Let Us All with Gladsome Voice

Author: Urban Langhans

Langhans, Urban, was a native of Schneeberg, in Saxony. He was for some time cantor, i.e. choirmaster, at Glauchau, in Saxony; and then from 1546 to 1554 diaconus there. In 1554 he became diaconus at Schneeberg, and still held this position in 1562. The date of his death is not known; but his successor in office died in 1571 (Blätter fur Hymnologie, 1884, pp. 7-12, 25-27, 190). Whether he wrote any hymns is doubtful. The only one ascribed to him which has passed into English is:— Lasst uns alle fröhlich sein. Christmas. The first stanza of this hymn is found at p. 17 of Martin Hammer's Laudes Immanuelis (a sermon on “Grates nunc omnes reddamus"), published at Leipzig, 1620 [Ducal Library, Gotha]. The full form, in 4 stanzas of 4 line… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used i… Go to person page >