Now Lay We Calmly in the Grave

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Now lay we calmly in the grave

Author: Michael Weisse (1531); Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Published in 27 hymnals

Piano/Organ
	Ten Chorale Improvisations, Set 5

Representative Text

1 Now lay we calmly in the grave
This form, whereof no doubt we have
That it shall rise again that day
In glorious triumph o'er decay.

2 And so to earth we hear entrust
What came from dust and turns to dust,
And from the dust shall surely rise
When the last trumpet fills the skies.

3 This soul forever lives in God
Whose grace His pardon hath bestowed,
Who through His Son redeemed us here
From bondage to both sin and fear.

4 So help us, Christ, our Hope in loss,
Thou hast redeemed us by Thy cross
From endless death and misery;
We praise, we bless, we worship Thee.

Source: Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #476

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Author: Michael Weisse

Michael Weiss was born at Neisse, in Silesia. He was a pastor among the Bohemian Brethren, and a contemporary with Luther. His hymns have received commendation. He died in 1540. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872.… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used i… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	Now lay we calmly in the grave
Title:	Now Lay We Calmly in the Grave
German Title:	Nun lasst uns den Leib begraben
Author:	Michael Weisse (1531)
Translator:	Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Meter:	8.8.8.8
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Tune

NUN LASST UNS DEN LEIB

NU LADER OS DA GRAVE NED

FEDERAL STREET

Henry Kemble Oliver (b. Beverly, MA, 1800; d. Salem, MA, 1885) composed FEDERAL STREET in 1832, possibly as an imitation of earlier psalm tunes in long meter. He took it to a music class taught by Lowell Mason (who may have contributed to the harmony); Mason (PHH 96) published it in his Boston Acade…

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