Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ

"Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ"
"Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ"
Hymn by Martin Luther
	"Gelobet seystu Jhesu Christ" in Walter's Eyn geystlich Gesangk Buchleyn
English	Praise be to You, Jesus Christ
Catalogue	Zahn 1947
Text	by Martin Luther
Language	German
Published	1524
	Harmonized MIDI version;

"Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ" ("Praise be to You, Jesus Christ") is a Lutheran hymn, written by Martin Luther in 1524. It was first published in 1524 in the Eyn geystlich Gesangk Buchleyn. For centuries the chorale has been the prominent hymn (Hauptlied) for Christmas Day in German speaking Lutheranism, but has also been used in different translations internationally. It has appeared in hymnals of various denominations including the Catholic Church.

Text

Luther expanded a pre-Reformation stanza which is attested in Northern Germany in the 15th century, mainly in prayerbooks from the convent of Medingen, based on Grates nunc omnes, the Latin sequence of the midnight mass for Christmas, by six stanzas.^[1]^[2] Each stanza ends on the acclamation Kyrieleis. The hymn was published in Eyn Enchiridion in Erfurt in 1524.^[1]

Tune

Melody as it appears in the final movement of the cantata by Bach (BWV 91)

${ \clef treble \key g \major \tempo 4=90 \set Staff.midiInstrument = "english horn" { \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \override Score.BarNumber #'transparent = ##t \time 4/4 \relative { \partial 4 g' g4 g a g c4 d c2 \fermata b8 c d4 e d8 c b4 a g \fermata g c b8 c d4 a g8 fis e4 d \fermata d a' a a b c8 b a4 g8 (a b4 a2) \fermata g4 g g2 g4 \fermata \bar "|."} } }$

The hymn tune (Zahn No. 1947)^[3] was first printed in Eyn geystlich Gesangk Buchleyn, a booklet of spiritual song, collected by Johann Walter but is attested also in the prayerbooks from the convent of Medingen and even appears on an antependium made by the nuns in the late 15th century.^[4] It seems likely that both Luther and Walter collaborated to modify an older melody.^[5] In the first verse, the highest notes accentuate important words such as Jesu, Mensch (man), Jungfrau (virgin), Engel (angels).^{[citation needed]}

Musical settings

Balthasar Resinarius's chorale motet based on "Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ" was printed in 1544. A setting of the hymn by Walter is dated 1551, Antonio Scandello's 1575. Lucas Osiander wrote a four-part setting in 1586, Erhard Bodenschatz in 1608, Samuel Scheidt wrote two settings in 1650. A five-part motet of Johannes Eccard was printed in 1597, one of Adam Gumpelzhaimer in Augsburg in 1618, Andreas Raselius wrote a five-part setting in 1610. Melchior Schärer (1570–1602) set the hymn as a motet a cappella for three parts, and Michael Praetorius composed various settings. Johann Hermann Schein wrote a cantata for three parts in 1618, Johann Crüger set it for four voices, two obbligato instruments (violins) and continuo.^[5]

The hymn appears in several of Johann Sebastian Bach's Christmas cantatas. He inserted its seventh stanza in one of his church cantatas, Sehet, welch eine Liebe hat uns der Vater erzeiget, BWV 64, written for the Third Day of Christmas 1723. He used the complete chorale as the base for one of his chorale cantatas, Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, BWV 91, composed in Leipzig for Christmas Day of 1724, setting the final stanza four voices with horns and timpani:

$\header { tagline = " " } \layout { indent = 0 \context { \Score \remove "Bar_number_engraver" } } global = { \key g \major \numericTimeSignature \time 4/4 \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \set Timing.beamExceptions = #'() } \score { << \new Staff \with { \magnifyStaff #5/7 } << \new Voice = "horn1" { \voiceOne \mark \markup \tiny "Two Horns" \relative c'' { \global \partial 4 g4 | g g a g | c d c2\fermata | b8 c d4 e d8 c | b4 a g\fermata g | c b8 c d4 a | b8 cis16 d cis4 d\fermata d | a a a b | c8 b a4 g8 a b4 | a2\fermata b8 c d c16 d | e d c d e fis e fis g4\fermata } } \new Voice = "horn2" { \voiceTwo \relative c' { \global \partial 4 b4 | g b d b8 d | g4 g g2 | g8 a b4 c8 b a4 | g d b d8 d | d d d d d d d d | g a16 b a4 a a | d, g d g | a8 g4 d8 b d g4 | d2 g8 a b a16 b | c8 g g16 a g a b4 } } >> \new ChoirStaff << \new Staff << \new Voice = "soprano" { \voiceOne \relative c'' { \global \partial 4 g4 | g g a g | c d c2\fermata | b8 c d4 e d8 c | b4 a g\fermata g | c b8 c d4 a | g8 fis e4 d\fermata d | a' a a b | c8 b a4 g8 a b4 | a2\fermata g4 g | g2 g4\fermata \bar "|." } } \new Voice = "alto" { \voiceTwo \relative c' { \global \partial 4 d4 | e d8 e fis4 e | g g8 f e2 g8 a b4 c8 b a4 | g fis d d8 e | fis4 g g fis8 e | d b cis4 a a | d cis fis g | a8 g4 fis8 e a g4 | fis2 d8 e f4 | e e d } } >> \new Lyrics \lyricsto "soprano" { Das hat er al -- les uns ge -- tan, sein _ gross Lieb zu _ zei -- gen an; des freu sich _ al -- le Chri -- _ sten -- heit und dank ihm des in E -- _ wig -- keit _ _ _ Ky -- ri -- e -- leis! } \new Staff << \clef bass \new Voice = "tenor" { \voiceOne \relative c' { \global \partial 4 b4 | c b a8 d b4 | e8 c b4 g2 | e'4 f g d | d d8 c b4 g | a d8 c b g d'4 | d a8 g fis4 fis8 g | a b cis e d4 d | e8 d e d d c b c | d2 d4 b | g c b } } \new Voice = "bass" { \voiceTwo \relative c' { \global \partial 4 g8 fis | e fis g4 d e8 d | c4 g c2 | e4 d c fis, | g8 b d4 g, b | a g8 a b c d c | b g a4 d d8 e | fis g a cis, d c b4 |a8 b c d e fis g4 | d2 b8 a g4 | c8 e16 d c8 c, g'4 } } >> >> \new Staff \with { \magnifyStaff #5/7 } << \clef bass { \relative c { \global \mark \markup \tiny "Timpani" \partial 4 g4 | g g d' r | r2 r4\fermata r | r2 r4 d | d d g,\fermata r | r g g d' | d r r\fermata r | r2 r4 d | d8 g, d'4 g,8 d' g,4 | d'2\fermata g,4 g | g8 g16 g g8 g g4\fermata } } >> >> \layout { \context { \Score \remove "Mark_engraver" \remove "Staff_collecting_engraver" } \context { \Staff \consists "Mark_engraver" \consists "Staff_collecting_engraver" } } } \score { << \new Staff \with { midiInstrument = "french horn" midiMinimumVolume = #0.7 midiMaximuumVolume = #0.8 } << \new Voice = "horn1" { \voiceOne \relative c'' { \global \partial 4 g8.. r32 | g8.. r32 g8.. r32 a8.. r32 g8.. r32 | c8.. r32 d8.. r32 c4. r8 | b c d8.. r32 e8.. r32 d8 c | b8.. r32 a8.. r32 g8. r16 g8.. r32 | c8.. r32 b8 c d8.. r32 a8.. r32 | b8 cis16 d cis4 d8. r16 d8.. r32 | a8.. r32 a8.. r32 a8.. r32 b8.. r32 | c8 b a8.. r32 g8 a b8.. r32 | a4. r8 b c d c16 d | \tempo 4=68 e d c d \tempo 4=53 e fis e \tempo 4=23 fis g4 r } } \new Voice = "horn2" { \voiceTwo \relative c' { \global \partial 4 b8.. r32 | g8.. r32 b8.. r32 d8.. r32 b8 d | g8.. r32 g8.. r32 g4. r8 | g a b8.. r32 c8 b a8.. r32 | g8.. r32 d8.. r32 b8. r16 d8 d | d d d d d d d d | g a16 b a8.. r32 a8. r16 a8.. r32 | d,8.. r32 g8.. r32 d8.. r32 g8.. r32 | a8 g8.. r32 d8 b d g8.. r32 | d4. r8 g8 a b a16 b | c8 g g16 a g a b4 r } } >> \new ChoirStaff << \new Staff \with { midiInstrument = "choir aahs" midiMinimumVolume = #0.7 midiMaximuumVolume = #0.8 } << \new Voice = "soprano" { \voiceOne \relative c'' { \global \tempo 4=78 \partial 4 g8.. r32 | g8.. r32 g8.. r32 a8.. r32 g8.. r32 | \tempo 4=73 c8.. r32 \tempo 4=68 d8.. r32 \tempo 4=56 c4. r8 | \tempo 4=78 b c d8.. r32 e8.. r32 d8 c | \tempo 4=68 b8.. r32 \tempo 4=58 a8.. r32 \tempo 4=28 g8. r16 \tempo 4=78 g8.. r32 | c8.. r32 b8 c d8.. r32 a8.. r32 | \tempo 4=68 g8 \tempo 4=63 fis \tempo 4=58 e8.. r32 \tempo 4=28 d8. r16 \tempo 4=78 d8.. r32 | a'8.. r32 a8.. r32 a8.. r32 b8.. r32 | c8 b a8.. r32 \tempo 4=68 g8 a b8.. r32 | \tempo 4=56 a4. r8 \tempo 4=78 g8.. r32 g8.. r32 | g4.. r16 \tempo 4=20 g4 r } } \new Voice = "alto" { \voiceTwo \relative c' { \global \partial 4 d8.. r32 | e8.. r32 d8 e fis8.. r32 e8.. r32 | g8.. r32 g8 f e4. r8 | g a b8.. r32 c8 b a8.. r32 | g8.. r32 fis8.. r32 d8. r16 d8 e | fis8.. r32 g8.. r32 g8.. r32 fis8 e | d b cis8.. r32 a8. r16 a8.. r32 | d8.. r32 cis8.. r32 fis8.. r32 g8.. r32 | a8 g8.. r32 fis8 e a g8.. r32 | fis4. r8 d8 e f8.. r32 | e8.. r32 e8.. r32 d r } } >> \new Staff \with { midiInstrument = "choir aahs" midiMinimumVolume = #0.7 midiMaximuumVolume = #0.8 } << \clef bass \new Voice = "tenor" { \voiceOne \relative c' { \global \partial 4 b8.. r32 | c8.. r32 b8.. r32 a8 d b8.. r32 | e8 c b8.. r32 g4. r8 | e'8.. r32 f8.. r32 g8.. r32 d8.. r32 | d8.. r32 d8 c b8. r16 g8.. r32 | a8.. r32 d8 c b g d'8.. r32 | d8.. r32 a8 g fis8. r16 fis8 g | a b cis e d8.. r32 d8.. r32 | e8 d e d d c b c | d4. r8 d8.. r32 b8.. r32 | g8.. r32 c8.. r32 b r } } \new Voice = "bass" { \voiceTwo \relative c' { \global \partial 4 g8 fis | e fis g8.. r32 d8.. r32 e8 d | c8.. r32 g8.. r32 c4. r8 | e8.. r32 d8.. r32 c8.. r32 fis,8.. r32 | g8 b d8. r16 g,8. r16 b8.. r32 | a8.. r32 g8 a b c d c | b g a8.. r32 d8. r16 d8 e | fis g a cis, d c b8.. r32 | a8 b c d e fis g8.. r32 | d4. r8 b8 a g8.. r32 | c8 e16 d c8 c, g'4 r } } >> >> \new Staff \with { midiInstrument = "timpani" midiMinimumVolume = #0.8 midiMaximuumVolume = #0.9 } << \clef bass { \relative c { \global \partial 4 g4 | g g d' r | r2 r4 r | r2 r4 d | d d g, r | r g g d' | d r r r | r2 r4 d | d8 g, d'4 g,8 d' g,4 | d'2 g,4 g | g8 g16 g g8 g g4 r } } >> >> \midi { } }$

Bach included the sixth and seventh stanzas of the hymn respectively in the first and third cantatas of his Christmas Oratorio (1734). BWV 314, one of his four-part chorale settings of the hymn tune, in D major, and appearing in the c. 1735 Dietel manuscript, was likely also written as part of a Christmas cantata.^[2]^[6]

Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel used the hymn's fifth stanza in the centre of his Christmas cantata Kündlich groß ist das gottselige Geheimnis.^[7] Cantatas based on the hymn were also composed by Gottfried August Homilius, Friedrich Zelle [scores], and Kurt Hessenberg, whose Op. 9 is a chorale cantata based on the hymn, written in 1935 for mixed chorus, two solo voices, organ and orchestra.^[5]

The hymn inspired organ settings by Protestant Baroque composers such as Dieterich Buxtehude, Johann Pachelbel, Georg Böhm, Bach, Homilius, Johann Christoph Altnikol and Johann Philipp Kirnberger.^[5] It is used prominently in Felix Mendelssohn's Piano Trio No. 2 as the culminating melody of the finale.^{[citation needed]} Robert Schumann used the chorale for the theme and variations in the third movement of his Violin Sonata No.2 in D minor, Op. 121, changing the meter to triple time.^{[citation needed]}

References

^ ^a ^b John Julian (1907). "Texts "Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, das du Mensch". Dictionary of Hymnology. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
^ ^a ^b "Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ / Text and Translation of Chorale". bach-cantatas.com. 2008. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
^ Zahn, Johannes (1889). Die Melodien der deutschen evangelischen Kirchenlieder (in German). Vol. I. Gütersloh: Bertelsmann. pp. 522–523.
^ Henrike Lähnemann, An dessen bom wil ik stighen. Die Ikonographie des Wichmannsburger Antependiums im Kontext der Medinger Handschriften, in: Oxford German Studies 34 (2005), pp. 19-46.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ / Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works". bach-cantatas.com. 2008. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
^ BWV 314 at Luke Dahn's www.bach-chorales.com website.
^ "Christmas Cantatas" (PDF). eclassical.com. 2018. pp. 18–19. Retrieved 22 December 2018.

External links

Media related to Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ at Wikimedia Commons
O Jesus Christ, All Praise to Thee
BWV 62.6 bach-chorales.com

[Dict-1] John Julian (1907). "Texts "Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, das du Mensch". Dictionary of Hymnology. Retrieved 14 December 2010.

[bach_text-2] "Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ / Text and Translation of Chorale". bach-cantatas.com. 2008. Retrieved 13 December 2010.

[3] Zahn, Johannes (1889). Die Melodien der deutschen evangelischen Kirchenlieder (in German). Vol. I. Gütersloh: Bertelsmann. pp. 522–523.

[4] Henrike Lähnemann, An dessen bom wil ik stighen. Die Ikonographie des Wichmannsburger Antependiums im Kontext der Medinger Handschriften, in: Oxford German Studies 34 (2005), pp. 19-46.

[bach-5] "Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ / Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works". bach-cantatas.com. 2008. Retrieved 13 December 2010.

[6] BWV 314 at Luke Dahn's www.bach-chorales.com website.

[7] "Christmas Cantatas" (PDF). eclassical.com. 2018. pp. 18–19. Retrieved 22 December 2018.

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