Child Jesus Came to Earth This Day

Author: H. C. Andersen

Andersen, Hans Christian, son of poor parents, was born at Odense, Denmark, April 2, 1805, and died Aug. 4, 1875. He is well known as a poet, and a writer for children. His Christmas Carol, "Child Jesus comes from heavenly height," translated from the Danish, is in The Evangelical Hymnal, N. Y., 1880. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)  Go to person page >

Translator: Niels W. Gade

Niels Wilhelm Gade (22 February 1817 – 21 December 1890) was a Danish composer, conductor, violinist, organist and teacher. He is considered the most important Danish musician of his day. Gade was born in Copenhagen, the son of a joiner and instrument maker. He began his career as a violinist with the Royal Danish Orchestra, and saw his concert overture Efterklange af Ossian ("Echoes of Ossian") premiered with them in 1841. When his first symphony was turned down for performance in Copenhagen, he sent it to Felix Mendelssohn. Mendelssohn received the work positively, and conducted it in Leipzig in March 1843, to enthusiastic public reaction. Supported by a fellowship from the Danish government, Gade himself moved to Leipzig, teaching a… Go to person page >

Dr. Friedrich Nielsen of Copenhagen informs us that the Danish of "Child Jesus comes," beginning "Barn Jesus i en Krybbe lad," was first published in J. C. Gebauer's Album for 1849, was set to music by Niels W. Gade in his Börnenes Jüul, 1859, and is in Psalmer og Sange for Söndags-skolen, Aalborg, 1880. Another translation is:—
Child Jesus came to earth this day, as No. 2 of Five Christmas Pieces for Children, by Niels W. Gade, 1880. Repeated in the Sunday School Hymnary, 1905. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)