Geheimnisvoll in tiefer Nacht

Author: William Cowper

William Cowper (pronounced "Cooper"; b. Berkampstead, Hertfordshire, England, 1731; d. East Dereham, Norfolk, England, 1800) is regarded as one of the best early Romantic poets. To biographers he is also known as "mad Cowper." His literary talents produced some of the finest English hymn texts, but his chronic depression accounts for the somber tone of many of those texts. Educated to become an attorney, Cowper was called to the bar in 1754 but never practiced law. In 1763 he had the opportunity to become a clerk for the House of Lords, but the dread of the required public examination triggered his tendency to depression, and he attempted suicide. His subsequent hospitalization and friendship with Morley and Mary Unwin provided emotional st… Go to person page >

Translator: Albert Knapp

Knapp, Albert, was born July 25, 1798, at Tübingen, where his father (1800, Oberanitmann at Alpirsbach in the Black Forest, and 1809, Oberamtmann at Rottweil) was then advocate at the Court of Appeal. In the autumn of 1814 he entered the Theological Seminary at Maulbronn, and in 1816 the Theological College at Tübingen, where he also graduated M.A. at the University. In November, 1820, he became assistant clergyman at Feuerbach, near Stuttgart; and in July, 1821, at Gaisburg, near Stuttgart. He was appointed, in Feb., 1825, diaconus (Heifer) at Sulz on the Neckar, and also pastor of the neighbouring village of Holzhausen; in June, 1831, archidiaconus at Kirchheim-unter-Teck, along with Bahnmaier (q.v.); in May, 1836, diaconus of the Hospi… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Geheimnisvoll in tiefer Nacht
English Title: God moves in a mysterious way
Author: William Cowper
Translator: Albert Knapp
Language: German
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

OLD HUNDREDTH

This tune is likely the work of the composer named here, but has also been attributed to others as shown in the instances list below. According to the Handbook to the Baptist Hymnal (1992), Old 100th first appeared in the Genevan Psalter, and "the first half of the tune contains phrases which may ha…

Go to tune page >


ZEPHYR (Bradbury)


UXBRIDGE (Mason)


Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 12 of 12)
Page Scan

Deutsches Gesang- und Choralbuch #a55

Deutsches Gesangbuch der Bisch. Methodisten-Kirche #d150

Page Scan

Deutsches Gesangbuch #55

Page Scan

Deutsches Gesangbuch #55

Page Scan

Die Glaubensharfe (With Melodies) #58

Page Scan

Die Glaubensharfe #58

Page Scan

Evangelisches Gesangbuch mit vierstimmigen Melodien #250[40]

Gesang und Melodienbuch #d173

Gesangbuch der Evangelischen Gemeinschaft für öffentlichen und häuslichen Gottesdienst #d215

Page Scan

Gesangbuch der Evangelischen Gemeinschaft #106

Page Scan

Gesangbuch für deutsche Gemeinden #68

Page Scan

Glockenklänge #153

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us