For two hundred years it is hardly likely that a single day has greeted the earth that has not, here and there, in German lands, been met with Albert’s hymn. Hardly another morning hymn can be compared with it, as far as popularity and intrinsic value are concerned, if simplicity and devotion, purity of doctrine and adaptation to all the circumstances of life are to decide.
The author, Heinrich Albert, was the son of a tax collector at Lobenstein, Voigtland. He began the study of music under his uncle, Heinrich Schütz, Court Kapellmeister at Dresden, but abandoned it, at the desire of his parents, to become a lawyer. The profession of law had, however, little interest for him and he returned to his first love, accepting, in 1631, the position of organist of the Cathedral of Königsberg. Albert wrote several hundred secular and sacred poems and composed in all 78 sacred melodies. Most of the former were published in his Etliche Arien.
The hymn has been rendered into English by five or six eminent translators. Johann Christian Jacobi, a native of Germany who was Keeper of the Royal German Chapel, St. James Palace, London, for 42 years, made a translation of this hymn which he included in his Divine Hymns, 1720. Our second stanza, slightly altered, is the work of his hand.
Arthur Tozer Russell, an Anglican clergyman and prolific writer, translated many hymns and composed about 140 original hymns besides a large number of chants and hymn tunes. To him belongs the credit for our 3d stanza which is a translation of stanza 6 of the original. Russell’s translations, on the whole, are “vigorous and strong, but somewhat ultra-faithful to the original metres.”
Catherine Winkworth made a full translation of Albert’s hymn for her Lyra Germanica, 1st Ser. 1855. Our first verse is taken from this work.
For comments on Miss Winkworth see [Hymn 236].
MUSIC. GOTT DES HIMMELS UND DER ERDEN was composed by Albert, author of the words. The tune is known too by the names “Godesberg,” and “Waltham.” (See [Hymn 370]). J. S. Bach used the melody in his Christmas Oratorio.
574. Jesus, still lead on
Nicolaus L. von Zinzendorf, 1700-60
Tr. Jane L. Borthwick, 1813-97