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Johann Crüger
1598 - 1662 Composer of "[Der heilge Christ ist kommen]" in Sonntagschulbuch Johann Crüger (b. Grossbriesen, near Guben, Prussia, Germany, 1598; d. Berlin, Germany, 1662) Crüger attended the Jesuit College at Olmutz and the Poets' School in Regensburg, and later studied theology at the University of Wittenberg. He moved to Berlin in 1615, where he published music for the rest of his life. In 1622 he became the Lutheran cantor at the St. Nicholas Church and a teacher for the Gray Cloister. He wrote music instruction manuals, the best known of which is Synopsis musica (1630), and tirelessly promoted congregational singing. With his tunes he often included elaborate accompaniment for various instruments. Crüger's hymn collection, Neues vollkomliches Gesangbuch (1640), was one of the first hymnals to include figured bass accompaniment (musical shorthand) with the chorale melody rather than full harmonization written out. It included eighteen of Crüger's tunes. His next publication, Praxis Pietatis Melica (1644), is considered one of the most important collections of German hymnody in the seventeenth century. It was reprinted forty-four times in the following hundred years. Another of his publications, Geistliche Kirchen Melodien (1649), is a collection arranged for four voices, two descanting instruments, and keyboard and bass accompaniment. Crüger also published a complete psalter, Psalmodia sacra (1657), which included the Lobwasser translation set to all the Genevan tunes.
Bert Polman
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Crüger, Johann, was born April 9, 1598, at Gross-Breese, near Guben, Brandenburg. After passing through the schools at Guben, Sorau and Breslau, the Jesuit College at Olmütz, and the Poets' school at Regensburg, he made a tour in Austria, and, in 1615, settled at Berlin. There, save for a short residence at the University of Wittenberg, in 1620, he employed himself as a private tutor till 1622. In 1622 he was appointed Cantor of St. Nicholas's Church at Berlin, and also one of the masters of the Greyfriars Gymnasium. He died at Berlin Feb. 23, 1662. Crüger wrote no hymns, although in some American hymnals he appears as "Johann Krüger, 1610,” as the author of the supposed original of C. Wesley's "Hearts of stone relent, relent" (q.v.). He was one of the most distinguished musicians of his time. Of his hymn tunes, which are generally noble and simple in style, some 20 are still in use, the best known probably being that to "Nun danket alle Gott" (q.v.), which is set to No. 379 in Hymns Ancient & Modern, ed. 1875. His claim to notice in this work is as editor and contributor to several of the most important German hymnological works of the 16th century, and these are most conveniently treated of under his name. (The principal authorities on his works are Dr. J. F. Bachmann's Zur Geschichte der Berliner Gesangbücher 1857; his Vortrag on P. Gerhard, 1863; and his edition of Gerhardt's Geistliche Lieder, 1866. Besides these there are the notices in Bode, and in R. Eitner's Monatshefte für Musik-Geschichte, 1873 and 1880). These works are:—
1. Newes vollkömmliches Gesangbuch, Augspur-gischer Confession, &c, Berlin, 1640 [Library of St. Nicholas's Church, Berlin], with 248 hymns, very few being published for the first time.
2. Praxis pietatis melica. Das ist: Ubung der Gottseligkeit in Christlichen und trostreichen Gesängen. The history of this, the most important work of the century, is still obscure. The 1st edition has been variously dated 1640 and 1644, while Crüger, in the preface to No. 3, says that the 3rd edition appeared in 1648. A considerable correspondence with German collectors and librarians has failed to bring to light any of the editions which Koch, iv. 102, 103, quotes as 1644, 1647, 1649, 1650, 1651, 1652, 1653. The imperfect edition noted below as probably that of 1648 is the earliest Berlin edition we have been able to find. The imperfect edition, probably ix. of 1659, formerly in the hands of Dr. Schneider of Schleswig [see Mützell, 1858, No. 264] was inaccessible. The earliest perfect Berlin edition we have found is 1653.
The edition printed at Frankfurt in 1656 by Caspar Röteln was probably a reprint of a Berlin edition, c. 1656. The editions printed at Frankfurt-am-Main by B. C. Wust (of which the 1666 is in the preface described as the 3rd) are in considerable measure independent works.
In the forty-five Berlin and over a dozen Frankfurt editions of this work many of the hymns of P. Gerhardt, J. Franck, P. J. Spener, and others, appear for the first time, and therein also appear many of the best melodies of the period.
3. Geistliche Kirchen-Melodien, &c, Leipzig, 1649 [Library of St. Katherine's Church, Brandenburg]. This contains the first stanzas only of 161 hymns, with music in four vocal and two instrumental parts. It is the earliest source of the first stanzas of various hymns by Gerhardt, Franck, &c.
4. D. M. Luther's und anderer vornehmen geisU reichen und gelehrten Manner Geistliche Lieder und Psalmen, &c, Berlin, 1653 [Hamburg Town Library], with 375 hymns. This was edited by C. Runge, the publisher, and to it Crüger contributed some 37 melodies. It was prepared at the request of Luise Henriette (q.v.), as a book for the joint use of the Lutherans and the Re¬formed, and is the earliest source of the hymns ascribed to her, and of the complete versions of many hymns by Gerhardt and Franck.
5. Psalmodia Sacra, &c, Berlin, 1658 [Royal Library, Berlin]. The first section of this work is in an ed. of A. Lobwasser's German Psalter; the second, with a similar title to No. 4, and the date 1657, is practically a recast of No. 4,146 of those in 1653 being omitted, and the rest of the 319 hymns principally taken from the Praxis of 1656 and the hymn-books of the Bohemian Brethren. New eds. appeared in 1676, 1700, 1704, 1711, and 1736.
[Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
-- Excerpt from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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Crüger, Johann, p. 271, ii. Dr. J. Zahn, now of Neuendettelsau, in Bavaria, has recently acquired a copy of the 5th ed., Berlin, 1653, of the Praxis.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)
Johann Crüger
C. G. Gläser
1784 - 1829 Composer of "[Der heilge Christ ist kommen]" in Lieder-Perlen Carl Gotthelf Gläser Germany 1781-1829. Born at Weissenfels, Burgenlandkreis, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany, he received musical training from his father, after which he attended St. Thomas school in Leipzig. He became an author and composer. At Barmen he taught voice, piano, and violin. He also wrote and conducted chorale music. He died at Barmen.
John Perry
C. G. Gläser
Ernst Moritz Arndt
1769 - 1860 Author of "Der heilge Christ ist kommen" in Sonntagschulbuch Arndt, Ernst Moritz, son of Ludwig Nicolaus Arndt, estate manager for Count Putbus, in the island of Rugen, was b. at Schoritz in Rugen, Dec. 26, 1769. After studying at the Universities of Greifswald and Jena, where he completed his theological course under Paulus, he preached for two years as a candidate, but in 1798 abandoned theology. After a pedestrian tour through South Germany, Hungary, Northern Italy, France, and Belgium, he became, at Easter 1800, lecturer at the University of Greifswald, and in 1805 professor of history there. But in 1806, lamenting over the tyranny of France, he wrote his fiery Gent der Zeit (pt. ii. 1809, iii. 1813, iv. 1818) which awakened the patriotism of his countrymen, but drew on him the hatred of Napoleon, so that he had to flee to Sweden, and was not able to return to Greifswald till 1810. He again left Greifswald in 1812, and found a home with Baron v. Stein at St. Petersburg. After various wanderings, daring which he wrote many pamphlets inciting his countrymen, as none else could, to deeds of valour, and composed his well-known songs (all of date 1813),
" Der Gott, der Eisen wachsen Hess.
O du Deutschland, ich muss marscbieren.
Was blasen die Trompeten?
Was ist des Deutschen Vaterland ?"
which were said to have done more to inspire the troops than a victory wou, he settled for some time at Cologne as editor of a patriotic newspaper. In 1818 he was appointed professor of history in the newly-founded University of Bonn, Being accused by the Conservative leaders then in power of teaching Republicanism, he was, in 1820, unjustly deposed (though his salary was continued to him), and was not restored till the accession of Friedrich Wilhelm IV. to the throne of Prussia in 1840. In token of respect he was elected Rector of the University 1840-1841, and lectured as professor till 1854. He continued his tranquil life at Bonn, varied by delusive hopes of better things from the Revolutionary periods of 1848 and 1859, till after having passed his ninety-first birthday (when he received some three hundred messages of congratulation which he personally answered) he departed (o the Heavenly Fatherland, Jan. 29,1860.A man of learning, a true patriot, a distinguished poet, and a man greatly revered and beloved of the people, he was a worthy modern representative of the "old Arndt," author of the True Christianity; a man of deep religious feeling, and a true-hearted and earnest witness for the Evangelical Faith. By his well-known Von dem Wort und von dem Kirchenliede, Bonn, 1819, he was one of the prime movers in the reaction which has now rescued most of the German lands from the incubus of xviii. cent. Rationalistic hymn-books. To this pamphlet he annexed 33 hymns, his best known. Of the remaining 50 some 37 appeared in his Geistliche Lieder, Berlin, 1855, and the rest in the Frankfurt, 1818, and later editions of his Gedichte—the so-called complete edition of which, pub. at Berlin 1860, contains 427 secular and sacred pieces, ranging from 1787 to 1859, with a preface dated in Christmas week 1859. (Koch, vii. 140-148; Allg. Deutsche Biog., i. 540-548.)The following 14 hymns by him have been tr. into English :—
i. Der heil'ge Christ ist kommen. [Christmas] 1st pub. in 1818, vol. i. p. 319, and tr. as "The blessed Christ is coming," by C. T Astley, 1860, p. 24, in 4 st. of 8 1.
ii. Dich Geiat der Wahrheit, Oeist der Kraft. [Whitsuntide.] A Prayer to the Holy Spirit. 1st pub. 1819 (No. 32), "as above, in 8 st. of 4 1. Tr. by J. Kelly, 1885, p. 67, "O Spirit, Thou of love and might."
iii, Die Welt thut ihre Augen zu. [Child's Evening Hymn.] 1st pub. 1818 (vol. i. p. 265), as above, in 4 st. of 8 1. Tr. by J. Kelly, 1885, p. 109, " The busy world its eyes doth close."
iv. Es lebt ein Geist, durch welchen alles lebt. [The Spirit of God.] 1st pub. 1818 (vol. i. p. 281) as above in 5 st. of 4 1., and tr. as:— " There is a Spirit—universal Source," by C. T. Astley, 1860, p. 14.
v. Gegangen ist dat Sonnenlicht. [Evening.] Written in 1813, and 1st pub. 1818 (vol. ii. p. 230) as above, in 5 st. of 8 1., entitled: " The traveller's evening hymn." Tr. as (1) " The sunlight has departed," by Dr. Maguire, 1883, p. 49; (2) "The fields and woods all silence keep," by J. Kelly, 1885, p. 112.
vi. Geht nun hin und grabt mein Grab. [Burial of the Dead.] Written in 1818, and 1st pub. 1819 (No. 19) as above in 9 st. of 6 1., and included in Bunsen's Versuch, 1833, and since in many other collections, e.g. Unv. L. S. 1851, No. 815. It is the most popular of his hymns and was sung at his own funeral at Bonn, Feb. 1, 1860 (Koch, vii. 147). The trs. in C. U. are :—
(1) Go and dig my grave today! A good and full tr. in the 1st Series, 1855, of Miss Winkworth's Lyra Ger., p. 241 (ed. 1856, p. 243), and repeated as No. 188 in her C. B.for England, 1863. In Schaffs Christ in Song, ed. 1879, p. 536.
(2) Weary now of wandering here. A tr. of st. i., iv., vi., ix., signed "F. C. C.," as No. 280, in Dr. Pagenstecher's Coll.. 1864.
Other trs. are: (1) “Go! and let my grave be made," by Miss Cox, 1841, p. 83 (1861, p. 83); (2) “Prepare me now my narrow bed," by Lady Eleanor Fortescue, 1843 (1847, p. 26); (3) "Go now, my friends, and dig my grave," by Dr. G. Walker, 1860, p. 109; (4) " Now go forth and dig my grave," by A. M. Jeaffreson, in Golden Hours, 1873, p. 52.
vii. Oott, deine Kindlein treten. [Children.] 1st pub. 1818 (vol. i. p. 275) as above, in 5 st. of 4 1. It is tr. as " Oh, gracious God ! Thy children come before Thee," by C. T. Astley, 1860, p. 38.
viii. Ich weiss, woran ich glaube. [The Rock of Salvation.] Written in 1818, and 1st pub. 1819 (No. 28) as above in 6 st. of 8 1. In Knapp's Ev. L. S., 1837, No. 1396 (ed. 1865, No. 1348), it begins "Ich weiss, an wen ich glaube” The trs. in C. U. are:—
(1) I know in Whom I put my trust. A good tr. of st. i., iv.-vi. of Knapp's text in the 2nd Series, 1858, of Miss Winkworth's Lyra Ger., p. 162. Included as No. 1170 in Kennedy, 1863, and recently in Schaff’s Christ in Song, ed. 1879, p. 426, and Lib. of Rel. Poetry, ed. 1883, p. 670.
(2) I know Whom I believe in, a tr. from Knapp, omitting st. ii., iii-, as No. 288 in the Ohio Luth. Hymnal, 1880.
ix. Xann ich beten, 1st in Nothen. [The Power of Prayer.] Written in 1818, and 1st pub. 1819 (No. 29) ns above in 8 st. of 7 1., and tr. " When I can pray, Without delay," by C. T. Astley, 1860, p. 10.
x. Und klingst du immer Liebe wieder. [The Love of Christ.] 1st pub. 1855, as above, p. 57, in 5 st. of 6 1. Tr. by J. Kelly, 1885, p. 34, “ And dost thou always love proclaim."
xi. Und willst du gar verzagen. [Trust in God.] Written in 1854, and 1st pub. as above, 1855, p. 81, in 6 st. of 81. It is tr. as " And art thou nigh despairing," in the Family Treasury, 1877, p. 110.
xii. Was ist die Macht, was ist die Kraft. [Holy Scripture.] Written in 1818, and 1st pub. 1819 (No. 30) as above in 6 st. of 6 1., and included in Hofer's Pilgerharfe, Basel, 1863, No. 31. Tr. (1) "What is the Christian's power and might ?" by R. Massie, in the British Herald, April, 1865, p. 61. (2) " What is the Christian soldier's might, What is," by R. Massie in the Day of Rest, 1878, vol. viii. p. 335.
xiii. Wenn aus dem Dunkeln ich mich sehne. [Hope in God.] Written in 1818, and 1st pub. 1819 (No. 18) as above, in 7 st. of 6 1. Included, omitting st. ii., as No. 2401 in Knapp's Ev. L. S. 1837 (ed. 1865, No. 2128). Tr. as " When in the depths of night I'm sighing," in the British Herald, Aug. 1866, p. 312, repeated as No. 410, in Reid's Praise Bk., 1872.
xiv. Wer hat den Sand gezahlt, welcher ixn Wasser haust. [The Almighty God.] 1st pub. 1818 (i. p. 297) and included in 1819 (No. 6) as above, in 4 st. of 8 1. Tr. as " Who can on the seashore," in Dr. Dwlcken's Golden Harp, 1864, p. 32. There is also a free tr. in the Unitarian Hys. for Children, Glasgow, 1855, No. 28, beginning :—" Who has counted the leaves that fall?”
- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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Arndt, E. M., p. 80, No. 10. "Und klingst du" was written in 1836, and first published in his Gedichte, 1840, p. 570.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)
Ernst Moritz Arndt
