Person Results

Switch back to the old search page.Advanced Search

Showing 1 - 5 of 5Results Per Page: 10 20 50

Friedrich Silcher

1789 - 1860 Person Name: Silcher Composer of "[Weil ich Jesu Schäflein bin]" in Evangelisches Gesangbuch mit vierstimmigen Melodien

1627 - 1667 Person Name: Luise Henriette von Hayn Author of "Weil ich Jesu Schäflein bin" in Gesangbuch der Evangelischen Gemeinschaft Luise Henriette, Electress of Brandenburg, daughter of Friedrich Heinrich, Prince of Nassau-Orange and Stadtholder of the United Netherlands, was born at 'S Gravenhage (The Hague), Nov. 27, 1627. She received a careful Christian training, not only in literature, but also in domestic economy and feminine handicrafts. On Dec. 7, 1646, she was married, at the Hague, to the Elector Friedrich Wilhelm of Brandenburg, who was then residing at Cleve, but remained at the Hague to nurse her father, who died March 14, 1647. She then, in June, 1647, joined her husband at Cleve, where her first child, Wilhelm Heinrich, was born in May 1648. In the autumn of 1619 she set out with her husband and child on the way to Berlin, but in the inclement weather the child sickened and died at Wesel, Oct. 24,1649, and it was not till April 10, 1650, that she entered Berlin. On the birth of her second son, Carl Emil (who died 1674), at Oranienburg, near Berlin, on Feb. 16, 1655, she founded an orphanage there as a thank-offering (now the Oranienburg Orphanage at Berlin). On July 11, 1657, her third son, afterwards King Friedrich I. of Prussia, was born at Königsberg. After the birth of her youngest son, Ludwig, at Cleve, in 1666, she never entirely recovered. In the spring of 1667 she was conveyed to Berlin in a litter, and died there June 18, 1667. (Koch, iv. 158; Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, xix. 623; Goedeke's Grundrias, vol. iii., 1887, p. 319, &c.) Luise Henriette was a woman of noble character; a devoted wife who accompanied her husband in many of his expeditions, and was his right-hand counsellor in matters of state; and a true mother of her people, introducing the culture of the potato, founding model farms, establishing elementary schools, and in many ways interesting herself in restoring their welfare after the ravages of the Thirty Years' War. She was, like the Elector, a member of the Reformed Church, but earnestly desired to promote peace between the Lutheran and Reformed communions, and exerted herself especially on behalf of P. Gerhardt. Another of her efforts in this direction was by means of the Union Hymn Book, which Christoph Runge edited at her direction, and published in 1653. To this book she herself contributed four hymns. In his dedication to the Electress, Runge says she had "augmented and adorned it with your own hymns, viz.: ‘Ein ander stelle sein Vertrauen'; ‘Gott der Reichthumb deiner Güter'; 'Jesus meine Zuversicht'; 'Ich wil von meiner Missethat.' Your Electoral Highness has not only in those your now mentioned hymns (itzt gemeldten geistreichen Ihren eigenen Liedern) made known to all the world your Christian spirit; how your confidence is directed to God alone; how you ascribe to him with thankful heart all the benefits you enjoy; and how you rest the hope of your future everlasting life in Heaven on Christ alone as on a steadfast rock, but have also," &c. &c. The question however remains. Did Runge here mean more than that she had sent for insertion certain hymns which were favourites of her own, perhaps written for her, but not necessarily written by her? Such cases were common enough at an earlier period. It is certainly strange that her name should not be given in any of the many hymn-books in which the third of these ("Jesus meine Zuversicht") was included during the next century. It was not till 1769 that Runge's dedication suggested to D. G. Schöber, and, after him, to other compilers, the idea of the Electress's authorship; but once suggested it was soon generally accepted. Fischer, i. 390-396, gives various additional reasons that make this theory unlikely; such as that while in Runge's dedication they are mentioned as above, yet her name is not affixed to the individual hymns in the body of the book; that in the funeral oration by her private chaplain, no mention is made of her poetical gifts; that Crüger gave them in his Praxis pietatis melica without her name (in the 1664 and later editions the first was omitted), and that in particular the third is too classic and correct in style to have been written by so poor a German scholar as the Electress. This last objection would of course be met if we could suppose with Koch (iv. p. 169) that the hymn was originally written in Dutch, or with Dutch idioms, and was revised and corrected by her minister, Otto von Schwerin, or by Runge. In view of the present evidence we can only say that if the Electress were not the author of these hymns there is at least no proof of any kind to show that they were composed by any of those whose names have sometimes been attached to them; such as Otto von Schwerin (b. 1616, d. 1679), Caspar Ziegler (b. 1621, d. 1690), Hans von Assig (b. 1650, d. 1694), and others. In this state of uncertainty the case must be left till definite proof be forthcoming. Two of these hymns have passed into English, viz.:— i. Ich will von meiner Missethat. Lent. This beautiful hymn first appeared in the Crüger-Runge Gesang-Buch, 1653, No. 45, in 16 st. of 7 1., entitled, "Hymn of Penitence," and without signature. Koch, iv. 160, conjectures that it may have been written at Cleve in 1648. In the Unverfälschter Liedersegen 1851, No. 380. The translations are :— (1) "With sorrow now for past misdeeds," by Miss Cox, 1864, p, 204. (2) "I will return unto the Lord," by Miss Winkworth, 1869, p. 221. ii. Jesus meine Zuversicht. Easter. This beautiful hymn, founded on Job xix. 25-27 and 1 Cor. xv. 35 ff., appeared in the Crüger-Runge Gesang-Buch, 1653, No. 140, in 10 st. of 6 l., and without signature. Its origin is thus given by Lauxmann, in Koch, viii. 69:— "It dates from the early years of her married life. In the autumn of 1649 she lost her first child, the Crown Prince Wilhelm Heinrich, at Wesel, while on her journey [to Berlin], by which death for a long time the hope of succession in the Electoral House and in the Hohenzollern family line seemed to be lost. At Tangermünde, in the Altmark [on the Elbe], she had to spend some quiet winter months, and here probably the princess of twenty-two years poured out her heart before the Lord in this hymn." This, however, is conjecture rather than history; for, as stated above, it is not yet clearly proved that the Electress wrote any hymns. The hymn itself is of the first rank; and A. J. Rambach calls it "an acknowledged masterpiece of Christian poetry;" while C. von Winterfeld says, "it will ever remain a treasure among the hallowed songs of the Evangelical Church." It bears a certain resemblance to the concluding section of the Apotheosis of A. C. Prudentius (lines 1063-1085, with the subtitle "De resurrectione carnis humanae," and beginning, "Nosco meum in Christo corpus consurgere. Quid me"); but can hardly be called a translation of it. It was included in Crüger's Praxis, 1656, No. 182, passed into almost all later hymn-books, and is No. 866 in the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851. The beautiful chorale (as in the Chorale Book for England) appeared in its first form in 1653, along with the hymn. C. von Winterfeld conjectured that it may have been by the Electress. The form now in use is modified from that given by Crüger in his Praxis, 1656. Translated as:— 1. Christ, my Rock, my sure Defence. Omitting st. ix., as No. 51 in the Moravian Hymn Book 1769. In the edition of 1789. No. 833, st. viii. was omitted, and a translation from Christian Gregor’s "Nein, ach nein, er lasst mich nicht," was added as st. iii. (ed. 1886, No. 1241). Abridged forms are in J. A. Latrobe's Collection, 1841, and Dr. Hook's Church School Hymn Book, 1850. 2. Jesus, on Whose name I rest. A good translation of st. i.-iv., vi., by A. T. Russell, as No. 264, in his Psalms & Hymns, 1851. 3. Jesus, my Redeemer, lives. A good translation, omitting st. iv., v., by Miss Winkworth, in her Lyra Germanica 1st Ser., 1855, p. 93. Repeated, in full, in the Ohio Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal

Henriette Louise von Hayn

1724 - 1782 Person Name: Henr. Louise v. Hayn, 1724-1782 Author of "Weil ich Jesu Schäflein bin" in Liederkranz für Sonntags-Schulen und Jugend-Vereine Hayn, Henrietta Luise von, daughter of Georg Heinrich von Hayn, master of the hounds to the Duke of Nassau, was born at Idstein, Nassau, May 22, 1724. In 1746 she was formally received into the Moravian community at Herrnhaag. There, and, after the dissolution of this community, at Grosshennersdorf, and, after 1751 at Herrnhut, she was engaged as teacher in the Girls' School; and after 1766 in caring for the invalid sisters of the community. She died at Herrnhut, Aug. 27, 1782. (Koch, vi. 443-447; Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, xi. 1.58, &c.) She was a gifted hymnwriter. A fervent love to Christ pervades her produc¬tions; and they are remarkably free from the unpleasant sentimentalism and that dwelling on the physical details of our Lord's Passion which mars so many of the Moravian hymns of that period. Over 40 hymns or portions of hymns by her are included in the Brüder Gesang-Buch of 1778. Only one has come into English use outside the Moravian hymnbooks, viz.:— Weil ich Jesu Schaflein bin. Children. This beautiful hymn for children, regarded as Lambs of the Good Shepherd, first appeared in the Brüder Gesang-Buch, 1778, No. 1179, in 3 st. of 6 1. It has been included in many recent German collections, as the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, ed. 1863, No. 120. Translated as: — 1. Jesus makes my heart rejoice, in full, by F. W. Foster and J. Miller, as No. 576 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1789 (1886, No. 1006). Included, from the edition of 1826, in Dr. Pagenstecher's Collection, 1864, and others. 2. Seeing I am Jesus' lamb, a good and full translation by Miss Winkworth in her Lyra Germanica, 2nd Ser., 1858, p. 90. Repeated in the People's Hymnal 1867, Book of Praise for Children, 1881, and in America in the Pennsylvania Lutheran Church Book, 1868, &c. 3. I am Jesus' little lamb, a good and full translation by Dr. W. F. Stevenson for his Hymns for Church & Home, 1873, c. 58, dated 1871. Repeated in Allon's Children's Worship, 1878, the Methodist Sunday School Hymnbook, 1883, and others. Another translation is : "Since I'm Jesus' sheep I am," by R. Massie, in the Day of Rest, 1880, p. 622. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Christian Gregor

1723 - 1801 Composer of "[Weil ich Jesu Schäflein bin]" in Antwort Finden in alten und neuen Liedern, in Worten zum Nachdenken und Beten Gregor, Christian, son of Georg Gregor, a peasant living in the Silesian village of Dirsdorf, near Peilau, was born at Dirsdorf, Jan. 1, 1723. In 1742 he went to Herrnhut, where he was at first employed in tuition. He became leader of the music in the [Moravian] Brethren's congregation at Herrnhaag, in 1748, and in 1749 at Zeist; but in 1753 he returned to Herrnhut as cashier of the Brethren's Board of Direction. He was, in 1756, ordained diaconus, in 1767 presbyter, and in 1789 bishop of the Brethren's Church. On Nov. 6,1801, he attended a meeting, held at Herrnhut, of the Board of Direction of which he had been a member from 1764. Just as he entered his house at Berthelsdorf, near Herrnhut, he was struck with paralysis, and died that same day. (Koch, vi. 436; Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, ix. 630.) He was a man greatly beloved and respected, simple of heart, loving, earnest and hardworking; and was entrusted with many important missions and visitations. His hymns are characterised by childlike fervour of devotion to his crucified Lord. A number appeared in Des kleinen Brüder-Gesangbuchs dritter Theil, Barby, 1767; but they were mostly contributed to the Gesang-buch zum Gebrauch der evangelischen Brüder Gemeinen, Barby, 1778, of which he was the principal editor. He was also an excellent organist, and edited, in 1784, a collection of accompanying tunes for the hymnbook of 1778, contributing thereto various melodies by himself. A little volume entitled Historische Nachrteht vom Brüder-Gesangbuche des Jahres 1778, und von dessen Lieder-Verfassern, Gnadau, 1835 (2nd ed., 1851), occasionally referred to in these pages, is based on materials collected by Gregor. His hymns in English common use are:— i. Bis dereinst mein Stündlein schlägt. [Love to Christ.] 1778, No. 640, in 5 st. of 4 1. Translated as:— Till permitted hence to go, of st. i., ii., iv., as No. 563 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1801 (1886, No. 1228). In 1826 an original st.anza by T. Bird was added, beginning, " Till the day when I shall tread." Repeated thus in 1886, No. 1228, and in J. A. Latrobe's Collection, 1841, No. 484. ii. Die Gottes Cherubim. [The Angels.] Appeared as No. 1877 in Appendix xii. c, 1746, to the Herrnhut Gesang-Buch of 1735, thus :— "Die Gottes Cherubim Erheben ihre Stimm, (Funkelnd von Blitz und Strahl,) Ihr Lied ist, wenn ichs sagen darf, Dazu spielt mehr als eine Harf: Ehre dem Seitenmaal!" In 1778 it is included as No. 1600, beginning, "Die Gottes Seraphim," and expanded to three stanzas; i. of the Angels; ii. of the Redeemed; iii. of the Church on Earth. Here the song, "Ehre dem Seitenmaal," is given to the Church on Earth, and a paraphrase of Is. vi. 3, to the Angels. The only translation in common use is :— The Seraphim of God, in full from the 1778, by J. Miller and F. W. Foster, as No. 792 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1789 (1886, No. 1220), repeated in J. A. Latrobe's Collection, 1841, No. 424. Another translation is The Cherubims of God," from the original form, as No. 93 in pt. iii. of the Moravian Hymn Book, 1748. iii. Heiliger, heiliger, heiliger, Herr Zebaoth. [Public Worship.] The introductory hymn in 1778, in 4 st. of 81, as on "The Word of God." The only translation is:— Holy Lord, Holy lord, Holy and Almighty Lord, by F. W. Foster, C. G. Clemens, and J. Swertner, as No. 1 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1789 (1886, No. 1). Included from the text of 1801, as No. 217 in Dr. Pagenstecher's Collection, 1864. iv. Nach tausendfachen Plagen. [Passiontide.] 1778, No. 128, in 8 1. It is translated as :— Behold, my soul, Thy Saviour, by P. H. Molther, as No. 352 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1789. See No. vi. v. 0 angenehme Augenblicke. [Eternal Life.] Written in 1766. In 1778, No. 1749, in 2 st. of 8 1. The translations are :— 1. What heavenly joy and consolation, by P. H, Molther, of st. i., as No. 886 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1789 (1886, No. 1314, st. iii.). Included as st. iii. of No. 403 in the Irish Church Hymnal, 1873. 2. 0 what joy, 0 what joy awaiteth me. No. 988 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1801. In the 1886 edition it is marked as a translation of No. v. as above. It bears more resemblance, however, to "O wie wallt mein Herz," which is No. 268 in the 1806 Appendix to the Brüder Gesang-Buchof 1778. vi. 0 süsse Seelenweide. [Passiontide.] 1778, No. 167, in 11 st. of 8 1. St. i., ii. are ascribed to Gregor; iii., iv., xi. to Johann Prätorius ; and v.-x. to C. B. von Zinzendorf (taken from Nos. 40 and 41 of the collected edition of his hymns, 1754). The translation is:— How is my soul delighted, a translation of st. i., ii., iv., v., vii., x. by F. W. Foster, and J. Miller, as No. 360 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1789. In the 1801 and later editions (1886, No. 407), Molther's translation of No. iv. was prefixed as st. i., new trranslations of st. viii., x. given, and the rest altered. In the Book of Common Praise, ed. 1872, No. 86, is st. i., ii., 11. 5-8, and iii., by Gregor; and iv., 11. 5-8, by Prätorius, beginning, "Behold, my soul, thy Saviour." vii. 0 Tage wahrer Seligkeit. [Joy of Forgiveness.] 1778, No. 398, in 6 st. of 8 1., included in the Berlin Geistliche Lieder S. , ed. 1863. Translated as:— O days of solid happiness in full as No. 340 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1801 (1886, No. 386). Two centos from the text of 1849 are in common use :— 1. "What days of solid happiness," st. i.-iv., as No. 433 in the edition of 1857 of Mercer's The Church Psalter & Hymnbook. 2. "Whene'er we contemplate the grace," st. iv.-vi. as No. 396 in the Irish Church Hymnal, 1873. viii. Wenn schlägt die angenehme Stunde. [Ascension.] Written for Aug. 17, 1765, and included as No. 113 in 1767, as above, in 8 1. Translated as :— When, O when shall I have the favour, by P. H. Molther, c. 1774, included as No. 839 in the Moravian Hymnbook, 1789, repeated as st. ii. of No, 403, in the Irish Church Hymnal, 1873. In the 1886 ed. of the Moravian Hymnbook, No. 1314, it begins, "O when shall I have that great favour." ix. Wie wifd mir einst dooh sein. [Eternal Life.] 1778, No. 1743, in 10 st. of 6 1. In the Historische Nachricht thereto, st. i.-iii. are marked as by Gregor, and st. iv.-x. as by N. L. von Zinzendorf. St. iv.-x. are recast from a hymn beginning, "Die Bäume blühen ab," writ¬ten in the autumn of 1721, and included as No. 1245 in the 3rd edition, 1731, of his Sammlung geistund lieblicher Lieder, in 46 st. of 4 1., the stanza of the original used being in order 39, 42, 34, 18, 22, 29, 45. The only translation in common use is:— What shall I feel, when I, in full from the 1778, by J. A. Latrobe, as No. 885 in the Moravian Hymnbook, 1789 (1886, No. 1301). Two centos are in use:- 1. "How shall the joy be told"; st. i.-iv., vi., viii. altered in J. A. Latrobe's Collection, 1841, No. 498. 2. "I hear the enraptured song"; st. 2, 6, 9, 10, as No. 582 in the App. of 1873 to Mercer's The ChurchPsalter & Hymnbook. Hymns not in English common use:— x. Ach mein Heir Jesu! dein Nahesein. Communion with Christ. 1767, as above, No. 432, in 10 st. In the Berlin Geistliche Lieder S.,, ed. 1863, No. 925. Justly characterised by Dr. Schaff in his Christ in Song, 1869, p. 496, as "One of the sweetest hymns from the holy of holies of the believer's personal communion with his Saviour, and very characteristic of Moravian piety in its best form." The trsanslations are (1) "What peace divine, what perfect happiness," by P. H. Molther, as No. 278 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1789 (1849, No. 362). In the 1886 ed. of the Moravian Hymn Book, No. 359, it begins with the translation of st. v., "Gracious Redeemer, grant to us while here." (2) "Jesus, our Lord, when Thou art near," by Dr. H. Mills, 1845 (1856, p. 122). (3) "Ah dearest Lord! to feel that Thou art near," by Miss Winkworth, 1858, p. 168. (4) "Ah, Jesus, Lord, Thou art near to me," in the British Herald, Dec, 1866, p. 372, and as No. 304 in Reid's Praise Book, 1872. (5) "Jesus, my Lord, Thy nearness does impart," by E. Reynolds for Schaff’s Christ in Song, 1869, p. 496. xi. Hallelujah! der Heiland lebt. Easter. 1778, No. 203, in 17 st. (st. xiv. being by Matthaus Stach, and first published as st. ii. of No. 109, in 1767). Translated as "Sing Hallelujah, Christ doth live," as No. 131 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1801 (1886, No. 142), repeated in Bishop Ryle's Collection, 1860, No. 131. Beginning with the translation of st. ix., “The God of Peace, to guilty man," 6 st. were included as No. 90 in Reid's Praise Book, 1872. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)