Beside the Streams of Babylon

Author: Wolfgang Dachstein

Dachstein, Wolfgang, was, prior to the Reformation, a monk at Strassburg, and organist of the Cathedral. In 1524 he espoused the cause of the Reformation, and in 1525 was appointed organist and assistant preacher at St. Thomas's Church, which offices he held till at least 1530 (Koch, ii. 103-104).Along with his friend M. Greitter (q.v.) he edited the first Strassburg Hymnbook, the Kirchen ampt, published in 1525. Two of his Psalm versions have been translated into English, but he is best known as author of the melody which is set to the first of these.    i. An Wasserflüssen Babylon. [Ps. cxxxvii.] 1st pub. 1525, pt. iii, as above, and thence in Wackernage, iii. p. 98, in 5 st. of 10 1. The translations, almost identical, are : (1)… Go to person page >

Translator: Gracia Grindal

Gracia Grindal (b. Powers Lake, ND, 1943). Grindal was educated at Augsburg College, Minneapolis, Minnesota; the University of Arkansas; and Luther-Northwestern Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota, where she has served since 1984 as a professor of pastoral theology and communications. From 1968 to 1984 she was a professor of English and poet-in-residence at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa. Included in her publications are Sketches Against the Dark (1981), Scandinavian Folksongs (1983), Lessons in Hymnwriting (1986, 1991), We Are One in Christ: Hymns, Paraphrases, and Translations (1996), Good News of Great Joy: Advent Devotions for the Home (1994 with Karen E. Hong), Lina Sandell, the Story of Her Hymns (2001 with John Jansen), and A Revelry of Har… Go to person page >