAVIOUR OF THE HEATHEN, KNOWN.
TRANSLATION in part from R. Massie.
MELODY derived from that of the Latin hymn, in Walter's Gesangbuch, 1525. Harmony from "The Choral Book for England," by Sterndale Bennett and Otto Goldschmidt, 1865.
VII. - Christum wir sollen loben schon.
(From the Latin hymn, "A solis ortus cardine.")
NOW PRAISE WE CHRIST, THE HOLY ONE.
TRANSLATION by R. Massie.
MELODY that of the Latin hymn. Harmony by M. Praetorius, 1609.
VIII. - Gelobet sei'st du, Jesu Christ.
ALL PRAISE TO JESUS' HALLOWED NAME.
TRANSLATION chiefly by R. Massie.
ANCIENT GERMAN CHURCH MELODY. Harmony by
A. Haupt, 1869.
IX. - Christ lag in Todesbanden.
"Christ ist erstanden."-Gebessert.
CHRIST WAS LAID IN DEATH'S STRONG BANDS.
MELODY derived from that of the older German hymn. Harmony by
Bennett and Goldschmitt, 1865.
X. - Komm, Gott Schoepfer, heiliger Geist.
From Veni, Creator Spiritus, ascribed to Charlemagne, 800.
COME, GOD CREATOR, HOLY GHOST.
MELODY of the eighth century. Harmony by John Sebastian Bach.
XI. - Jesus Christus unser Heiland.
JESUS CHRIST, WHO CAME TO SAVE.
MELODY first published by Klug, 1543, and Bapst, 1545. Harmony after John Sebastian Bach.
XII. - Komm, heiliger Geist, Herre Gott.
"Veni, Sancte Spiritus, gebessert durch D. Martin Luther." The first stanza translated from the Latin hymn ascribed to King Robert of France (A. D. 991), is traced to a service-book of the church in Basel, of the year 1514.
COME, HOLY SPIRIT, LORD OUR GOD.
TRANSLATION chiefly that of Arthur Tozer Russell.
ORIGINAL LATIN MELODY. Harmony after Erythraeus, 1609.
XIII. - Diess sind die heil'gen zehn Gebot'.
The Ten Commandments.
THAT MEN A GODLY LIFE MIGHT LIVE.
TRANSLATION chiefly by R. Massie.
XIV. - Jesus Christus unser Heiland.
Translated from "Jesus Christus, nostra salus," hymn of
John Huss.
CHRIST, WHO FREED OUR SOULS FROM DANGER.
TRANSLATION by R. Massie.
MELODY in Walter, 1525. Harmony in Von Tucher, 1848.
XV. - Gott sei gelobet und gebenedeiet.
MAY GOD BE PRAISED HENCEFORTH AND BLEST FOREVER.
TRANSLATION by R. Massie, amended.
MELODY from some older one, 1525. Harmony by H. Schein, 1627.
XVI. - Es wollt' uns Gott genaedig sein.
Psalm LXVII. - Deus miseratur nostri.
MAY GOD UNTO US GRACIOUS BE.
TRANSLATION by Arthur Tozer Russell.
MELODY in Koephl, Strassburg, 1538. Harmony, by A. Haupt, 1869.
XVII. - Wohl dem, der in Gottesfurcht steht.
Psalm CXXVIII.- Beati omnes qui timent Dominum.
HAPPY THE MAN WHO FEARETH GOD.
TRANSLATION by R. Massie.
FIRST MELODY, of 1525. Harmony by Gesius, 1605.
SECOND MELODY, of 1537. Harmony by Landgraf Moritz, 1612.
XVIII. - Mitten wir im Leben sind.
The first stanza from Media vita in morte sumus. Notker, A.D. 912.
THOUGH IN MIDST OF LIFE WE BE.
TRANSLATION by R. Massie.
Melody (not from the Latin), 1525. Harmony by Erythraeus, 1608.
XIX. - Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist.
The first stanza from an ancient German hymn.
NOW PRAY WE ALL GOD, THE COMFORTER.
TRANSLATION by Arthur Tozer Russell.
Melody, 1525. Harmony by A. Haupt, 1869.
XX. - Mit Fried' und Freud' ich fahr' dahin.
The Song Of Simeon: Nunc Dimittis.
IN PEACE AND JOY I NOW DEPART.
MELODY, 1525. Harmony by M. Praetorius, 1610.
XXI. - Mensch, willt du leben seliglich.
The Ten Commandments, abridged.
WILT THOU, O MAN, LIVE HAPPILY.
TRANSLATION by R. Massie, adapted.
Melody, 1525. Harmony by H. Schein, 1627.
XXII. - Gott der Vater wohn' uns bei.
An ancient Litany-hymn of the German churches, much used in
Passion-week and in the processions before Ascension-day by
Luther "gebessert und christlich corrigyret."
GOD, THE FATHER, WITH US STAY.
ANCIENT GERMAN MELODY. Harmony by Landgraf Moritz, 1612.
XXIII. - Wir glauben All' an einen Gott.
The Creed. "Das deutsche patrem."
WE ALL BELIEVE IN ONE TRUE GOD.
MELODY, 1525. Harmony from an ancient source.
XXIV. - Waer' Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit.
Psalm CXXIV. - Nisi quia Dominus.
HAD GOD NOT COME, MAY ISRAEL SAY.
TRANSLATION by R. Massie.
MELODY, 1525. Harmony by M. Praetorius, 1610.