Johann Franck

Johann Franck
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Short Name: Johann Franck
Full Name: Franck, Johann, 1618-1677
Birth Year: 1618
Death Year: 1677

Johann Franck (b. Guben, Brandenburg, Germany, 1618; d. Guben, 1677) was a law student at the University of Köningsberg and practiced law during the Thirty Years' War. He held several positions in civil service, including councillor and mayor of Guben. A significant poet, second only to Paul Gerhardt in his day, Franck wrote some 110 hymns, many of which were published by his friend Johann Crüger in various editions of the Praxis Pietatis melica. All were included in the first part of Franck’s Teutsche Gedichte bestehend im geistliche Sion (1672).

Bert Polman

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Franck, Johann, son of Johann Franck, advocate and councillor at Guben, Brandenburg, was born at Guben, June 1, 1618. After his father's death, in 1620, his uncle by marriage, the Town Judge, Adam Tielckau, adopted him and sent him for his education to the schools at Guben, Cottbus, Stettin and Thorn. On June 28, 1638, he matriculated as a student of law at the University of Königsberg, the only German university left undisturbed by the Thirty Years' War. Here his religious spirit, his love of nature, and his friendship with such men as Simon Dach and Heinrich Held, preserved him from sharing in the excesses of his fellow students. He returned to Guben at Easter, 1640, at the urgent request of his mother, who wished to have him near her in those times of war during which Guben frequently suffered from the presence of both Swedish and Saxon troops. After his return from Prague, May, 1645, he commenced practice as a lawyer. In 1648 he became a burgess and councillor, in 1661 burgomaster, and in 1671 was appointed the deputy from Guben to the Landtag (Diet) of Lower Lusatia. He died at Guben, June 18, 1677; and on the bicentenary of his death, June 18, 1877, a monumental tablet to his memory was affixed to the outer wall of the Stadtkirche at Guben (Koch, iii. 378-385; Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, vii. 211-212; the two works by Dr. Hugo Jentsch of Guben, Johann Franck, 1877, and Die Abfassungszeit der geistlichen Lieder Johann Franck's, 1876).

Of Franck's secular poems those before 1649 are much the best; his later productions becoming more and more affected and artificial, long-winded and full of classical allusions, and much inferior to those of Dach or Opitz. As a hymn writer he holds a high rank and is distinguished for unfeigned and firm faith, deep earnestness, finished form, and noble, pithy, simplicity of expression. In his hymns we miss the objectivity and congregational character of the older German hymns, and notice a more personal, individual tone; especially the longing for the inward and mystical union of Christ with the soul as in his "Jesus, meine Freude." He stands in close relationship with Gerhardt, sometimes more soaring and occasionally more profound, but neither on the whole so natural nor so suited for popular comprehension or Church use.

His hymns appeared mostly in the works of his friends Weichmann, Crüger and Peter. They were collected in his Geistliches Sion, Guben, 1674, to the number of 110; and of these the 57 hymns (the other 53 being psalm versions of no great merit) were reprinted with a biographical preface by Dr. J. L. Pasig as Johann Franck's Geistliche Lieder, Grimma, 1846. Two of those translated into English are from the Latin of J. Campanus (q. v.). Four other hymns are annotated under their own first lines:—"Brunquell aller Güter"; "Dreieinigkeit der Gottheit wahrer Spiegel"; "Jesu, meine Freude"; "Schmücke dich, o liebe Secle." The rest are:—
i. Hymns in English common use: --

i. Erweitert eure Pforten . [Advent]. Founded on Psalm xxiv. 7-10. First published in C. Peter's Andachts-Zymbeln, Freiberg, 1655, p. 25, in 7 stanzas of 8 lines; repeated 1674, p. 3, and 1846, p. 3, as above. Included in the 1688 and later editions of Crüger's Praxis pietatis, in Bollhagen's Gesang-Buch, 1736, &c.
The only translation in common use is:—-
Unfold your gates and open, a translation of st. 1, 3, 6, by A. T. Russell, as No. 30 in his Hymns & Psalms, 1851; repeated altered as No. 30 in Kennedy, 1863, and thus as No. 102 in Holy Song, 1869.
ii. Herr Gott dich loben wir, Regier. Thanksgiving for Peace. Evidently written as a thanksgiving for the conclusion of the Thirty Years' War, by the Peace of Westphalia, Oct. 24, 1648. First published in the Crüger-Runge Gesang-Buch, Berlin, 1653, No. 306, in 9 st. of 8 l., as the first of the "Hymns of Thanksgiving for Peace attained"; and repeated 1674, p. 182, and 1846, p. 77, as above. Included in Crüger's Praxis, 1653, and many later collections, and, as No. 591, in the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851. The only translation in common use is:—
Lord God, we worship Thee, a very good version of st. 2, 3, 6, 8, by Miss Winkworth in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 183. Repeated in full in the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Church Hymns, 1871; the Hymnary, 1872; the Psalmist, 1878; and in America in the Pennsylvania Lutheran Church Book, 1868. In the American Protestant Episcopal Collection, 1871; the Hymns & Songs of Praise, N. Y. 1874; and the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880, the translation of stanza 8 is omitted.
iii. Herr ich habe missgehandelt. Lent. Of this fine hymn of penitence stanza i. appeared as No. 19 in Cruger's Geistliche Kirchenmelodien , Leipzig, 1649. The full form in 8 stanzas of 6 lines is No. 41 in the Crüger-Runge Gesang-Buch, Berlin, 1653, entitled "For the forgiveness of sins," repeated 1674, p. 39, and 1846, p. 37, as above. Included in Crüger's Praxis, 1653, and others, and in the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851. The only translation in common use is:—
Lord, to Thee I make confession, a very good translation, omitting st. 4, 5, 6, by Miss Winkworth in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 44, repeated in the Appendix to the Hymnal for St. John's, Aberdeen, 1865-1870; and in the Pennsylvania Lutheran Ch. Book, 1868; Evangelical Hymnal, N. Y., 1880; Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880. Another translation is: "Lord, how oft I have offended," by N. L. Frothingham, 1870, p. 177.
iv. Herr Jesu, Licht der Heiden. Presentation in the Temple. Founded on the account in St. Luke ii., and probably the finest hymn on the subject. Dr. Jentsch, 1876, p. 9, thinks it was written before Dec. 8, 1669, as C. Peter, who died then, left a melody for it. We have not found the full text earlier than 1674, as above, p. 10, in 6 stanzas of 8 lines, entitled "On the Festival of the Purification of Mary" (1846, p. 10). Included in the 1688 and later editions of Crüger's Praxis, and in the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851, No. 197. The translations in common use are:—
1. Light of the Gentile world , a translation, omitting st. 6, by Miss Winkworth in the first service of her Lyra Germanica, 1855, p. 193 (ed. 1876, p. 195), and thence as No. 147 in the Pennsylvania Lutheran Hymn Book, 1865. This version is in S.M. Double.
2. Light of the Gentile Nations, a good translation, omitting st. 6, by Miss Winkworth in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 80. Repeated in Dr. Thomas's Augustine Hymn Book, 1866, and in America in the Pennsylvania Lutheran Church Book, 1868, and the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880.

ii. Hymns not in English common use:

v. Du geballtes Weltgebäude. Christ above all earthly things. Stanza i. in Cruger's Kirchenmelodien, 1649, No. 116. The full text (beginning "Du o schönes) is No. 239 in the Crüger-Runge Gesang-Buch, 1653, in 8 stanzas, entitled "Longing after Eternal Life." Repeated, 1674, p. 194, and 1846, p. 60, as above. The translations are: (1) "Let who will in thee rejoice," by Miss Winkworth, 1855, p. 180 (1876, p. 182). (2) "O beautiful abode of earth," by Miss Warner, 1858 (1861, p. 233). (3) "Thou, O fair Creation-building," by N. L. Frothingham, 1870, p. 232.
vi. Unsre müden Augenlieder. Evening. Probably written while a student at Königsberg. First published in J. Weichmann's Sorgen-lägerin, Königsberg, 1648, Pt. iii., No. 4, in 7 st.; repeated 1674, p. 213, and 1846, p. 91, as above. The only translation is by H. J. Buckoll, 1842, p. 79, beginning with st. vi., "Ever, Lord, on Thee relying."

[Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Wikipedia Biography

Johann Fran(c)k (1 June 1618 – 18 June 1677) was a German politician (serving as mayor of Guben and a member of the Landtag of Lower Lusatia) and a lyric poet and hymnist.

Texts by Johann Franck (93)AsAuthority Languagessort descendingInstances
Jezisi, ma radostJohann Franck (Author)2
Nase oci unaveneJohann Franck (Author)2
O beautiful abode of earthJohann Franck (Author)1
O prebidna svetska marnost!Johann Franck (Author)2
Te Boze, chvalimeJohann Franck (Author)2
Venu nun, animo miaJohann Franck, 1618-77 (Author)3
All people that on earth do dwellJ. Franck (Translator (Swedish))English1
Come my soul, in joy array theeJohann Franck (Author)English1
¡Cristo es mi alegría!Johann Franck, 1618-77 (Author)English2
Deck thee in beautiful garments, my soulJohann Franck (Author)English2
Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness, Leave the gloomy haunts of sadnessJohann Franck (Author)English106
Deck thyself with joy and gladnessJohann Franck (Author)English7
In thine arm I rest meJohann Franck (Author)English3
Jesu, Source of gladness (Jacobi)Johann Franck (Author)English4
Jesus all my gladnessJohann Franck (Author)English5
Jesus, best and dearestJohn Frank (Author)English2
Jesus, Fount of PleasureJohann Franck (Author)English2
Jesus, Lord and precious Savior Johann Franck, 1618-1677 (Author)English1
Jesus, my chief pleasureJohann Franck (Ad. from)English1
Jesus, priceless treasureJohann Franck (Author)English114
Jesus, Thou art nearest to my soul and dearestJohann Franck (Author)English2
Let us sing to God with gladnessJohann Franck (Author)English2
Let who will in thee rejoiceJohann Franck (Author)English4
Light of the gentile world, Thy people's joy and loveJohann Franck, 1618-1677 (Author)English34
Lord God, we worship TheeJohann Franck (Author)English41
Lord, how grievous is my sinning!Johann Frank (Author)English2
Lord, protect and bless usJohann Franck (Author)English1
Lord, to Thee I make confessionJohn Frank (Author)English30
Now thank we all our God With heart and hands and voicesJohann Frank (Author)English1
O thou Redeemer of our raceJohann Franck (Translator (German))English1
Praise the Lord, each tribe and nationJohann Franck (Author)English8
Redeemer of the nations, come, Ransom of earth, here make Thy homeJohann Franck (Translator (into German))English5
Soul, adorn yourself with gladnessJohann Franck, 1618-1677 (Author (stanzas))English12
Soul, arise, dispel thy sadnessJohann Franck (Author)English2
Soul, at this most awful seasonJohann Franck (Author)English2
Source of good, whose power controlsJohann Franck (Author)English6
Trim thy lamp, O soul betrothedJohann Franck (Author)English1
True mirror of the Godhead! Perfect Light!Johann Franck (Author)English3
We praise Thee, God, with earliest morning rayJohann Franck (Author)English2
We praise thee, Lord, with earliest morning rayJohann Franck (Author)English33
Who will now indict meJohann Franck, 1618-1677 (Author)English5
Ye heavens, O haste your dews to shedJ. Franck (Author)English5
Vengo a Ti, Jesús amadoJohann Franck (Author (estrofas))English, Spanish4
Ach Boze muj, ja jsem zbloudilJohann Franck (Author)Czech2
Ozdobiz se, duse milaJohann Franck (Author)Czech2
Ô Jésus, ma joieJohann Franck (1618-1677) (Author)French2
Alle Welt, was lebt und webetJohann Franck (Author)German5
Auf, auf, den Herrn zu loben, erwache, mein GemütJohann Franck (Alterer)German2
Brunnquell aller GüterJohann Franck (Author)German21
Dreieinigkeit, der Gottheit wahrer SpiegelJohann Franck (Author)German14
Du, o schönes Weltgebäude, magst gefallen wem du willstJohann Franck (Author)German21
Herr Gott, dich loben wir, für deine großen GnadenJ. Frank, 1618-1677 (Author)German15
Herr Gott, dich loben wir, regier, Herr, unsre StimmenJoh. Franck (Author)German17
Herr Gott, dich loben wir, wir preisen deine GüteJohann Franck (Author)German2
Herr, ich habe missgehandelt und mich drückt der Sünden LastJoh. Frank (Author)German32
Herr Jesu, Licht der HeidenJoh. Franck, 1618-1677 (Author)German33
Herr Jesu, Trost der Heiden, der Herzen Heil und LichtJoh. Frank (Author)German5
Heut' ist uns der Tag erschienenJoh. Franck (Author)German3
Ihr Himmel tröpfelt Tau in EilJohann Franck (Author)German3
Jesu, der du wollen büßenJohann Franck (Author)German2
Jesu meine Freude, Meines Herzens WeideJohann Franck (Author)German96
König, dem kein König gleichetJoh. Frank (Author)German1
Komm, Heiden Heiland, LösegeldJohann Franck (Author)German9
Komm, Himmelsfürst, komm WunderheldJohann Franck (Author)German3
Komm, Völkerheiland, GottesheldJoh. Franck (Author)German4
Nun hört, ihr frommen ChristenJohann Franck (Author)German2
O Angst und Leid! O Traurigkeit!Johann Franck (Author)German5
O Gott, der du in LiebesbrunstJoh. Franck, 1618-1677 (Author)German6
O komm, du milder RegenJoh. Frank (Author)German2
Schmücke dich, o liebe SeeleJohann Franck (Author)German72
Segne und behüte uns durch deine GüteJohann Franck (Author)German7
Selig, ja selig, wer willig erträgetJohann Franck (Author)German2
Unsre müden Augenlider, schließen sich jetzt schläfrig zuJohann Franck † 1677 (Author)German29
Vater, droben in der Höhe!J. Frank, g. 1618 † 1677 (Author)German2
Wen hast du dir geladen, Mein Heiland, mild und gutJ. Frank (Author)German1
Jeso hany irikoJ. Franck (Author)Malagasy2
Herre, jeg har handlet ilde, Syndens Last er mig saa svarJohann Franck (Author)Norwegian3
Herre, jeg har handlet ilde, Syndens Magt blev mig for storJ. Franck (Author)Norwegian3
Jesus, du min glædeJohann Franck (Author)Norwegian3
Nu skal du, min Sjæl, dig smykkeJohann Franck (Author)Norwegian2
Chwalimy, Boże, CięJohann Franck, d. 1677 (Author)Polish2
Jezu, ma radościJohann Franck (Author)Polish2
O Jezu, Ty światłoṡciJohann Franck (Author)Polish2
Panie, ciężko przewiniłemJohann Franck (Author)Polish2
Przwdziej, duszo, strój odświętnyJohann Franck (Author (st. 1))Polish2
És minha alegria, meu sustento e guiaJohann Franck (Author)Portuguese2
Adornate alma queridaJohann Franck (Author)Spanish1
Moyo wangu unipambeJohann Franck (Author)Swahili2
Yesu mpenzi wanguJohann Franck (Author)Swahili2
Anda, full af nådeJ. Franck, d. 1677 (Author)Swedish2
Denna är den stora dagenJohann Franck (Author)Swedish2
Hela världen fröjdes HerrenJohann Franck (Author)Swedish11
Jesus ar min hagnadJohann Franck (Author)Swedish2

Data Sources

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