Im Frieden dein, o Herre mein
- 1530
- 1898
"Im Frieden dein, o Herre mein" (In Your peace, o my Lord) is a three-stanza German Christian communion hymn. In 1527 the early Reformer Johann Englisch (Johannes Anglicus) wrote two stanzas as a rhyming close paraphase of the Nunc dimittis, or Canticle of Simeon. The hymn is sung to a melody by Wolfgang Dachstein, written before 1530. Friedrich Spitta revised the lyrics in 1898 and added a third stanza. His revision transformed Englisch's prayer of an individual with a focus on a peaceful death to a communal one more about peaceful life in unity.
This version is part of the German Protestant hymnal, Evangelisches Gesangbuch, as EG 222. An ecumenical song, it is also part of the current Catholic hymnal, Gotteslob, as GL 216. It appears in several other hymnals.
History
The development of the hymn spans four stages within the history of Christianity.[1] Its initial inspiration draws from the account of Jesus being presented at the temple 40 days after his birth, in a ritual of purification depicted in the Gospel of Luke. On that occasion, Simeon praised the light that appeared by the baby. Centuries later, Simeon's canticle became a regular part of the Liturgy of the Hours as the Nunc dimittis, especially connected to the feast of the purification.[2]
Thirdly, during the Reformation, the Nunc dimittis was used as a prayer of thanks after communion, as documented in a Nördlingen liturgy of 1522 and a Strasbourg liturgy of 1524, the latter specifically calling for its use "after the meal" or communion ("nach dem Mahle").[2] The rhyming paraphrase created by Johann Englisch, or Johannes Anglicus [de], first appearing in 1527 on a now-lost leaflet, became a regular part of Strasbourg hymnals from 1530 on.[2] His version retains the theme of the Nunc dimittis, with its ideas of rest in peace after having seen the light of a saviour who came for all people and especially Israel.[3] The hymn is sung to a melody attributed to Wolfgang Dachstein, written before 1530.[4] It is one of three hymns described as Der Lobgesang Simeonis (Simeon's song of praise) appearing in an 1848 collection of Schatz des evangelischen Kirchengesangs im ersten Jahrhundert der Reformation ("Treasure of Protestant church singing in the first century of the reformation"). The first two are the Biblical canticle in Martin Luther's translation, and Luther's paraphrase "Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin", followed by "Im Frieden dein". A footnote marks the three songs as also suitable for funerals.[5]
Finally, in 1898, Friedrich Spitta, a Protestant theologian, revised the song and added a third stanza, which is now usually placed between the older stanzas.[6] He shifted the meaning from an individual prayer for a good death to a communal prayer for a meaningful life.[7] The focus is on communion as a way for believers to see the light of Christ and thereby live in peace and unity.[6][4] With additional minor changes, this version of the hymn is part of the German Protestant hymnal, Evangelisches Gesangbuch, as EG 222.[8][9]
An ecumenical song, it is also part of the current Catholic hymnal, Gotteslob, as GL 216, in the section "Gesänge – Woche – Gesänge zur Kommunion / Dank nach der Kommunion" (Songs – Week – Communion – Thanks after Communion).[1][4] It appears in several other hymnals.[10]
Text
The text of the hymn is as follows, on the left as in Tucher's 1848 publication which shows Englisch's two stanzas,[3] on the right the text from the current German hymnals:[6]
Tucher, 1848 | Modern |
---|---|
Im Frieden dein, | Im Frieden dein, |
Englisch's lyrics are a close paraphrase of the Nunc dimittis, about being able to go in peace after having seen the light of the Saviour ("Heiland"). Simeon said so after actually seeing the baby Jesus, 40 days after his birth, and for him departing in peace could mean readiness to die. Englisch begins in the first person, addressing God as his Lord ("Herre mein"), who prays to be allowed to rest in God's peace ("Im Frieden dein ... wollst mich nun ruhen lassen").[3]
Spitta transfers the thought to a more general meaning, of travelling one's roads after having seen the light, adding that His mercy is unmeasurable ("ohne Maßen").[7]
The second stanza in Englisch's version is a paraphrase of the second part of Simeon's canticle, mentioning the dear guest ("werthen Gast"), alluding to Jesus, for all people including the heathen, and for the greatness of Israel.[3]
Spitta changes the focus, identifying the singer with the guest (instead of referring to Jesus), invited to a rich meal of mercy ("das reiche Mahl der Gnaden"). The meal offers the bread of life ("Lebensbrot"), which joins the invited believers to God and among each other, a reason to praise, filled with sense and courage ("Sinn und Mut").[7] The heathen and Israel are not mentioned in his version.[11]
The final stanza is a prayer for love and faithfulness in God connecting "us all" ("uns all"), so that hand and mouth will show the friendliness of the Lord, until after this time all may find a seat at his table.[11]
The lyrics follow a pattern of two rhyming short lines followed by a longer line, repeated three times in a stanza, with the three longer lines all rhyming: aabccbddb.[12]
Melodies
From 1530, the hymn was associated with a melody attributed to Wolfgang Dachstein. The tune has an element often found in Strasbourg melodies, a rhythm of long-short-short-long, here used for the short lines. The first two long lines begin with a long note, followed by a sequence of equally short notes, ending on two long notes.[13] The first line begins with the lowest note and rises a fourth, step by step. The other short lines have similar patterns, such as the equal lines which begin the second and third section, moving a fourth downward. The last section begins an octave higher than the second ends, a feature often found in contemporary Strasbourg melodies, especially by Matthäus Greiter, sometimes accentuating a bar form's abgesang.[14] The last line, beginning like the first line, is the only one which has a melisma. In Dachstein's composition, it stresses the last word by dotted notes, rising to an octave above the first note.[15] The stressed word in the first stanza is "gesehen" (seen) and in the second "Volke" (people, meaning Israel).[3] Shortly before the end of the melisma, a ligature typical for German melodies of the 16th century moves around ("umspielt") the second to last note, then released to the key note.[15] While it is usually difficult to find a relation between words and music in strophic texts, it can be assumed that peace is expressed by the calm movement, up and down in symmetry. The last rising line might even be experienced as an expression of a vision of God ("Gottesschau"), although it seems unlikely that the composer had that in mind.[14]
The long and complex last line is difficult for congregational singing, and later versions therefore often abbreviate the melisma, in various ways. An 1899 hymnal for Alsace-Lorraine has a version with only the ligature before the end, the version in today's hymnals.[15] However, the first publication of Spitta's text came with Dachstein's melody.[15]
Musical settings
Samuel Mareschall composed a four-part choral setting in 1606, published by Carus-Verlag.[16] Herbert Beuerle composed a setting for three parts in 1953.[17] In 1980, Aldo Clementi wrote a motet for eight voices.[18] Bernhard Blitsch composed a motet for four parts in 2013.[19] Gaël Liardon published an organ work in 2014.[20]
References
Citations
- ^ a b Marti 2011, p. 8.
- ^ a b c Marti 2011, p. 9.
- ^ a b c d e Tucher 1848, p. 192.
- ^ a b c Mein Gotteslob 2019.
- ^ Tucher 1848, pp. 192–193.
- ^ a b c Meesters 2014.
- ^ a b c Marti 2011, pp. 10–11.
- ^ Marti 2011, pp. 8, 11.
- ^ Liederdatenbank 2019.
- ^ Marti 2011.
- ^ a b Marti 2011, p. 11.
- ^ Marti 2011, p. 10.
- ^ Marti 2011, pp. 11–12.
- ^ a b Marti 2011, p. 13.
- ^ a b c d Marti 2011, p. 12.
- ^ Mareshall 2019.
- ^ Beuerle 1953.
- ^ Clementi 2019.
- ^ Blitsch 2019.
- ^ Im Frieden dein, o Herre mein (Liardon, Gaël): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
Cited sources
- Marti, Andreas (2011). Herbst, Wolfgang; Alpermann, Ilsabe (eds.). 222 Im Frieden dein, oh Herre mein (in German). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. pp. 8–13. ISBN 978-3-64-750302-8.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - Meesters, Maria (13 July 2014). "SWR2 Lied zum Sonntag / Im Frieden dein, oh Herre mein". SWR (in German). Retrieved 4 February 2018.
- Tucher, Gottlieb Freiherr von (1848). Schatz des evangelischen Kirchengesangs im ersten Jahrhundert der Reformation (in German). Breitkopf und Härtel. pp. 192–193.
- "Im Frieden dein, o Herre mein". Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (in German). Retrieved 2 February 2019.
- "Im Frieden dein, o Herre mein (L) / Gesänge – Woche – Gesänge zur Kommunion / Dank nach der Kommunion". Carus-Verlag (in German). Retrieved 2 February 2019.
- Im Frieden dein o Herre mein : mottetto a otto voci : 1980 (in Italian). Edizioni Suvini Zerboni. 1985. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
{{cite book}}
:|website=
ignored (help) - "Im Frieden dein, o Herre mein". liederdatenbank.de (in German). Retrieved 13 January 2019.
- "Samuel Mareschall / Im Frieden dein, o Herre mein / 1606". Carus-Verlag (in German). Retrieved 2 February 2019.
- "Im Frieden dein, o Herre mein (L) / Gesänge – Woche – Gesänge zur Kommunion / Dank nach der Kommunion". mein-gotteslob.de (in German). Retrieved 16 January 2019.
External links
- Im Frieden dein, o Herre mein l4a.org
- Gotteslobvideo (GL 216): Im Frieden dein, o Herre mein on YouTube
- v
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Christmas
- "Advent är mörker och kyla"
- "Befiehl du deine Wege" ("Give to the Winds Thy Fears")
- "Bereden väg för Herran" ("Thy Way and All Thy Sorrows")
- "Christum wir sollen loben schon" ("Now Praise We Christ the Holy One")
- "Det kimer nu til julefest" ("The Happy Christmas Comes Once More")
- "Det är advent"
- "Eg veit i himmerik ei borg" ("Ich weiß mir ein ewiges Himmelreich")
- "Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist" ("Arise, My Soul, Sing Joyfully")
- "Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ" ("O Jesus Christ, All Praise to Thee")
- "Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier" ("I Stand Beside Thy Manger Here")
- "Lobt Gott, ihr Christen alle gleich" ("Praise God the Lord, Ye Sons of Men")
- "Macht hoch die Tür" ("Lift Up Your Heads")
- "Mit Ernst, o Menschenkinder"
- "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland" ("Savior of the Nations, Come")
- "Such, wer da will, ein ander Ziel" ("Seek Where Ye May to Find a Way")
- "Vi tänder ett ljus i advent"
- "Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her" ("From Heaven Above to Earth I Come")
- "Wie soll ich dich empfangen" ("O How Shall I Receive Thee")
- "Herr Christ, der einig Gotts Sohn" ("The Only Son from Heaven")
- "Nun liebe Seel, nun ist es Zeit" ("Up, Ye Christians, Join in Singing")
- "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" ("How Lovely Shines the Morning Star")
- "An Wasserflüssen Babylon"
- "Christe, du Lamm Gottes" ("O Christ, Thou Lamb of God")
- "Christus, der uns selig macht" ("Christ, by Whose All-saving Light")
- "Da der Herr Christ zu Tische saß"
- "Da Jesus an dem Kreuze stund ("Our Blessed Savior Spoke Seven Times")
- "Ein Lämmlein geht und trägt die Schuld" ("A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth")
- "Herzliebster Jesu" ("O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken")
- "Jesu Leiden, Pein und Tod"
- "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden ("O Sacred Head, Now Wounded")
- "O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig" ("Lamb of God, Pure and Holy")
- "O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß" ("O Sinner, Come Thy Sin to Mourn")
- "O Welt, sieh hier dein Leben" ("Upon the Cross Extended")
- "Christ lag in Todesbanden" ("Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands")
- "Erschienen ist der herrlich Tag" ("On Earth Has Dawned This Day of Days")
- "Geh aus, mein Herz, und suche Freud" ("Go Forth, My Heart, and Seek Delight")
- "Heut triumphieret Gottes Sohn" ("Today in Triumph Christ Arose")
- "Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, der den Tod..."
- "Jesus för världen givit sitt liv"
- "Wir wollen alle fröhlich sein" ("Now Glad of Heart Be Every One")
- "Komm, Gott Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist" ("Come, Holy Spirit, From Above")
- "Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott" ("Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord")
- "Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist" ("We now implore God the Holy Ghost")
- "Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr" ("All glory be to God on high")
- "Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein" ("O Lord, Look Down from Heaven, Behold")
- "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott ("A Mighty Fortress Is Our God")
- "Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort" ("Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Thy Word")
- "God's Word Is Our Great Heritage"
- "Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit" ("If God Had Not Been on Our Side")
- "Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält" ("Ye Christians, pluck your Courage up")
- "Es spricht der Unweisen Mund wohl" ("The Mouth of Fools Doth God Confess")
- "Sie ist mir lieb, die werte Magd"
- "Jerusalem, du hochgebaute Stadt" ("Jerusalem, Thou City Fair and High")
or Law and Gospel
- "Dies sind die heilgen zehn Gebot" ("I Am Alone, Your God and Lord")
- "Es ist das Heil uns kommen her" ("Salvation Unto Us Is Come")
- "Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g'mein" ("Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice")
- "Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid" ("O Lord, How Many Miseries")
- "Ach lieben Christen seid getrost"
- "Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig"
- "Blott en Dag (Day by Day)
- "Herr Jesu Christ, du höchstes Gut"
- "Ich hab in Gottes Herz und Sinn" ("I Into God's Own Heart and Mind")
- "Lob Gott getrost mit Singen" ("Praise God, praise God with singing")
- "Straf mich nicht in deinem Zorn" ("Not in Anger, Mighty God")
- "Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz" ("Why art Thou Thus Cast Down, My Heart?")
- "Warum sollt ich mich denn grämen" ("Why Should Cross and Trial Grieve Me")
- "Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan" ("What God Ordains Is Always Good")
- "Was willst du dich betrüben"
- "Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten" ("If Thou but Trust in God to Guide Thee")
- "Gott sei gelobet und gebenedeiet" ("O Lord, We Praise Thee")
- "Im Frieden dein, o Herre mein"
- "Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, der von uns..." ("Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior")
- "Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele" ("Soul, Adorn Thyself with Gladness")
- "Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam" ("To Jordan Came Our Lord")
- "Tryggare kan ingen vara ("Children of the Heavenly Father")
- "Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir"
- "Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir" ("Out of the Depths I Cry to Thee")
- "Es ist genug"
- "Herr Jesu Christ, wahr Mensch und Gott" ("Lord Jesus Christ, True Man and God")
- "Herzlich lieb hab ich dich, o Herr" ("Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart")
- "Herzlich tut mich verlangen"
- "Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht" ("Jesus I Will Never Leave")
- "Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin" ("In Peace and Joy I Now Depart")
- "Mitten wir im Leben sind" ("In the Midst of Earthly Life")
- "Nun lasst uns den Leib begraben" ("Now Lay We Calmly in the Grave")
- "So nimm denn meine Hände"
- "Valet will ich dir geben" ("Farewell I Gladly Bid Thee")
- "Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende" ("Who Knows When Death May Overtake Me")
- "De Levendes Land" (Land of the Living)
- "Die beste Zeit im Jahr ist mein"
- "Du meine Seele singe"
- "Es woll uns Gott genädig sein" ("May God Bestow on Us His Grace")
- "Herr Gott, dich loben wir" ("We Sing Thy Praise, O God")
- "How Great Thou Art"
- "Ich singe dir mit Herz und Mund" ("Rejoice My Heart, Be Glad and Sing")
- "Nun danket all und bringet Ehr" ("All Ye Who on This Earth Do Dwell")
- "Nun preiset alle Gottes Barmherzigleit" ("For the Lord reigneth" or "Now Let All Loudly Sing Praise")
- "Nun danket alle Gott" ("Now Thank We All Our God")
- "Nun laßt uns Gott dem Herren" ("Now Let Us Come With Singing")
- "Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren" ("My Soul, Now Bless Thy Maker")
- "Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend" ("Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now")
- "Vater unser im Himmelreich" ("Our Father, Thou in Heaven Above")
- "Wir glauben all an einen Gott" ("We All Believe in One True God")
- "Die güldne Sonne voll Freud und Wonne" ("Evening and Morning")
- "Din klara sol går åter opp" ("Again, Thy Glorious Sun Doth Rise")
- "Der Mond ist aufgegangen" ("The moon has been arising")
- "Weißt du, wie viel Sternlein stehen" ("Can you count the stars that brightly")
- "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" ("Wake, Awake, the Night is Flying")
- "Werde munter, mein Gemüte" ("Sink Not Yet, My Soul, to Slumber")