Today we celebrate the birth

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Today we celebrate the birth

Author: Martin Luther
Tune: VOM HIMMEL HOCH
Published in 7 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Piano/Organ
	Easy Organ Library, Vol. 52

Choral
	From Heaven Above to Earth I Come - (Cho…

Instrumental
	O Come, Emmanuel: Six Advent and Christm…

Representative Text

1 Today we celebrate the birth
Of Jesus Christ, Who came on earth
To make Himself as Savior known,
And claim us sinners as His own.

2 Awake, my heart, my soul, arise;
Look Who in yonder manger lies;
Who is that Child, so poor and mean?
‘Tis He who all things doth sustain.

3 Welcome, O welcome, noble Guest,
Who sinners not despised hast,
But cam’st into our misery.
How shall we pay due thanks to Thee?

4 Immanuel, Incarnate God,
Prepare my heart for Thy abode;
O may I, through Thy aiding grace,
In all I do show forth Thy praise.

Source: Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church #75

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Author: Martin Luther

Luther, Martin, born at Eisleben, Nov. 10, 1483; entered the University of Erfurt, 1501 (B.A. 1502, M.A.. 1503); became an Augustinian monk, 1505; ordained priest, 1507; appointed Professor at the University of Wittenberg, 1508, and in 1512 D.D.; published his 95 Theses, 1517; and burnt the Papal Bull which had condemned them, 1520; attended the Diet of Worms, 1521; translated the Bible into German, 1521-34; and died at Eisleben, Feb. 18, 1546. The details of his life and of his work as a reformer are accessible to English readers in a great variety of forms. Luther had a huge influence on German hymnody. i. Hymn Books. 1. Ellich cristlich lider Lobgesang un Psalm. Wittenberg, 1524. [Hamburg Library.] This contains 8 German h… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	Today we celebrate the birth
German Title:	Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her
Author:	Martin Luther
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Tune

VOM HIMMEL HOCH

Initially Luther used the folk melody associated with his first stanza as the tune for this hymn. Later he composed this new tune for his text. VOM HIMMEL HOCH was first published in Valentin Schumann's Geistliche Lieder in 1539. Johann S. Bach (PHH 7) used Luther's melody in three places in his wel…

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