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Martin Rinkart

1586 - 1649 Hymnal Number: 22 Author of "Nun danket alle Gott" in Deutsches Gesangbuch Rinkart, Martin, son of Georg Rinkart or Rinckart, cooper at Eilenburg on the Mulde, Saxony, was born at Eilenburg, April 23, 1586.* After passing through the Latin school at Eilenburg, he became, in Nov., 1601, a foundation scholar and chorister of the St. Thomas's School at Leipzig. This scholarship also allowed him to proceed to the University of Leipzig, where he matriculated for the summer session of 1602, as a student of Theology; and after the completion of his course he remained for some time in Leipzig (he did not take his M.A. till 1616). In March 1610 he offered himself as a candidate for the post of diaconus at Eilenburg, and was presented by the Town Council, but the Superintendent refused to sanction this arrangement, nominally on the ground that Rinkart was a better musician than theologian, but really because he was unwilling to have a colleague who was a native of Eilenburg, and who appeared to have a will of his own. Rinkart, not wishing to contest the matter, applied for a vacant mastership in the gymnasium at Eisleben, and entered on his duties there in the beginning of June, 1610, as sixth master, and also cantor of the St. Nicholas Church. After holding this appointment for a few months, he became diaconus of St. Anne's Church, in the Neustadt of Eisleben, and began his work there May 28, 1611; and then became pastor at Erdeborn and Lyttichendorf (Lütjendorf), near Eisleben, entering on his duties there on Dec. 5, 1613. Finally he was invited by the Town Council of Eilenburg to become archidiaconus there, and in Nov. 1617 came into residence at Eilenburg. He died at Eilenburg, Dec. 8, 1649. A memorial tablet to his memory, affixed to the house where he lived, was unveiled at Eilenburg on Easter Monday, April 26, 1886. (Martin Rinkart’s Geistliche Lieder, ed., with a biographical introduction, and an extensive bibliography, by Heinrich Rembe and Johannes Linke, D.D., Gotha, F. A. Perthes, 1886; K. Goedeke's Grundris, vol. iii., 1887, pp. 169, 211, &c.) The greater part of Rinkart's professional life was passed amid the horrors of the Thirty Years War. Eilenburg being a walled town became a refuge for fugitives from all around, and being so overcrowded, not unnaturally suffered from pestilence and famine. During the great pestilence of 1637 the Superintendent went away for change of air, and could not be persuaded to return; and on Aug. 7 Rinkart had to officiate at the funerals of two of the town clergy and two who had had to leave their livings in the country. Rinkart thus for some time was the only clergyman in the place, and often read the service over some 40 to 50 persons a day, and in all over about 4,480. At last the refugees had to be buried in trenches without service, and during the whole epidemic some 8,000 persons died, including Rinkart's first wife, who died May 8, 1637. The next year he had an epidemic of marriages to encounter, and himself fell a victim on June 24. Immediately thereafter came a most severe famine, during which Rinkart's resources were strained to the uttermost to help his people. Twice also he saved Eilenburg from the Swedes, once in the beginning of 1637, and again in 1639 (see p. 319, i.). Unfortunately the services he rendered to the place seemed to have made those in authority the more ungrateful, and in his latter years he was much harassed by them in financial and other matters, and by the time that the long-looked-for peace came (Oct. 24, 1648) he was a worn-out and prematurely aged man. Rinkart was a voluminous writer and a good musician, but a considerable number of his books seem to have perished, and others survive only in single copies. He early began to write poetry, and was crowned as a poet apparently in 1614. Among other things he wrote a cycle of seven so-called "Comedies," or rather dramas, on the Reformation Period, suggested by the centenary of the Reformation in 1617. Three of these were printed respectively in 1613, 1618, and 1625, and two of them were acted in public. Rinkart's hymns appeared principally in the following works:— (1) Jesu Hertz-Büchlein. This was completed in 1630, and first published at Leipzig in 1636. No copy is now known. The second edition, published at Leipzig, 1663, is in the Royal Library at Hannover. (2) Der Meissnische Thränen Saat, Leipzig, 1637. In the Royal Library at Berlin. (3) xlv. Epithalami Salomoneo—Sulamitici cantica canticorum . . . Leibliche Geistliche und Uimmlische Braut Messe, Leipzig, 1642. In Wolfenbüttel Library. (4) Catechismus-wolthaten, und Catechismus-Lieder, Leipzig, 1645. In the Berlin Library. Dr. Linke, 1886, as above, gives a list of the first lines of all the hymns in the works of Rinkart which have come under his notice, and prints a selection from them, including 66 in all. The best of them are characterised by a true patriotism, a childlike devotion to God, and a firm confidence in God's mercy, and His promised help and grace. A few passed into the German hymn-books. Those which have been translated into English are:— 1. Alleluja, Lob, Preis und Ehr. This hymn… seems to be based on two hymns, beginning with the same first line, and both found in Rinkart's Braut Messe, 1642. Dr. Linke does not print the full text. (See Blätter für Hymnologie, 1886, p. 91.) ii. Nun danket alle Gott. Thanksgiving. The oldest text now accessible is in J. Crüger's Praxis, 1648, No. 183, in 3 stanzas of 8 lines; also in the Crüger-Runge Gesang-Buch, 1653, No. 187. It is also in Rinkart's Jesu Hertz-Büchlein, 1663, where the text slightly varies, and is entitled "Grace" ("Tisch-Gebetlein," i.e. a short prayer at table). There does not seem any good reason for supposing that it did not appear in the first ed., 1636, of the Hertz-Büchlein, and in any case it has no connection with the Peace of Westphalia. (A good specimen of the way in which stories of hymns are manufactured is in the Sunday at Home, Aug., 1888, p. 539, where a full and particular account is given of its legendary origin in Nov. 1648.) It is founded on Ecclesiasticus 1. 22-24; and st. i., ii. are indeed little more than a paraphrase of these verses, st. iii. being a version of the Gloria Patri. The fact that the regimental chaplains, when holding the special service of thanksgiving for the conclusion of the peace, were commanded to preach from this passage, may have suggested the theory that Rinkart's hymn was written for the same occasion. It gradually came into general use, successfully survived the period of Rationalism, and is now to be found in every German hymnbook, e.g. in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, No. 1022. It may be called the German Te Deum, and as such is used at all national festivals or special occasions of thanksgiving. It was recently used at the festal celebration of the completion of Cologne Cathedral, on Aug. 14, 1880, at the laying of the foundation stone of the new Reichstags building in Berlin, by the Emperor William, June 9, 1884, &c. The fine melody (set to the hymn in Hymns Ancient & Modern and most recent English collections) appears in the Praxis, 1648 (Crüger's Kirchenmelodien, 1649, No. 94), and in the Crüger-Runge Gesang-Buch, 1653, is marked with Crüger's initials. It has been described as adapted from a melody by Lucas Marenzo (choirmaster at Rome, who died 1598), or as adapted from a motet by Rinkart; but to prove either statement, very little evidence is forthcoming. The translations of the hymn into English are:— 1. Let all men praise the Lord. This is a tr. of st. i., iii., by Alfred Novello, as part of his version of the word-book to Mendelssohn's Lobgesang, or Hymn of Praise, 1843, p. 89. This form has passed into a number of hymnals, including the New Congregational Hymn Book, 1859; Dale's English Hymn Book 1874, and others. In the Baptist Hymnal, 1879, a tr. of st. ii. is added, of which 11. 1—4 are from Miss Winkworth's translation. 2. Now praise the Lord on high. In full as No. 53 in the Dalston Hospital Hymn Book, 1848. This appears to be the version which Kübler, in his Historical Notes to the Lyra Germanica, 1865, p. 247, says was made by Baron C. K. J. von Bunsen, for the opening of the German Hospital at Dalston, on Oct. 15, 1845. 3. Now let us all to God. In full, by A. T. Russell, as No. 201, in his Psalms & Hymns, 1851. 4. 0 let us praise the Lord, From hearts by true love guided. This is No. 240 in the Winchester Church Hymn Book, 1857, and seems to be intended as a paraphrase of the German. 5. Now thank we all our God. A full and very good translation by Miss Winkworth, in her Lyra Germanica, 2nd Serv. 1858, p. 145, repeated in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, No. 11, and her Christian Singers, 1869, p. 181. It has been included in many recent English and American hymnals, e. g. Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1861; People's Hymnal, 1867; Congregational Hymnal, 1887, &c, and in America in the Episcopal Hymnal, 1871; Presbyterian Hymnal, 1874, and many others, generally in full and unaltered. 6. Now all give thanks to God. In full as No. 264 in the Anglican Hymn Book, 1868 (1871, No. 307), marked as a versification by R. C. Singleton. Repeated in J. L. Porter's Collection, 1876. 7. Now all men thank ye God. In full by T. E. Brown, as No. 37 in the Clifton College Hymn Book, 1872. Other translations are:— (l) "Now let us praise the Lord." In full by J. C. Jacobi, 1722, p. 85 (1732, p. 144), repeated, altered, in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754 to 1886. (2) "Now all, to God give thanks." By Dr. H. Mills, in the Evangelical Review, Gettysburg, 1851, p. 293, and his Horae Germanica, 1856, p. 14. (3) "Lift heart, and hands, and voice." By Miss Cox, 1864, p. 239. (4) “Now all give thanks to God." By J. D. Burns, 1869, p. 252. (5) “All hearts and tongues and hands." By N. L. Frothingham, 1870, p. 212. iii. So fahr ich hin mit Freuden. For the Dying. In his Meissnische Thränen-Saat, 1637, No. 24, p. 19, in 5 st.anzas of 8 lines, entitled "Even the same, and her soul-rejoicing Farewell Hymn. On May 8." St. i. is, "So fahr ich hin mit Frewden Aus diesem Jammerthal, Aus Angst, Gefahr und Leiden In Himmels-Frewden Saal, Da wir und alle Frommen Durch Gottes Wundermacht Zusaminen wiederkominen: In des zu guter Nacht." The title refers to the preceding hymn, which is in 19 stanzas, the initials of the stanzas forming the acrostic Christina Rinckardi. Dr. Linke abridges it and misprints the title, which is:— "Die Teutsche Jobs-Schwester (Christina M. Rinckart's Hertzgetrewe Ehe- und Creutz-genossin) und ihr Tagliches und behägliches Trost Lied. Aus ihrem längst erwählten und am 10. [not 30] Tage des Trosthühlen Meyen dieses 1637. Jahres zum letzten Ehrengedächtniss abgehandelten Leich-Text: des 77. Psalms." From this it is clear that both hymns are in memory of his wife, that she died on May 8, 1637, and that her funeral sermon was preached by her husband on May 10, 1637. The form translation into English is the greatly altered, or rather practically new text. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] * His own statement was that he “was born Anno 1586, Jubilate Sunday, on St. George's day, which was the 23rd of April, between 6 and 7 a.m." In 1586 however Jubilate S. (3rd Sunday after Easter) fell on April 24, while St. George's day is April 23. The entry in the Registers at Eilenburg says that he was baptised "Monday after Jubilate, the 25th of April," which is quite correct. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Jonathan Krause

1701 - 1762 Hymnal Number: 238 Author of "Hallelujah, schoener Morgen!" in Deutsches Gesangbuch Krause, Jonathan, son of Christian Wilhelm Krause, Master of the Clothworkers and Sexton at Hirschberg, in Silesia, was born at Hirschberg, April 5, 1701. Entering the University of Leipzig in 1718, he went in 1723 to Wittenberg, where he graduated M.A. He was then for some time travelling tutor to a young Baron von Birken, and 1727-32 a tutor in the family of Baron von Nostitz, at Polgsen, near Wohlau. On Aug. 20, 1732, he was ordained as Diaconus of Probsthayn, near Liegnitz, and in 1739 became chief pastor of the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul at Liegnitz. In 1741 he was also appointed Superintendent and Assessor of the Consistory. He died at Liegnitz, Dec. 13, 1762 (S. J. Ehrhardt's Presbyteroloqie Schlesiens, 1780-89, iv. p. 280, &c). He edited the Liegnitz Gesang-Buch of 1745. His hymns appeared in his (1) Die turn Lobe Gottes eröffnete Lippen der Gläubigen, &c, Hamburg, 1732, and (2) Gnade und Wahr heit Gottes in Christo Jesu, in heiligen Liedem über alle Sonn- und Fest-Tags Evangelien und Eputeln Leipzig and Lauban, 1739. [Berlin Royal Library.] The only hymn by Krause translated into English is:-- Alleluja! schöner Morgen. Sunday Morning. This hymn, a great favourite in Southern Germany, first appeared 1739 as above, p. 487, in 9 stanzas of 6 lines, entitled "Morning-Hymn on Sunday." Repeated thus in the Liegnitz Gesang-Buch, 1745, No. 1; but in recent collections, as the Württemberg Gesang-Buch, 1842, and the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851, No. 482, it begins "Hallelujah!" Sometimes erroneously ascribed to B. Schmolck. Translated as:— Hallelujah! Fairest morning. A good translation, omitting stanzas v., vii., viii., by Miss Borthwick, in Hymns from the Land of Luther, 3rd Ser., 1858, p. 28 (1884, p. 150). Included in full in the Appx. of 1869 to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Psalms & Hymns; in Holy Song, 1869, and others. In the S. P. C. K. Church Hymns, 1871, the trs. of st. iii., iv. are omitted, and the rest slightly altered; and this form is followed in Laudes Domini, N. Y., 1884. In G. S. Jellicoe's Collection, 1867, it begins "Alleluia." Other translations are, (1) "Hallelujah! beauteous morning," by Miss Manington, 1863. (2) "Hallelujah! day of gladness," by R. Massie, in the Day of Rest , 1876, p. 35. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Johann Baptist von Albertini

1769 - 1831 Hymnal Number: 354 Author of "Geh und säe Thr'nensaat" in Deutsches Gesangbuch Albertini, Johann Baptist. s. of Jakob Ulrich v. Albertini, a native of the Grisons, Switzerland, who had joined the Moravians, and settled among them at Neuwied, near Coblenz, b. at Neuwied Feb. 17, 1769. After passing through the Moravian school at Niesky, and their Theological Seminary at Barby, in both of, which he had Friedrich Schlciermacher as a fellow-student, he was, in 1788, appointed one of the masters in the Moravian school at Niesky, and in 1789 at Barby. In 1796, he was appointed tutor at the Theological Seminary at Niesky, and ordained as diaconus of the Moravian Church. Up to this time he had devoted himself chiefly to the study of the Oriental languages, and of botany, but now his studies of Holy Scripture for his theological lectures and for the pulpit, brought him to the feet of Christ, whose earnest and devoted disciple and witness he henceforth became. In 1804 he relinquished his tutorial work to devote himself entirely to ministerial labour in Niesky, where he was, in 1810, ordained presbyter. In Feb. 1814 he went to Gnadenberg, near Bunzlau, Silesia, as head of the Girls' School, and preacher; and while on a visit to Herrnhut, was, Aug. 24, 1814, constituted a bishop of the Moravian Church. By the synod of 1818, he was appointed to Gnadenfrei, near Reichenbach, Silesia, and after three years of faithful and successful labour, was chosen one of the heads of the Moravian Church (one of the UnitatS'Aeltesten-Conferenz), his special department being the oversight of their charitable and educational establishments ; and in 1824 President of the Conference. In love and meekness he ruled and visited the churches till, in Nov. 1831, an illness seized him, which terminated fatally at Berthelsdorf, near Herrnhut, Dec. 6, 1831. (Koch, vii. 330-334; Allg. Deutsche Biog., i. 216-217.) Distinguished as a preacher beyond the bounds of his church, he was, in the estimation of Koch, apart from Novalis, the most important hymn-writer of his time— spiritual, simple, and childlike. Yet it must be said that his brother Moravian, G. B. Garve, and E. M. Arndt, are more fully represented in hymnals since 1820. Albertini's hymns appeared to the number of 400, (many, however, being single verses,) in his Geistliche Lieder fur Mitglieder und Freunde der Bruder-yemeine, Bunzlau, 1821 (2nd ed. 1827). None of them have passed into English common use, and the only three we have to note are:— i. Brenne hell, du Lampe meiner Seele. [Second Advent.] On the Lamp of the Wise Virgin. 1st pub. 1821, as above, p. 139, in 3 stanzas of 8 lines. The only translation is, "Lamp within me! brightly burn and glow," by Miss Winkworth, 1869, p. 311. ii. Freund, komm in der Fruhe. [Morning.] 1st pub. 1821, as above, p. 273, in 5 st. of 10 1. Tr. as, " Come at the morning hour," by Miss Borthwick in Hymns from the Land of Luther 1862 (cd. 1862, p. 256; 1884, p. 190). iii. Langst suchtest du, mein Geist! ein nahes Wesen. [Christmas.] 1st pub. 1821, as above, p. 9, in 5 stanzas of 6 lines. Translated as, "Long in the spirit world my soul had sought," by Miss Winkworth, 1855, p. 191 (later eds. p. 193), assigned to St. Thomas's Day. -John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Valerius Herberger

1562 - 1627 Hymnal Number: 453 Author of "Valet will ich dir geben" in Deutsches Gesangbuch Herberger, Valerius, son of Martin Herberger, furrier and poet at Fraustadt, Posen, was born at Fraustadt, April 21, 1562. He studied theology at the Universities of Frankfurt a. Oder and Leipzig, and became in 1584 master of the lower classes in the school at Fraustadt. In 1590 he was appointed diaconus of St. Mary's Church, Fraustadt, and in 1599 chief pastor; but in 1604 he and his flock were ousted from the church by King Sigismund III., of Poland, for the sake of the few Roman Catholics in the place. Out of two houses near one of the gates of the town they made a meeting-place, to which, as the first service was held on Christmas Eve, the name of the "Kripplein Christi" was given. He died at Fraustadt, May 18,1627 (Koch, ii. 301-311; Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, xii. 28-29, &c). Herberger published two sets of sermons, the Evangelische Herzpostille and the Epistolische Herzpostille. His famous work, the Magnolia Dei, de Jem Scripturae nucleo et medulla, 8 vols., 1601-l610, was designed to show Christ all through the Old Testament, but in his exposition he only reached the book of Ruth. As a pastor he worked unweariedly for the good of his people, especially during the time of the great pestilence (1613 to 1630), and during the troubles of the early part of the Thirty Years' War. Herberger wrote only a few hymns, and of these the best known is:— Valet will ich dir geben. For the Dying, first published on a broadsheet entitled :— "A devout prayer with which the Evangelical citizens of Frawenstadt in the autumn of the year 1613 moved the heart of God the Lord so that He mercifully laid down His sharp rod of wrath under which nearly two thousand fell on sleep. And also a hymn of consolation in which a pious heart bids farewell (Valet) to this world. Both composed by Valerius Herberger, preacher at the Kripplein Christi." Leipzig, 1614. The hymn was published in Mützell 1858, No. 6, in 5 stanzas of 8 lines. The title of the hymn itself is:— "The Farewell (Valet) of Valerius Herberger that he gave to this world in the autumn of the year 1613, when he every hour saw death before his eyes, but mercifully and also as wonderfully as the three men in the furnace at Babylon was nevertheless spared." In this pestilence 2135 perished at Fraustadt, but Herberger manfully stuck to his post, and passed through all unhurt, comforting the sick and helping to bury the dead. The hymn is an acrostic on his name formed by the beginnings of the stanzas-—Vale (i.), r (ii.) i (iii.) u (iv.) s (v). It is one of the finest German hymns for the dying. It speedily passed into the hymn-books, and is still a favourite. In the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, No. 1502. Sometimes given beginning "Abschied will" or "Lebwohl will." The beautiful melody which appeared with the hymn in 1614 is by Herberger's precentor, Melchior Teschner, and is now well known in England, being included, e.g. in Hymns Ancient & Modern as St. Theodulph. The translations in common use are :— 1. 0 World so vain, I leave thee, a good translation, omitting stanza iv., by A. T. Russell, as No. 248 in his Psalms & Hymns, 1851. 2. Farewell I gladly bid thee, a good and full translation by Miss Winkworth, as No. 137 in her Chorale Book for England, 1863. Other translations are: (1) "Grant in the bottom of my heart," a translation of stanza iii. as No. 29 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1742. (2) "Farewell henceforth for ever," by L. T. Nyberg, in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754, pt. i., No. 451 (1886, No. 1227). (3) "Shelter our souls most graciously," by L. T. Nyberg, in the Moravian Hymn Book, pt. ii., 1746, p. 794 (1886, as pt. of No. 793). (4) "Vain world, forbear thy pleading," by Dr. H. Mills, 1856, p. 107. (5) "I bid adieu for ever," in the British Herald, Aug. 1866, p. 306, repeated in Keid's Praise Book, 1872, No. 336. (6) "My parting spirit biddeth," in the Family Treasury, 1878, p. 496. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Christoph Vischer

1520 - 1597 Hymnal Number: 120 Author of "Wir danken Dir, Herr Jesu Christ" in Deutsches Gesangbuch Vischer, Christoph, son of Jakob Vischer or Fischer, burgess at Joachimsthal, in Bohemia, was born at Joachimsthal in 1520. He matriculated at the University of Wittenberg in Nov. 1540 (B.A. 1544), and was ordained at Wittenberg on Feb. 10, 1544, as pastor and probst at Jüterbogk, near Wittenberg. He was then appointed (in 1552) cathedral preacher and superintendent at Schmalkalden; in 1571 pastor and general superintendent at Meiningen; in 1574 court preacher and assistant superintendent at Celle (Zelle); and in 1577 chief pastor of St. Martin's Church at Halberstadt. He returned to Celle in 1583, as general superintendent of Lüneburg, and died at Celle in October, 1597. Vischer was a somewhat voluminous writer. Rotermund gives the titles of 29 works by him. Only one hymn is known as his, viz.:— Wir danken dir, Herr Jesu Christ, Dass du für uns gestorben bist. Passiontide. This is included in pt. ii. of the Dresden Gesang-Buch, 1597 (thence in Wackernagel, v., p. 248), marked as by M. C. F., and in 4 stanzas of 4 lines, viz. st. i. as above, and ii. Und bitten dich, war Mensch und Gott. iii. Behüt uns auch für Sünd und Schand. iv. Und draus schöpffen die Zuversicht. The only portion we have been able to find in any work of Vischer's is st. ii. This occurs in hisChristliche unnd einfeltige Erklerung der gnadenreichen Historien des Leydens und Sterbens hochtröstlicher Aufferstehung und siegreicher Himelfart unsers lieben Herrn Jhesu Christi, auch der Sendung des Heiligen Geistes, &c, Schraalkalden, 1585 [British Museum]. The same stanza is found in the edition Schmalkalden, 1568 [Berlin Library]. Mützell, No. 344, prints the four stanza form from the text given by J. C. Olearius, Jena, 1710, as a reprint of the original, and as entitled “A children's hymn composed by M. Christoph Vischer for the Christian community at Schmalkalden, upon the strengthening uses of the bitter sufferings and death of Christ Jesus our Saviour." It is also in thUnerfälschter Liedersegen, 1851, No. 122. The translations are:— 1. We bless Thee, Jesus Christ our Lord; For ever be Thy name adored. This is a good and full translation by Dr. Kennedy, as No. 622 in his Hymnologia Christiana, 1863. 2. With thanks we glory in Thy Cross. This is No. 331 in pt. i. of the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754. [Rev.James Mearns, M.A.] --Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Gottfried Hoffmann

1658 - 1712 Hymnal Number: 320 Author of "Hilf, Jesu! dass ich meinen Nächsten liebe" in Deutsches Gesangbuch Hoffmann, Gottfried, son of Caspar Hoffmann, brewer at Plagwitz, near Lowenberg, in Silesia, was born at Plagwitz, Dec. 5, 1658. After studying at the University of Leipzig (M.A. 1688), he was appointed in 1688 Corrector, and in 1695 Rector of the Gymnasium at Lauban. In 1708 be became Rector of the Gymnasium at Zittau, where he died after a stroke of paralysis, Oct. 1, 1712. (Koch, v. 437-442; Allg. Deutsche Biographie, xii. 591-592.) Of his hymns, about 60 in all, written mostly for his scholars, only one has passed into English, viz.:— Zeuch hin, mein Kind. Death of a Child. According to Koch, v. 442, this beautiful hymn was written in 1693, on the death of his little daughter Magdalene Elisabethe, was printed in the same year in her funeral sermon on Job i. 21, and included by Hoffmann in his Laubansche Leichengesänge, 1704. It is in Schwedler's Lieder Mose, Budissin, 1720, No. 306, and repeated in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, in 6 stanzas of 9 lines. Translated as:— Depart, my child . A good translation, omitting st. iv., by Miss Borthwick, in Hymns from the Land of Luther, 1st Ser., 1854, p. 25 (1884, p. 28). Repeated in Kennedy, 1863, omitting st. iii., and beginning "Farewell, my child." Other translations are: (1) "So, go, my child," by E. Massie, 1866, p, 139. (2) "Go hence, my child," by Dr. J. Guthrie, 1869, p. 109. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology

Hartmann Schenk

1634 - 1681 Hymnal Number: 13 Author of "Nun, Gottlob, es ist vollbracht" in Deutsches Gesangbuch Hartmann Schenk; b. 1634, Ruhla, near Eisenach; d. 1681, Voelkershausen. Pastor at Bibra and Ostheim Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal, 1908

Victor von Strauss und Torney

1809 - 1899 Person Name: Victor Friedrich Strauss Hymnal Number: 131 Author of "Nun gingst auch Du Zur Sabbathsruh'" in Deutsches Gesangbuch Strauss, Victor Friedrich. von, was born at Bückeburg, Schaumburg-Lippe, Sept. 18, 1809. He became a student of law at the Universities of Erlangen, Bonn, and Gottingen. In 1832 he married Albertine von Torney, daughter of a Hannoverian landed proprietor; and, in 1872, at the request of her relations, added her name to his own (Strauss und Torney), having been previously, in 1851, raised to the Austrian nobility. Having entered the diplomatic service of Schaumburg-Lippe, in 1832, he was appointed, in 1840, Archivrath at Bückeburg; and attended the Frankfurt Diet as Geheimrath, in 1850, as the accredited representative of Schaumburg-Lippe. He was also, from 1853 to 1866, the regular representative of Schaumburg-Lippe, at the North German Diet. Thereafter he retired on a pension, and went at Easter, 1869, to Erlangen, where he wrote a translation of the works of the Chinese philosopher Laò-tsè, with a commentary (published 1870). In 1872 he removed to Dresden. In 1889 he published the first vol. of a work on Altägyptische Götterglaube (Koch, vii. 270; 0. Kraus, 1879, p. 525, &c). Both as a secular and as a sacred poet, Strauss holds high rank among his contemporaries in Germany; not so much for popularity, as for wealth of ideas, breadth of culture, beauty of form, and clear, simple expression. The impulse which he received to the study of theology and to hymnwriting, was mainly through the impression of manifest unfairness left upon him by reading D. F. Strauss's Leben Jesu, 1835. This led him to study the New Testament for himself; and to find, in the old Gospel, the satisfaction of the needs of his spirit. His hymns, while, like most modern hymns, in the main subjective, often catch the ring and noble simplicity of the older objective classical hymns, but are more finished in form. Many have passed into recent German hymnbooks. They appeared principally in Knapp's Christoterpe, 1844-48; and in his own—(1) Gedichte, Bielefeld, 1841; (2) Lieder aus der Gemeine für das Christliche Kirchenjahr, Hamburg, 1843 ; and (3) Weltliches und Geistliches, Heidelberg, 1856. The hymns in No. 3 are in the second part, which is separately paged, and en¬titled Geistliches im Gedichten und Liedern. The work entitled Das Kirchenjahr im Hause, Heidelberg, 1845, is a series of poetical meditations, and not of hymns properly so called. The hymns by Strauss which have passed into English are:— i. Lobjauchzt und mehret Gottes Ruhm. Advent. First published in 1856, as above, pt. ii., p. 8, in 16 stanzas, entitled "Advent." Translation as, "The Lord doth in His Kingdom come." By J. Kelly, 1885. ii. Nun gingst auch du. Easter Eve. First published, 1843, as above, p. 126, in 7 stanzas of 5 lines, and en¬titled, "The Lord in the Grave." Included in Knapp's Evangelischer Lieder-Schatz, 1850, No. 560. Translated as:— Thou sore-oppress'd. A good translation, omitting st. v. by Miss Winkworth, in herLyra Germanica, 2nd Ser., 1858, p. 34; and thence in her Chorale Book for Eng¬land, 1863, No. 56. Included in the Hymnary, 1872, Parish Hymn Book, 1875, Evangelical Hymnal, N. York, 1880, and others. iii. 0 mein Herz, gieb dich zufrieden. Waiting on God. First published, 1841, as above, p. 160, in 5 stanzas of 8 lines, and entitled, "Tranquillity." Included in Knapp's Evangelischer Lieder-Schatz, 1850, No. 1955. The translation in common use is:— 0 my heart, be calm and patient. A translation of st. i., ii., v., by Miss Borthwick, as No. 243 in Dr. Pagenstecher's Collection, 1864. Other translations are:— (1) "0 my heart, be calm, confiding." By Miss Burlingham, in the British Herald, June 1866, p. 287; and in Reid's Praise Book, 1872. (2) "O my heart, be thou content." By J. Kelly, 1885, p. 75. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Matthias Jorissen

1739 - 1823 Person Name: M. Jorissem Hymnal Number: 287 Author of "O wohl dem Menschen, dem die Schuld vergeben" in Deutsches Gesangbuch

Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart

1739 - 1791 Person Name: Christian F.D. Schubart Hymnal Number: 274 Author of "Urquell aller Seligkeiten" in Deutsches Gesangbuch Schubart, Christian Friedrich Daniel, son of Johann Jakob Schubart, schoolmaster and assistant clergyman at Obersontheim near Hall, in Württemberg (after 1740, at Aalen), was born at Obersontheim, March 26, 1739, and in 1758 entered the University of Erlangen as a student of theology. Thereafter he was for some time a private tutor at Königsbronn. In 1764 he was appointed organist and schoolmaster at Geisslingen, near Ulm. In 1768 he became organist and music-director at Ludwigsburg; but, in 1772, on account of misconduct, he was deprived of his office. After that, he led for some time a wandering life, and then settled down in Ulm, where he edited a political newspaper, entitled the Deutsche Chronik, with success. By his scurrilous attacks on the clergy, especially on the Eoman Catholics, and in particular upon the Jesuits, and by a satirical poem on the Duke of Württemberg, he made himself obnoxious. Unsuspectingly accepting an invitation to Blaubeuren, he was handed over to the Duke's adjutant, and, on Jan. 23, 1777, was imprisoned in the castle of Hohenasperg, where he remained, without even the shadow of a trial, till May 11, 1787. As a recompense for his long imprisonment, the Duke made him Court and theatre poet at Stuttgart, where he died of fever, Oct. 10, 1791 (Koch, vi. 376; K. H. Jördens's Lexicon deutscher Dichter und Prosaisten, vol. iv. 1809, p. 639). Schubart was a man of versatile genius, who might have attained distinction in half a dozen lines of life, had he only stuck to any of them. He was a man who could make himself most popular, spite of the fact that he possessed hardly any tact. His moral principles were anything but strong; and the Ten Commandments (especially the seventh) seemed to have little restraining influence over him. As a writer of secular poems, especially of lyrics, he displayed vigour and spirit; but his literary workmanship was often very careless. His hymns, over 130 in all, were written during the two periods when he led an orderly and Christian life, viz., in the years 1764-66, immediately after his marriage, and in the years 1777-87, during his enforced absence from temptation. His captive state, his reading of the devotional books in the commandant's library, and the visits which he then received from P. M. Hahn, pastor at Kornwestheim, awakened in him a repentance, sincere if not altogether lifelong; one of the principal results being the series of hymns included in his so-called Gedichte aus dem Kerker (Zürich, 1785). These were composed at a time when he was deprived of writing materials, and were dictated through a wall to a fellow prisoner in the next cell. They were published without his knowledge or supervision. In self defence he asked the Duke's permission to pubish an authorised edition of his poems; and this appeared at Stuttgart, in 2 vols., 1785-86, as his Sämmtliche Gedicht (a number of copies, printed beyond the subscription, bear the date 1787, and the name of a Frankfurt publisher, e.g. the copy in the British Museum); and this also included most of those in his Todesgesänge, originally published at Ulm in 1767. Being printed at the Ducal print¬ing office at Stuttgart, the poems were subjected to an official revision. Schubart meant to issue a genuine author's edition, but did not live to do so; and that published by his son, as his father's Gedichte, in two parts, at Frankfurt, 1802, is really a selection, and contains only about half of his hymns. The best of Schubart's hymns are those first published in 1785, which are more genuine and spiritual than his earlier productions. A considerable number became popular, and passed into the Württemberg Gesang-Buch, 1791, and other collections, up to 1850; and a few still con¬tinue in common use. They are, however, too personal and subjective, and not sufficiently natural in style for general use. Of Schubart's hymns the following have been translated into English, viz.:— i. Urquell aller Seligkeiten. Supplication for Spiritual Blessings. This fine hymn was written about 1780, and first pub. in his Gedichte aus dem Kerker, Zurich, 1785, p. 102, in 16 stanzas of 4 lines, entitled, "Supplication." The full text is in Koch, 2nd ed., vol. iv., p. 740. Translated as:— Though by sorrows overtaken. This can hardly be called a translation, but is rather a hymn suggested by the German, and is in 6 st. of 4 1. It appeared in A. R. Reinagle's Collection of Psalm and Hymn Tunes as sung in the Parish Church of St. Peter in the East, Oxford, published at Oxford in 1840, p. 138…. Other hymns by Schubart are:— ii. Alles ist euer! 0 Worte des ewigen Lebens. Thanksgiving. Translated as, "All things are yours! O sweet message of mercy divine." By Miss Borthwick, in Hymns from the Land of Luther, 1855, p. 5. iii. Der Trennung Last liegt schwer auf mien. Reunion in Heaven. On the sorrow of parting with friends whom one hopes to meet in heaven. Tr. as, “I die and grieve from those to go." By Dr. G. Walker, 1860, p. 58. iv, Hier stand ein Mensch! Hier fieler nieder. Sudden death of a Sinne. Translated as, “Now one in health Death, instant, crushes." By Dr. H. Mills, 1845. v. Kommt heut an eurem Stabe. For the Aged. On the Presentation in the Temple; and founded on St. Luke ii. 22 -32. Tr. as, "Ye who with years are sinking." By Dr. H. Mills, 1845 (1856, p. 275). [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)