Als des Himmelreiches Erben,
Jener Herrlichkeit und Ehr’,
Die uns unser Gott erkiest
Und nicht auszusprechen ist.
A fine hymn of invocation to the Holy Spirit, written for Whitsuntide, in 9 stanzas.
The author, Heinrich Held, a lawyer by profession, was born in Guhrau, Silesia. After receiving his education at the Universities of Königsberg, Frankfurt a. Oder, and Leyden, he practiced law in his home town of Guhrau where he lived all his life. He became one of the best Silesian poets and hymn writers, probably because he was taught in the school of affliction and suffering, brought about by the Thirty Years’ War.
The translation is by Charles W. Schaeffer, a native of Hagerstown, Maryland. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania and the Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, he held several pastorates and then became a teacher in the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. Our hymn is a selection of stanzas 1, 2, 7, and 8.
MUSIC. EISENACH, also known as “St. Leonard,” and “Komm, O komm, du Geist des Lebens,” is an attractive melody, composed by Johann Christoph Bach, 1642-1703, an excellent musician, and a first cousin of the father of the eminent Johann Sebastian Bach. He was organist at Eisenach where he spent most of his life. The name of the tune is derived from Bach’s town. Much of the music he composed is extant, mostly in manuscript, but some keyboard and choral music is in print. His motet, I wrestle and pray, was published by Novello.