Des ew'gen Vaters einig Kind
Jetzt man in der Krippe find't,
In unser armes Fleisch und Blut
Verkleidet sich das ewig Gut.
Kyrieleis![73]
Den aller Weltkreis nie beschloss,
Der lieget in Marie'n Schoss;
Er ist ein Kindlein worden klein,
Der alle Ding’ erhält allein.
Kyrieleis! ”[30][{31}]
The first stanza alone is mediaeval, the remaining six of the hymn are Luther's.
The Christmas hymns of Paul Gerhardt, the seventeenth-century Berlin pastor, stand next to Luther's. They are more subjective, more finished, less direct and forcible. Lacking the finest qualities of poetry, they are nevertheless impressive by their dignity and heartiness. Made for music, the words alone hardly convey the full power of these hymns. They should be heard sung to the old chorales, massive, yet sweet, by the lusty voices of a German congregation. To English people they are probably best known through the verses introduced into the “Christmas Oratorio,” where the old airs are given new beauty by Bach's marvellous harmonies. The tone of devotion, one feels, in Gerhardt and Bach is the same, immeasurably greater as is the genius of the composer; in both there is a profound joy in the Redemption begun by the Nativity, a robust faith joined to a deep sense of the mystery of suffering, and a keen sympathy with childhood, a tender fondness for the Infant King.
[74]The finest perhaps of Gerhardt's hymns is the Advent “Wie soll ich dich empfangen?” (“How shall I fitly meet Thee?”), which comes early in the “Christmas Oratorio.” More closely connected with the Nativity, however, are the Weihnachtslieder, “Wir singen dir, Emanuel,” “O Jesu Christ, dein Kripplein ist,” “Fröhlich soll mein Herze springen,” “Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier,” and others. I give a few verses from the third:—
“Fröhlich soll mein Herze springen
Dieser Zeit,
Da für Freud
Alle Engel singen.
Hört, hört, wie mit vollen Choren
Alle Luft
Laute ruft:
Christus ist geboren.
* * * * *
Nun, er liegt in seiner Krippen,
Ruft zu sich
Mich und dich,
Spricht mit süssen Lippen:
Lasset fahrn, O lieben Brüder
Was euch quält,
Was euch fehlt;
Ich bring alles wieder.
* * * * *
Süsses Heil, lass dich umfangen;
Lass mich dir,
Meine Zier,
Unverrückt anhangen.
Du bist meines Lebens Leben;
Nun kann ich
Mich durch dich
Wohl zufrieden geben.”[31][{33}]