Suggested tune: VOM HIMMEL HOCH
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Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schaar. M. Luther. [Christmas.] This is founded on St. Luke ii. 10, 11, and St. Matt, ii. 6; and was apparently written in 1543, and meant for use when his other Christmas hymn ("Vom Himmel hoch") was thought to be too long. It was first published in the Geistlicite Lieder, Wittenberg, 1543, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines, and thence in Wachernagel, iii. p. 28. Also in Schirck's ed. of Luther's Geistliche Lieder, 1854, p. 15, and in the Unverfälschter Liedersegen 8.9 1851. Translated as:—
1. From yon ethereal heavens . This is a paraphrase, in 54 lines, by Miss Fry, in her Hymns of the Reformation , 1845, p. 20. From this a cento in 5 stanzas of S.M., recast and beginning, "Let all our hearts rejoice," is No. 5 in Whittemore's Supplement to All Hymn Books, 1860.
2. To shepherds as they watched by night. In full, by R. Massie in his Martin Luther's Spiritual Songs, 1854, p. 7. Included in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880, and by Dr. Bacon in his Hymns of Martin Luther, 1884, p. 66.
Other translations are:—
(l) "A band of angels from the sky," as No. 145 in pt. i. of the Moravian Hymn Book, I754. (2) "Sing! sing! ye ransomed mortals, sing." By Sir John Bowring in his Hymns, 1825, No. 81. (3) "The humble shepherds, tending." By J. Anderson, 1846, p. 1 (1847, p. 31). (4) "From heaven there came an angel throng." By Dr. J. Hunt, 1853, p. 33. (5) "From heaven angel hosts did fly." By Miss Manington, 1864, p. 32. (6) "The angels came down in their cohorts so bright." By S. Garratt in his Hymns & Translations, 1867, p. 37. (7) "From heaven the angel-troop came near." By Dr. G. Macdonald in the Sunday Magazine , 1867, p. 256; altered in his Exotic , 1876, p. 48. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Luther, Martin, born at Eisleben, Nov. 10, 1483; entered the University of Erfurt, 1501 (B.A. 1502, M.A.. 1503); became an Augustinian monk, 1505; ordained priest, 1507; appointed Professor at the University of Wittenberg, 1508, and in 1512 D.D.; published his 95 Theses, 1517; and burnt the Papal Bull which had condemned them, 1520; attended the Diet of Worms, 1521; translated the Bible into German, 1521-34; and died at Eisleben, Feb. 18, 1546. The details of his life and of his work as a reformer are accessible to English readers in a great variety of forms. Luther had a huge influence on German hymnody.
i. Hymn Books.
1. Ellich cristlich lider Lobgesang un Psalm. Wittenberg, 1524. [Hamburg Library.] This contains 8 German h… Go to person page >
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