Christmas 1534 or 1535

Joyous Christmas!

Spoiler Alert: As you can see from the title of this post, we are deviating from the chronological order of events in Luther’s life (in 1527) for one day. If you don’t want to spoil the surprise when (if) this blog gets to the events of 1534/35, stop reading now.

Martin Luther writes a song for his family’s Christmas celebration, probably in 1534.  “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come” was first published in 1535.  Luther originally set this hymn to the tune of an existing folk song “Good news from far abroad I bring,” but wrote a new melody that appeared in hymnals starting in 1539. The earlier tune eventually settled on the Luther hymn “From Heaven Came the Angel Bright”, written in 1543 (text: Lutheran Worship #52).

For more detailed background on “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come,” please see this article by Rev. William H. Otto.  For performances of a few stanzas in settings of the melody believed to have been composed by Luther see here or here (or search Youtube for “Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her”).  To hear Johann Sebastian Bach’s canonical variations on the tune, please see these recordings by All of Bach.

Quotation: “A Childrens’ Song”

[Angel:] [1]
1. Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her. Ich bring’ euch gute neue Mär, Der guten Mär bring ich so viel, Davon ich sing’n und sagen will.	From heaven above to earth I come To bear good news to every home; Glad tidings of great joy I bring Whereof I now will say and sing:
2. Euch ist ein Kindlein heut’ geborn Von einer Jungfrau auserkorn, Ein Kindelein, so zart und fein, Das soll eu’r Freud und Wonne sein.	To you this night is born a child Of Mary, chosen mother mild; This little child, of lowly birth, Shall be the joy of all your earth.
3. Es ist der Herr Christ, unser Gott, Der will euch führn aus aller Not, Er will eu’r Heiland selber sein, Von allen Sünden machen rein.	‘Tis Christ our God who far on high Hath heard your sad and bitter cry; Himself will your Salvation be, Himself from sin will make you free.
4. Er bringt euch alle Seligkeit, Die Gott der Vater hat bereit, Daß ihr mit uns im Himmelreich Sollt leben nun und ewiglich.	He brings those blessings, long ago Prepared by God for all below; Henceforth His kingdom open stands To you, as to the angel bands.
5. So merket nun das Zeichen recht: Die Krippe, Windelein so schlecht, Da findet ihr das Kind gelegt, Das alle Welt erhält und trägt.	These are the tokens ye shall mark, The swaddling clothes and manger dark; There shall ye find the young child laid, By whom the heavens and earth were made.
[Shepherds and Congregation:]
6. Des laßt uns alle fröhlich sein Und mit den Hirten gehn hinein, Zu sehn, was Gott uns hat beschert, Mit seinem lieben Sohn verehrt.	Now let us all with gladsome cheer Follow the shepherds, and draw near To see this wondrous gift of God Who hath His only Son bestowed.
7. Merk auf, mein Herz, und sieh dorthin! Was liegt dort in dem Krippelein? Wes ist das schöne Kindelein? Es ist das liebe Jesulein.	Give heed, my heart, lift up thine eyes! Who is it in yon manger lies? Who is this child so young and fair? The blessed Christ-child lieth there.
[Believer’s Prayer to the Christ Child:]
8. Sei mir willkommen, edler Gast! Den Sünder nicht verschmähet hast Und kommst ins Elend her zu mir, Wie soll ich immer danken dir?	Welcome to earth, Thou noble guest, Through whom e’en wicked men are blest! Thou com’st to share our misery, What can we render, Lord, to Thee!
9. Ach, Herr, du Schöpfer aller Ding, Wie bist du worden so gering, Daß du da liegst auf dürrem Gras, Davon ein Rind und Esel aß!	Ah, Lord, who hast created all, How hast Thou made Thee weak and small, That Thou must choose Thy infant bed Where ass and ox but lately fed!
10. Und wär’ die Welt vielmal so weit, Von Edelstein und Gold bereit’, So wär sie doch dir viel zu klein, Zu sein ein enges Wiegelein.	Were earth a thousand times as fair, Beset with gold and jewels rare, She yet were far too poor to be A narrow cradle, Lord, for Thee.
11. Der Sammet und die Seide dein, Das ist grob Heu und Windelein, Darauf du König groß und reich Herprangst, als wär’s dein Himmelreich.	For velvets soft and silken stuff Thou hast but hay and straw so rough, Whereon Thou King, so rich and great, As ’twere Thy heaven, art throned in state.
12. Das hat also gefallen dir, Die Wahrheit anzuzeigen mir: Wie aller Welt Macht, Ehr und Gut Vor dir nichts gilt, nichts hilft noch tut.	Thus hath it pleased Thee to make plain The truth to us poor fools and vain, That this world’s honour, wealth and might Are nought and worthless in Thy sight.
13. Ach, mein herzliebes Jesulein, Mach dir ein rein, sanft Bettelein, Zu ruhen in meins Herzens Schrein, Das ich nimmer vergesse dein.	Ah! dearest Jesus, Holy Child, Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled, Within my heart, that it may be A quiet chamber kept for Thee.
14. Davon ich allzeit fröhlich sei, Zu springen, singen immer frei Das rechte Susaninne schon, Mit Herzenslust den süßen Ton.	My heart for very joy doth leap, My lips no more can silence keep; I too must sing with joyful tongue That sweetest ancient cradle-song.
15. Lob, Ehr sei Gott im höchsten Thron, Der uns schenkt seinen ein’gen Sohn. Des freuen sich der Engel Schar Und singen uns solch neues Jahr.	Glory to God in highest heaven, Who unto man His Son hath given! While angels sing with pious mirth A glad New Year to all the earth.

[Translation: Catherine Winkworth, Lyra Germanica: The Christian Year (1855)]

Note

[1] Some scholars consider this hymn to be a miniature Christmas pageant for the Luther family, with the angel singing stanzas 1-5, individual children taking stanzas 7-14, and the whole group singing stanzas 6 and 15. At Christmas 1534, the Luther household would have included five of their children: Hans (age 8), Magdalena (5), Martin (3), Paul (almost 2), and Margaretha (1 week). In addition, Katie’s aunt, Magdalene von Bora (“Aunt Lene”), four children of Luther’s sister Margarete Kaufmann (who had died in 1529), two other nephews, and one of Katie’s grandnieces lived with the Luther family.

1539 melody and first five stanzas from the Straßburger Gesangbuch (1541)