Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary Handbook
— Biographies and Sources —
Johann Georg Ebeling, born July, 1637, in Lüneburg, became (1662) Johann Crüger’s successor as cantor of the St. Nicholas Church in Berlin, where Paul Gerhardt at that time was minister. From 1868 Ebeling was professor of music at the Caroline-Gymnasium in Stettin, where he died in 1676, the year of Paul Gerhardt’s death. Among Ebeling’s works may be mentioned Pauli Gerhardi Geistliche Andachten. 1666-1667. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
EBELING, Johann Georg (1620-1676), like Johann Crüger (q. v.), one of the “singers of Paul Gerhardt,” was born in Lüneburg in July, 1620. He became cantor of St. Nicholas Church, Berlin, in 1662, and director of music at the College of St. Nicholas (Schulkollege am grauen Kloster) there, succeeding Johann Crüger. In 1668 he was appointed Professor of Music at the College of St. Charles (Caroline - Gymnasium), Stettin, where he died in 1676, the same year in which Paul Gerhardt died. His chief publication is Pauli Gerhardt Geistliche Andachten, 1666-67. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
57, 377
Eber, Paul, 1511-69
Paul Eber was born November 8, 1511, in Kitzingen, where his father was a tailor. In 1523 he entered the gymnasium in Ansbach. But his health failed and he was compelled to go home. On the way home he was thrown from his horse and, being dragged by the stirrup for a great distance, he suffered injuries which made him a cripple for life. From 1525 to 1532 he remained in the gymnasium of Nürnberg, and here, under the guidance of able teachers, he laid the foundation for his extensive learning. In 1532 he entered the University of Wittenberg. After a few years of study he was appointed tutor in philosophy. In 1544 he was made professor of Latin, and in 1557 professor of Hebrew and also court preacher. The following year he was elected general superintendent or bishop of Saxony. He died in 1569. Eber was a very intimate friend of Melanchthon, who frequently asked his advice on matters of importance. On this account Eber was jokingly called “Philippi Repertorium.” Luther, also, placed great confidence in Eber’s ability. When he in a conversation with his friends dwelt upon the distress and trials which would befall Germany at his departure, he turned to Eber and said: “Your name is Paul. Therefore I admonish you to follow Paul’s example and to put forth all effort to keep and defend the doctrine which St. Paul has given us.” In 1560 Melanchthon died, and Eber suffered much unpleasantness because he, like Melanchthon, was suspected of leaning towards Calvinism on the doctrine of the Lord’s Supper. At the colloquium of Altenburg, in 1569, during the synergistic controversies, the assertion was made that the Wittenberg theologians ought not to be accepted into communion nor be permitted to serve as sponsors. Eber returned to his home grievously hurt and sick at heart. Shortly after this his wife died. Scarcely half a year afterwards Eber followed her. The principle according to which he regulated his life was expressed in the 105th verse of Psalm 119: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light upon my path.” Paul Eber ranks second to Luther as hymn-writer of the Wittenberg school. He wrote in all 17 hymns. A number of these were written especially for his children and set to Lutheran melodies. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
EBER, Paul (1511-1569), son of Johannes Eber, master tailor at Kitzingen, Bavaria, was born at Kitzingen, November 8, 1511. He was sent in 1523 to the Gymnasium at Ansbach, but, forced by illness to return home, was thrown from his horse and dragged more than a mile, remaining as a consequence deformed for life. In 1525 he entered the St. Lorenz School at Nürnberg and on June 1, 1532, he matriculated at the University of Wittenberg, his teachers being Luther and Melanchthon. In 1527 he became tutor in the Philosophical Faculty and four years later was appointed regular professor, first of Latin and then of Physics. In 1557 he was appointed professor of Hebrew and preacher of the Castle Church at Wittenberg. He acted as Melanchthon’s secretary at the Colloquy at Worms, but he left for Wittenberg at Christmas. On September 4, 1558, he succeeded Bugenhagen as municipal preacher and general superintendent of the electoral circuit. In 1559 he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from the University of Wittenberg. He died at Wittenberg December 10, 1569. Paul Eber, next to Luther, was the best poet of the Wittenberg school. His hymns, some of them written for his own children to sing to Luther’s melodies, are distinguished for their childlike spirit and beautiful simplicity. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
238, 257, 530
Eccard, Johann, 1553-1611
The melody, which is of secular origin, was arranged for church use by Johannes Eccard, born 1553 in Mühlhausen. He was a noted church musician. After working for some time in his native city, he moved to Königsberg, and finally became “kapellmeister” in Berlin. He died in 1611. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
238
Edwards, John D., 1806-85
187
Ein schön geistlich Gesangbuch, Jena, 1609 (See Vulpius, Melchior)
473
Ellerton, John, 1826-93
John Ellerton was born December 16, 1826, in London. He was educated at King William’s College, on the Isle of Man, and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated in 1849. The following year he was ordained and appointed assistant pastor of Easebourne. After serving in a number of places, he was, in 1876, appointed to the rectorship of Barnes and in 1886 to the pastorate of White Rodney, in which place he remained until his death in Torquay, June 15, 1893. Together with Wm. Walsham How, Ellerton edited Church Hymns, 1871, and in 1881 he published Notes and illustrations of Church Hymns. As early as 1859 he had published Hymns f or Schools and Bible Classes. He has written in all about 50 hymns and 10 or more translations from the Latin. Nearly all his hymns are in common use and a good number of them are very popular. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
ELLERTON, John (1826-1893), son of George Ellerton, was born in London on December 16, 1826. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and graduated (B. A. ) in 1849 and (M. A. ) in 1854. After Ellerton took holy orders, he was successively Curate of Eastbourne, Sussex, 1850; Brighton, and Lecturer of St. Peters, Brighton, 1852; Vicar of Crewe Green and Chaplain to Lord Crewe, 1860; Rector of Hinstock, 1872; of Barnes, 1876; and of White Roding, 1886. Ellerton’s prose works include The Holiest Manhood, 1882, and Our Infirmities, 1883. He was editor of Hymns for Schools and Bible Classes, Brighton, 1859, and coeditor of the S. P. C. K. Church Hymns, 1871. In 1881 Ellerton published his Notes and Illustrations of Church Hymns in a folio edition. Although in general the notes are full and accurate, those on the older hymns are too general; while they are useful for the general reading public, they are a disappointment to the hymnologist. John Ellerton wrote about 50 original hymns and translated about ten from the Latin. He died at Torqual in 1893. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
597
tr. 267
Elliott, Charlotte, 1789-1871
Charlotte Elliott was born March 18th, 1789, in Westfield Lodge, Brighton. The first thirty-two years of her life were spent mostly at Clapham. Later she moved to Brighton, where she remained until her death, September 22, 1871. Her acquaintance with Dr. Cesar Malan, of Geneva, had great influence upon the development of her spiritual life. She had a very weak constitution, in fact, from 1821 on she was an invalid, but just the same she managed to keep up considerable literary activity. She wrote about 150 hymns, of which many were printed in her brother’s hymn collection entitled: Psalms and Hymns for Public, Private, and Social Worship (by The Rev. H. V. Elliott, 18351848). The Invalid’s Hymn Book, originally edited by Miss Kierman, was revised in 1834 by Miss Elliott and appeared in many editions, to which she contributed in all 112 hymns. She also published Hours of Sorrow Cheered and Comforted, and several other minor works. She has few equals in the art of writing for the sick and the sorrowful. (See also under No. 447.) [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
ELLIOTT, Charlotte (1789-1871), was the daughter of Charles Elliott, of Clapham and Brighton, England, and the granddaughter of the Rev. Henry Venn, an eminent Church of England divine. She was born March 18, 1789, and developed, at an early age, a passion for music and art. She was unusually well educated. At the age of thirty-two she became an invalid and remained such, at times suffering great pain, until her death on September 22, 1871, at Brighton. She was a member of the Church of England. Her hymns have in them a tenderness and sweetness born of much suffering and resignation. Although an invalid, she devoted her life to writing. Her Invalid’s Hymn Book was published in various editions from 1834 to 1854 and contained altogether 115 of her hymns. Other poetic works written by her and containing hymns were: Hours of Sorrow, 1836; Hymns for a Week, 1839; Thoughts in Verse on Sacred Subjects, 1869. Some of her hymns were printed in her brothers somewhat important Psalms and Hymns for Public, Private, and Social Worship, 1835. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
319
Elliott, Julia Anne (Marshall), ?-1841
JULIA ANNE ELLIOTT, daughter of John J Marshall, was married, 1833, to the Rev. H. W. Elliott (a brother of the poetess Charlotte Elliott). She died in 1841. Her hymns, 11 in number, were printed in Rev. H. W. Elliott’s Psalms and Hymns in 1835, first anonymously; her initials were added in the later edition of 1839. Her hymns are marked by deep religious spirit and fine poetic taste. This hymn has as its first line in Elliott’s Psalms and Hymns: “Great Creator, who this day.” [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
ELLIOTT, Julia Anne, née Marshall (?-1841), daughter of John Marshall of Hallsteads, Ullswater, on a visit to Brighton with her father, met and afterwards, in 1833, married the Rev. Henry Venn Elliott, brother of Charlotte Elliott. She contributed, anonymously, eleven hymns to her husband’s collection, Psalms and Hymns, 1835. In later editions her initials were added. She died in 1841 shortly after the birth of her fifth child. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
14
Elven, Cornelius, 1791-1873
Cornelius Elven was born 1797 in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, where he lived and labored throughout his life. He was pastor of the local Baptist congregation of that place for fifty years. He was an intimate friend of C. H. Spurgeon, who valued his friendship very highly and for whom Elven frequently preached. After the death (1873) of Mr. Elven, Spurgeon often referred to him and praised him highly as an able and faithful servant of the Lord, an intensely fervent and sincere preacher filled with the fire of the Spirit. The melody (St. Cross) was composed by J. B. Dykes. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
ELVEN, Cornelius (1791-1873), was born in St. Edmunds, Suffolk, where he lived and labored throughout his life. He was a pastor of the Baptist Church at Bury St. Edmunds for fifty years. When he took his charge, it numbered only forty members, but increased to more than 600. He was a very good friend of C. H. Spurgeon, who valued his friendship very highly and said of Elven that he was a faithful servant of the Lord, and an intensely fervent and sincere preacher, filled with the fire of the spirit. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
455
Elvey, George Job, 1816-93
The melody (Urswicke) was composed by Sir G. J. Elvey, Mus. Doc., born 1816, England, died 1893. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
ELVEY, George Job (18161893), was born in Canterbury, England, on March 27, 1816, and baptized in the Presbyterian Chapel there. He was educated as a chorister at the Cathedral School and later studied under Dr. Crotch at the Royal Academy of Music in London. When Elvey was only nineteen, he was appointed organist and master of the boys at St. George’s, Windsor, after which his well-known tune is named. In 1838 Elvey graduated from Oxford as Bachelor of Music and two years later was granted the Doctorate. As organist of St. George’s for forty-seven years, Elvey had charge of the music for many important events connected with the royal house. He was knighted in 1871 after his composition of a Festival March for the wedding of Princess Louise. Elvey died at Windlesham, Surrey, December 9, 1893, and was buried outside the west front of St. George’s Chapel. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
22, 55, 403, 461
Emskirchner Choralbuch, Leipzig, 1756
313
Enchiridion, Erfurt, 1524
2, 224, 267, 276, 317, 440
Enchiridion, Erfurt, 1527
549
Engelbretsdotter, Dorothe, 1634-1716
Dorothe Engelbretsdatter, born in Bergen January 16, 1634, was a daughter of Pastor Engelbret Jørgensen. In 1652 she was married to her father’s chaplain, Ambrosius Hardenbeck, who later succeeded his father-in-law as pastor at Bergen’s Cathedral Church and died as provost. In 1678 Dorothe Engelbretsdatter published “Siælens Sang-Offer, indholdende gudelige Sange paa de fornemste Fester”, which was reprinted many times, even as recently as 1782, partly in connection with her “Taare-Offer, gudelige Siæle til Underviiszning” (translated in 1727 into Swedish by “a prominent woman”), a versified rendering of Pastor Peder Møller’s devotion book “Trøst- og Taarekilde” (1677-79), which dealt with the tearful, the exasperating, the kissing, and the anointing Mary Magdalene. In 1690 she published in addition “Tvende ny aandelige Psalmer”, the morning hymn: “Nu er det Tid at vaage” and the evening hymn “Dagen viger og gaar bort” (Psalmebog for Kirke og Hjem Nr. 74); in 1698 “Et christeligt Valet fra Verden og Længsel efter Himmelen” and 1705 “Tvende meget smucke ny Psalmer”: “Om nu mit Hoved end svemmed i Vand” and “De, som er til Guds Rige fød”. She died in Bergen February 19, 1716, after having lost her husband and all her 9 children, difficult experiences, which partly gave her poetry a darker character. Her contemporaries set great praise on the Norwegian poetess’ spiritual poems, and Kingo wrote: “Get now hence, ye nine most famous goddesses, to bow low before one of the women of the North!” “But,” N. M. Petersen says: “the honor faded long ago. Her gentle biblical hymns are without enthusiasm, and her occasional verse which should be cheerful or even satirical, is tasteless”. Dorothe Engelbretdatter’s thoughts are often trivial, and her preference for foreign words has made the greatest part of her “Sangeoffer” distasteful to later times.
[Kirke Leksikon for Norden, Dr. Fredrik Nielsen, Aarhus: Jydsk Forlags-Forretning, 1900, translated by MED]
479
English sources
126, 269
English sources
145, 183, 223, 228, 281, 574
Erbaulicher … Christenschatz, Basel, 1745
199, 222, 240
Essay on the Church Plainchant, 1782
407
Etlich Cristlich lider, Wittenberg,1524
227, 241, 374, 378, 392
Eugenie, Princess of Sweden, 1830-89
61
Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book, 1912
tr. 405, 564
Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal, 1880, st. 3
tr. 190
Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary, 1996
179, 330, 471
tr. 490, 585
setting: 537
Ewing, Alexander, 1830-95
The melody (Ewing) is composed by Lieut.-Colonel Alexander Ewing, born 1830, Scotland; died 1895. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
EWING, Alexander (1830-1895), son of Alexander Ewing, M. D., was born in the parish of Old Machar, Aberdeen, January 3, 1830; educated for the law at Marischal College, Aberdeen, but entered the army in 1855; attained the rank of lieutenant-colonel; received a medal for services in China during the campaign of 1869; married in 1867 Juliana Horatia Gatty, second daughter of the Rev. Alfred Gatty, D. D., vicar of Ecclesfield, and subdean of York Cathedral. (She was well known for her writings for the young; died at Bath, 1885. ) He studied music at Heidelberg; was associated with the Haydn Society of Aberdeen, and the Harmonie Choir under William Carnie. He died at Taunton in 1895. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
534
F. B. P., 16th century
The only mark of authorship [of this hymn] is “F. B. P.”, which letters have been the object of many guesses. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
539
Faber, Frederick William, 1814-63
Frederick William Faber was born June 28, 1815, in Yorkshire, England. The family descended from the Huguenots. His parents died while he was yet young. Faber was educated at Balliol College, Oxford, where he received his degree of bachelor of arts in 1836. He was for a time Fellow at University College. After taking the theological examination he became rector of Eton, Huntingdonshire, 1843. Here he came under the influence of Cardinal Newman, and joined the Catholic Church in 1846. When he came to London in 1849, he organized an order called The Oratorians, or Priests of the Congregations of St. Philipp Neri. Here he labored until his death, in 1863. His hymns, 150 in number, were published after he had joined the Catholic Church. A few of his hymns are justly held in high esteem. Among these may be mentioned the four which have been taken up in The Lutheran Hymnary. His Hymns were published in one volume in 1862. Faber was an idealist. He is spoken of as a pious and amiable personality. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
419
Falckner, Justus, 1672-1723
Justus Falckner, born November 22, 1672, in Langenreinsdorf, Saxony, was the fourth son of Daniel Falckner, a Lutheran preacher of the same city. Justus studied theology in Halle under A. H. Francke. Having completed his studies he, however, shrank from entering the ministry, fearing the heavy responsibilities attached to the office. Together with his elder brother, Daniel, who had lately returned from America, Justus, at Rotterdam, in 1700, became engaged in real estate business in Pennsylvania. The following year they sold 10,000 acres of Pennsylvania land to the preacher, Andreas Rudman, and other Swedes in the Manatawny district. This acquaintance with Rev. A. Rudman led to Falckner’s decision to enter the ministry. On November 24, 1703, he was ordained in the Swedish Wicacoa church in Philadelphia. The officiating pastors were Rudman, T. A. Björk, and Anders Sandel. He was called to the pastorate among the Dutch pioneers of the Manatawny district, near New Hannover, ‘but shortly after he was appointed to take Rudman’s place in the Lutheran congregations of New York and Albany. He labored there zealously and faithfully. In addition to these congregations he served temporarily the three congregations in New Jersey and two (Loonenburg and Neuburg) in New York state.
The records state that the New York charge became vacant. It is not definitely known whether this was due to Falckner’s death or to his removal to some other charge. Michael Knoll, who became pastor in New York 1732, expressed the opinion that Falckner died in the year 1723. But from the ministerial records of the congregation it seems rather probable that he withdrew to another charge in New Jersey, where the work would be less strenuous.
Justus Falckner was the first Lutheran pastor to be ordained in America. Likewise, the catechism prepared by him is the first Lutheran book to be published on this continent. It was written in the Dutch language and published in New York in 1708 under the title: Grondlycke Onderricht, etc., and has a supplement of three hymns translated from the German. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
FALCKNER, Justus (1672-1723), born on November 22, 1672, at Langenreinsdorf, Crimmitschau, Zwickau, Saxony, was the son of a Lutheran pastor. He studied theology under A. H. Francke at the University of Halle. As he had a feeling of inadequacy for the ministerial office, he turned to a secular calling instead, and on April 23, 1700, accepted the power of attorney for the sale of Penn’s lands in Pennsylvania. It was a Swedish pastor, Andrew Rudmann, who persuaded him to accept the call to the Lutheran Church in New York. Falckner was ordained to the ministry in the Swedish Church at Wicaco, Philadelphia, on November 24, 1703, the first Lutheran clergyman ordained in America. He became pastor of the Lutheran congregations at New York and Albany, where he had a parish extending over two hundred miles. He also ministered to three congregations in New Jersey. In 1704 Falckner published a catechism, Grondelycke Onderricht, which was the first Lutheran book to be published on this continent. He died in 1723. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
217
Fawcett, John, 1740-1817
John Fawcett, Baptist preacher of England, was born January 6, 1739 (or 1740), in Lidget Green, near Bradford, Yorkshire. At the age of 16 he came under the influence of Whitefield and joined the Methodists, but three years later he became a member of the Baptist church of Bradford. In 1765 he was ordained to the ministry and was installed in the Baptist congregation of Wainsgate, Yorkshire. Seven years later, in 1772, he was called to London to succeed the famous Dr. J. Gills of Carter’s Lane. He accepted the call. After delivering his farewell sermon to the congregation at Wainsgate, six loads of household goods were brought up near the church preparatory to his leaving for London. But the congregation was not ready to bid him farewell. Men, women, and children thronged about their pastor and his family and wept. Fawcett and his wife also were moved to tears at the sight. Finally his wife said, “O John, I cannot endure this; I do not understand how we can leave this place.” “No, you are right,” he replied, “neither shall we leave.” Then all their belongings were unpacked and put in their old places. It has been thought that Fawcett upon this occasion wrote the famous hymn, “Blest be the tie that binds,” which is such a favorite in Reformed circles. In 1777 the congregation built a new church near Heddon Bridge, and about the same time he opened a school in Brearly Hall, where he lived. In 1793 he was offered the position of president of the Baptist academy at Bristol, but declined. In 1811 he received his diploma of doctor of theology from America. He died in 1817, at the age of 78. Dr. Fawcett wrote many treatises on theological themes, and a large number of hymns and spiritual songs. The greater number of his hymns are found in the collection, Hymns adapted to the Circumstances of Public Worship and Private Devotion, Leeds, Wright and Son, 1782, in all 166 hymns. About 20 of these are in general use. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
FAWCETT, John (1740-1817), was born on January 16, 1740, at Lidget Green, Yorks, England; first joined the Methodists through Geo. Whitefield’s influence, but then became a Baptist and was ordained to the ministry in 1765 at Wainsgate and afterwards served a church at Hebden Bridge, Yorks, where he labored for the rest of his life, although he received some very important calls, one to succeed the famous Dr. J. Gill at the Carter Lane Church, London; another to become president of the Baptist Academy at Bristol. He was author of a number of religious prose works, including a devotional commentary on the Bible, and a large amount of sacred poetry. His Hymns adapted to the Circumstances of Public Worship and Private Devotions, 1782, contains 166 of his hymns. He died at Hebden Bridge in 1817. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
232, 420, 588
Fick, Herman, 1822-85
FICK, Hermann (1822-1885), outstanding poet among the fathers of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States, was brought to America by Wyneken’s Appeal in 1846; became pastor at New Melle, Mo. ; in 1850 removed to the pastorate at Bremen, a suburb of St. Louis; in 1854 he became pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Detroit. Ill health forced him to resign this large charge. He then served our church at Collinsville, Illinois, for thirteen years, and spent the last thirteen years of his life as pastor in Boston, Massachusetts. He published his Lutherbuch and contributed articles and poems to Der Lutheraner, and other German language periodicals. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
199
Filitz, Friedrich, 1804-76
The composer of the melody, Friedrich Filitz, was born in Arnstadt, Thüringen. He studied philosophy and received his doctor’s degree in this science. He edited Vierstimmiges Choralbuch zu Kirchen- und Hausgebrauch, and also four-part settings for Bunsen’s allgemeine Gesang- und Gebetbuch. He collaborated with Erk in editing many chorals of the most famous masters of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Dr. Filitz resided in Berlin and München. He died in Bonn, 1876. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
FILITZ, Friedrich (1804-1876), was born at Arnstadt, in Thuringia, March 16, 1804. He studied philosophy, in which he received the degree of doctor; resided at Berlin from 1843 to 1847, where he worked with Ludwig Erck, removing in the latter year to Munich, where he died, December 7, 1876. He published his Vierstimmiges Choralbuch, Berlin, 1847, a book of four-part tunes for Bunsen’s Allgemeines Gesang- und Gebetbuch. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
283
Findlater, Sarah, née Borthwick, 1823-1907
FINDLATER, Sarah, née Borthwick (1823-1907), was born November 26, 1823, sister of Jane Borthwick (q. v.) in Edinburgh. She married the Rev. Eric John Findlater, Scottish Free Church minister at Lochernhead, Perthshire. With her sister Jane she translated from the German Hymns from the Land of Luther, 1854, 53 of the 122 translations being from her pen. She died at Torquay in 1907. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
Also see Jane Laurie Borthwick
tr. 543
Fischer, Christoph. See VISCHER, Christoph
Fischer, Eberhard Ludwig, 1695-1773
FISCHER, Eberhard Ludwig (1695-1773), was born at Aichelberg in Württemberg on August 6, 1695. He was coeditor of the Württemberger Gesangbuch of 1741 with Dr. Tafinger. He was prelate of Adelberg and Consistorialrath at Hohenasperg when he died in 1773. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
503
Fortunatus, Venantius Honorius C., c. 530-609
FORTUNATUS, Venantius Honorius Clementianus (c.530-609), was born at Ceneda, near Treviso, Italy. At an early age he was converted to Christianity at Aqulleia; received his education at Ravenna and Milan. While a student at Ravenna, where he excelled in oratory and poetry, Fortunatus almost became blind. He recovered his sight, as he believed, miraculously, by anointing his eyes with some oil sent by a friend, Gregory of Tours, which the latter had taken from a lamp that burned before the altar of St. Martin of Tours in a church of Ravenna. This induced Fortunatus to make a pilgrimage (565) to the shrine of St. Martin at Tours, and this pilgrimage resulted in his spending the rest of his life in Gaul. Possessed of a pleasing personality, fond of high living, endowed with poetic gifts, he was popular in all circles. In Gaul he formed a romantic but platonic friendship with Queen Rhadegunda, the daughter of Bertharius, king of the Thuringians, and the wife, though separated from him, of Lothair I (Clothaire), king of Neustria. Rhadegunda had left her throne to found the convent of St. Croix at Poitiers. She induced Fortunatus to enter the service of the Church. To her and Agnes, Rhadegunda’s former maid and appointed by her head of the convent, he composed the most extravagant poetic effusions. After Rhadegunda’s death Fortunatus was made bishop of Poitiers in 599. A quarto edition of Fortunatus’s Works was published in Rome in 1786. This work includes his Life of St. Martin of Tours. Fortunatus wrote many hymns; however, his Hymns for all the Festivals of the Christian Year is lost. Many of his hymns are to the Virgin. Indeed, Fortunatus was the first of the Christian poets to begin that worship of the Virgin Mary which rose to a passion and sank to idolatry. He was one of the last who, amid the advancing tide of barbarism, retained anything of the old classic culture. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
273, 298, 398
Foundling Chapel collection, 1796 (See Praise the Lord, Ye Heavens…)
64
Franck, Johann, 1618-77
Johann Franck was born June 1, 1618, in Guben, Brandenburg. His father, an attorney and councillor of the city, died two years later, and the son was adopted by the city judge, Adam Tielckau, who was married to his aunt, and who provided for his education. Johann first attended the school at Guben and later the gymnasium at Cottbus, but he had to leave the latter city on account of the Thirty Years’ War. He then continued his studies at Stettin and Thorn, until 1638, when he enrolled as a student of law in the university of Königsberg, the only German university which continued its work somewhat unhindered during the years of the great war. In Königsberg, Franck also developed his poetic talent under the guidance of the pious and prominent professor, Simon Dach. He enjoyed the companionship of Heinrich Held, who also became a hymn writer. He likewise associated with a number of other Christian young men, who kept aloof from the common excesses of student life. In 1640 he returned to Guben at the earnest request of his mother. Here he later entered the law profession and very soon became well and favorably known on account of his poetic and professional ability. He was first elected alderman, then burgomaster, and, finally, a member of the landtag. Franck died in 1677. Two hundred years later a memorial was erected to him in the form of a marble tablet set into the wall of the principal church of the city.
As a writer of hymns Franck is ranked next after Paul Gerhardt during this period. Of his 110 hymns, which are more subjective than Gerhardt’s and the earlier Lutheran hymns, over one half are in common use. The present hymn, together with “Jesus, priceless treasure” (Jesus, du min Glæde; Jesu, meine Freude) and “Lord, to Thee I make confession” (Herre, jeg har handlet ilde; Herr, ich habe missgehandelt) have been translated into many languages, and are always mentioned among the best church hymns. Franck’s hymns have not the objective character so prominent in the earlier Lutheran church hymns. But they breathe a deep desire for union with Christ, deep piety, and pure, Christian sentiment, and they are characterized by marked pathos and lyric beauty. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
FRANCK, Johann (1618-1677), was the son of Johann Franck, an advocate and councilor at Guben, Brandenburg, where Johann Franck, Jr., was born on June 1, 1618. After his fathers death in 1620, Johann was adopted by his uncle, the town judge Adam Tielckau, who sent him for his education to the schools at Guben, Cottbus Stettin, and Thorn. In 1638 Franck matriculated as student of law at the University of Königsberg, the only German university left undisturbed by the Thirty Years War Here his religious spirit, his love of nature, and his friendship with such men as Simon Dach and Heinrich Held, preserved him from sharing in the excesses of his fellow-students. The former, a pious and prominent professor of poetry, guided the development of Franck’s poetic talent. Upon his mothers request Franck returned to Guben in 1640 to be with her in those times of war during which Guben frequently suffered from the presence of both Swedish and Saxon troops. In May, 1645, Franck commenced practice as a lawyer and very soon became well and favorably known on account of his poetic and professional ability. In 1648 he was elected burgess and councilor and in 1661 burgomaster. In 1671 he was appointed the deputy from Guben to the Landtag (Diet) of Lower Lusatia. His hymns were published as Geistliche Sion, Guben, 1674. On the bicentenary of his death, June 18, 1877, a monumental tablet to his memory was affixed to the outer wall of the Stadtkirche at Guben. Johann Franck is ranked next to Paul Gerhardt as a hymn-writer of his period. Of his 110 hymns, which are more subjective than Gerhardt’s and the earlier Lutheran hymns, over one half are in use. Franck marks the transition from the obiective form of church song prevalent till his time, to the more individual and mystical type His leading idea is the union of the soul with its Savior. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
151, 263, 264, 328, 450
Franck, Melchior, c. 1573-1639, based on
Melchior Franck, born in Zittau, 1580. In 1604 he became chorus director of Coburg, where he died June 1, 1639. Franck composed a number of church tunes of rank. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
FRANCK, Melchior (c. 1575-1639), was born in Zittau and studied at Nürnberg. In 1601 he served as “Musiker des Rates” in that city. Two or three years later he was called as Hofkapellmeister to Koburg, where he remained until his death, June 1, 1639. His first compositions were published in his Contrapuneti Compositi, 1602, and his later works in many other collections, the best known of which is Geistlicher Musicalischer Lustgarten, 1616. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
setting: 541
Franck, Salomo, 1659-1725
Salomo Franck was born in Weimar March 6, 1659. His father, Jacob Franck, was the financial secretary in that place. It is supposed that Salomo studied in Jena, after which he occupied a position in Zwickau. In 1689 he served as administration secretary of Arnstadt, and from 1697 and on he held a similar position in Jena. In 1702 he was appointed consistorial secretary, librarian, and curator in his native city, where he died July 11, 1725. Salomo Franck was a member of the so-called “Fruitbearing Society” and author of a series of poems, mostly occasional songs, long since forgotten. His hymns, on the other hand, rank among the best of his time. They are churchly and pervaded by a spirit of deep piety and are characterized by their beautiful forms of expression. Of his 330 hymns a large number are still in use in Germany and in other lands. They are published in his Geistliche Poesie, Weimar, 1685, and in his Geist- und Weltliche Poesie (Vol. I, Jena, 1711; Vol. II, Jena, 1716). At least 8 of his hymns have been translated into English; some of these have received several renderings. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
FRANCK, Salomo (1659-1725), son of Jakob Franck, was born at Weimar on March 6, 1659. Little is known of his early history. He probably studied at Jena. He held several governmental appointments during his life. He also had severe family affIictions to bear. He died at Weimar, July 11, 1725. Franck also wrote much secular poetry. He was a member of the famous Fruit-bearing Society. As a hymn-writer he is distinguished for his ease, correctness, and adaptation to popular understanding and to congregational singing. His hymns total 330. He published Geistliche Poesie, Weimar, 1685; Geist- und Weltliche Poesien, Jena, Vol. I, 1711, Vol. II, 1716. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
338
Frank, Peter, 1616-75
FRANK, Peter (1616-1675), was born at Schleusingen on September 27, 1616, son of a merchant. He studied theology at Jena about 1636. In 1640 he was at the University at Altorf. Frank worked as a Hofmeister from 1643 to 1645, when he received a position as a pastor. As such he served churches in Thüngen, Rossfeld, Rodach, Gleussen, and Herreth. He died June 22, 1675.
82 FANG DEIN WERK
Franzmann, Martin H., 1907-76
FRANZMANN, Martin (1907- ), was born at Lake City, Minnesota, January 29,1907, son of the Rev. William Franzmann and Else, née Griebling; educated at Northwestern College, Watertown, Wisconsin (B. A. 1928), and the Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary, Thiensville, Wisconsin, and Chicago University; he was professor at Northwestern College (1936-1946) and at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (1946- ). [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
72, 428, 431
tr. 555 Rise again, ye lion-hearted
Franzmann, Werner H., 1905-96
360
Frederiksen, Johan, 1603-41
Johan Frederiksen was born 1603, in Flensborg, where his father was a minister. While a student he accompanied a number of young noblemen on journeys into foreign countries, and gained considerable fame as a writer of Latin poetry. Having completed his studies for the degree of master of arts in Copenhagen, he became rector of Kjøge; later of Malmø. In 1639 he moved to Roskilde, where he was married to Marie Glob. He died in 1641, at the age of 38. (Skaar.) [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
4
Fremder, Alfred, b. 1920
555
setting: 598
French carol
116
French sources
110, 116, 298
Freylinghausen, Johann Anastasius, 1670-1739
Johann Anastasius Freylinghausen was born December 2, 1670, in Gandersheim of the principality of Wolfenbüttel. During his early years, while under the instruction of his pious mother, the story of the last judgment so impressed him that he often lay awake during the night weeping as he thought of the torments which the condemned had to undergo. At the age of 12 years he was sent to his grandfather, Polenius of Eimbeck, who was a minister. Here he was given intensive training in Bible study and in memorizing hymns, a work which bore good fruit in his later years. During the year 1689, at the university of Jena, he was led by one of his colleagues to study the writings of Luther, Arndt, and Spener. Their works had a decisive influence upon his development. The fame of Francke’s preaching spread also to Jena and, during Easter of 1691, Freylinghausen and some of his friends went to Erfurt to hear him. Francke’s and Breithaupt’s sermons made a deep impression upon him, and he decided to accept an offer from Breithaupt, to reside with him and take employment as family tutor.
The following year he went with Francke to Halle to complete his studies, and towards the close of 1693 he returned to Gandersheim, where he served for some time as preacher and tutor. In 1695 he became Francke’s assistant at Halle. Here he preached at the vesper services, conducted midweek meetings, taught classes in the orphanage school, and delivered lectures on homiletics to the students. He served in this position without salary until 1715. Francke had to use all his income for the support of his institutions of mercy. But when Francke, in 1715, was called to the pastorate of Ulrichskirche in Halle, Freylinghausen became his successor as pastor for the suburb of Glauka. He was now married to Francke’s only daughter. He had been her sponsor, and she was even named after him, Johanna Anastasia. After Francke’s death he became his successor at the Ulrichskirche and the director of the orphanage “pädagogium.” No one was better qualified to continue Francke’s work. Under his management the “institutions” flourished as never before. But his physical strength was waning. In 1725 he suffered a stroke, which later recurred several times. In 1737 his tongue became paralyzed, so that he could no longer preach. He died February 12, 1739.
Freylinghausen’s essential importance lies in the fact that he was the most eminent hymn writer of the pietistic movement. He wrote 44 hymns. They are all characterized by true Christian feeling, sound, vigorous piety, borne out of deep Christian experience. They are Scriptural and clear, with a rich variety of rhythm, melody, and meter. “Many of his hymns,” says Dr. P. Lange, “are especially marked by confessional purity, sincere feeling, clear thought, and beauty of expression.” He materially aided the cause of church song by compiling and editing large collections of hymns, and by gathering and composing melodies. It was especially through the latter that the pietistic hymns were given their unique character, so very different from the spirit of the choral. Many of these melodies are not suitable for church use. Freylinghausen’s Geistreiches Gesangbuch, containing the best pietistic hymns, besides many older hymns, was published 1704, in Hamburg, and later appeared in many editions. The first edition contains 683 hymns and 173 melodies. Neues Geistreiches Gesangbuch has 815 hymns and 153 melodies. These two collections were combined and published in 1741, by G. A. Francke. The combined volume contained 1,582 hymns and 600 melodies. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
FREYLINGHAUSEN, Johann Anastasius (1670-1739), born at Gandersheim, Brunswick, Germany, on December 2, 1670; studied at Jena, Erfurt, and at Halle. In 1695 he became August Herman Francke’s assistant at Glaucha, and when Francke became pastor at St. Ulrich’s, in Halle, 1715, Freylinghausen became his colleague. In the same year he married Francke’s only daughter, Anastasia, whose sponsor he was. After Francke’s death in 1727, he succeeded him as pastor of St. Ulrich’s and Director of Francke’s Institutions. He died February 12, 1739. He published the Geistreiches Gesangbuch, 1704, and Neues Geistreiches Gesangbuch, 1704. He himself composed twenty-two melodies. As hymn-writer Freylinghausen was the best of the Pietistic School. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
95
75, 92, 156, 182, 252, 484
Freystein, Johann Burkhard, 1671-1718
FREYSTEIN, Johann Burkhard (1671-1718), a pious lawyer, was born at Weissenfels, April 18, 1671, the son of A. S. Freystein, vice-chancellor of Duke August of Saxony and inspector of the Gymnasium at Weissenfels. He received his education at the University of Leipzig where he studied law, mathematics, philosophy, and architecture. He resided for some time at Berlin and Halle, and then went to Dresden as an assistant to a lawyer. After graduating (LL. D. at Jena in 1695) he began an independent legal practice at Dresden. In 1703 he became Rath at Gotha, but returned to Dresden in 1709 as Hof- and Justizrath, and was also, in 1713, appointed a member of the Board of Works. Enfeebled by his professional labors, Freystein died of dropsy at Dresden, April 1, 1718. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
253
Friese, Heinrich, c. 1712
FRIESE, Heinrich. We have been unable to find any details of Friese’s life except that he published a Choralbuch in 1712. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
304
Fritsch, Ahasverus, 1629-1701
FRITSCH, Ahasverus (1629-1701), was born on December 16, 1629, at Mücheln on the Geissel near Merseburg. His father was Andreas Fritsch, mayor of the town, and his mother was Esther, née Hesse. Ahasverus was the eighth of eleven children. His early youth was spent during the turbulous period of the Thirty Years War. When he was only two years old, his parents had to flee to Voigtland, as their native town was burned. During his youth Fritsch fled from robbers, plunderers, and soldiers; he hid in graves, cellars, and bushes; often he was robbed of the very clothes he was wearing. When he was fourteen, Fritsch lost his father. Nevertheless, his mother sent him to the Gymnasium at Halle. Here he worked manually and intellectually for six years until July, 1650, when he went to Jena and studied under the learned jurist J. Georg Adam Struve. Poverty greatly interrupted his education, but Fritsch finished his course in 1654. In 1657 he became the tutor of the young Count Albert Anton von Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt. He was greatly admired by the count’s family and received various preferments. In October, 1661, he was made a Doctor of Law by the University of Jena. Later he became chancellor of the university and president of the consistory of Rudolstadt. In February of 1662 he married, and his wife. Dorothea Maria, bore him four sons and five daughters. Seven of the children outlived him. Fritsch was a good statesman and the editor of two hymn-collections and a writer on antiquarian, legal, and other subjects. The hymn “Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen,” is ascribed to him. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
107, 446
Füger, Caspar, d. 1592
FÜGER (Fuger, Fugger), Caspar(?). Two Lutheran clergymen of this name apparently father and son, lived in Dresden in the 16th century. The elder (d. 1592; resided at Torgau for some time and was later court preacher at Dresden to Duke Heinrich. Various works appeared under his name between 1564 and 1592. The younger (d. July 24, 1617) was apparently born at Dresden, where he was later third master and then Conrector in the Kreuzschule. He was subsequently ordained diaconus. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
122
Funcke, Friedrich, 1642-99
Friedrich Funcke was born in Nossen, Hartzen, and was baptized March 27, 1642. He attended the schools of Freiberg and Dresden. He also studied music and was appointed cantor at Perleberg and later at Lüneburg. In 1694 he was given a pastorate near Lüneburg and died there in 1699. He revised the Lüneburg Hymnary, adding 43 melodies and 7 hymns. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
FUNCKE, Friedrich (1642-1699), was born at Nossen in the Harz, baptized on March 27, 1642, and was educated at Freiberg and Dresden. Later he became cantor at Perleberg. In 1664 he was appointed Stadt-Cantor at Lüneburg and in 1694 pastor at Römstadt, where he died. Funcke revised the Lüneberg Gesangbuch in 1686 and contributed 43 melodies and 7 hymns of his own. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
581
Funk, J., Genuine Church Music, 1832
521
Gabriel’s Vineyard Songs, 1892, st. 3
119
Gardiner, William, 1770-1853
William Gardiner’s Sacred Melodies, 1815 (1st ed. 1812). Gardiner was an English musician (born. 1770; d. 1853). [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
GARDINER, William (1770-1853), born at Leicester, was a stocking manufacturer greatly interested in music. In youth, under the nom de plume W. G. Leicester he published a collection of his own songs and duets. In 1815 he published Sacred Melodies in six volumes, containing tunes of the best masters. He also published The Music of Nature, Music and Friends. He died at Leicester in 1853. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
371
Garve, Karl Bernard, 1763-1841
Carl Bernhard Garve was born January 24, 1763, in Jeinsen, near Hannover, where his father was a farmer. He was educated in the schools of the Moravian Brethren at Zeist, Neuwied, Niesky, and at the Seminary of Barby. In 1784 he was appointed teacher at the pädagogium of Niesky, and five years later at the institution at Barby. Later he was ordained and served as minister in congregations of the Moravian Brethren—from 1799 in Amsterdam, from 1801 in Ebersdorf, in Berlin, 1809, and in Neusalz an der Oder from 1816. In 1836 he retired from the ministry and spent the last years of his life in Herrnhut, where he died June 21, 1841.
Garve was one of the most prominent hymnwriters among the Moravian Brethren. All his hymns are aglow with intense love for the Savior. They are Scriptural and are characterized by beauty of expression. Many of his hymns are extensively used in the Lutheran Church. Thirty-six were included in the Berlin Hymnary of 1829. Most of Garve’s hymns were published in his Christliche Gesänge, Görlitz, 1825, containing 303 hymns; and in Brüdergesänge, 1827, with 65 hymns, especially intended for the Moravian Church. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
GARVE, Karl Bernard (1763-1841), was born January 24, 1763, in Jeinsen near Hanover, where his father was a farmer. He was educated in the schools of the Moravian Brethren at Zeist, Neuweid, Niesky, and at the seminary of Barby. In 1784 he was appointed teacher at the pädagogium of Niesky and five years later at Barby. He served as minister in various congregations of the Brethren from 1799 until 1836, when he retired from the ministry. He spent the rest of his years at Herrnhut, where he died June 21, 1841. Garve was one of the leading hymn-writers among the Moravian Brethren. His hymns are aglow with his intense love for the Savior, Scriptural, beautiful in expression, forceful, and elegant in style. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
340
Gastoldi, Giovanni Giacomo, c. 1556-c. 1622
149
Gastorius, Severus, 1646-82
While Rodigast was in Jena, 1675, he wrote this hymn for his sick friend, Severus Gastorius, who was cantor at that place. Gastorius wrote the melody for the hymn. It was printed in the Hannover Hymn Book, Göttingen, 1676. It became the favorite hymn of Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia, and he requested that this hymn should be sung at his funeral. This was done June 11, 1840. The present English translation was taken from Miss Winkworth’s Chorale Book for England published 1863. Two stanzas have been omitted. There are at least 14 English translations. The melody employed in The Lutheran Hymnary was composed by L. M. Lindeman and was printed in his Koralbog, 1877, for the hymn, “I Jesu søger jeg min Fred” (Landst. 298; In Jesus I find rest and peace, L. H. 418). [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
GASTORIUS, Severus (c. 1650), was Cantor in Jena, 1675, and there wrote his famous tune for the hymn of his friend Samuel Rodigast. (See Hymn No. 521. ) Zahn holds that von Winterfeld’s view that Johann Paschelbel wrote the tune is not tenable. No further details on Gastorius’s life are available. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
519, 536
Gauntlett, Henry J., 1805-76
The melody (Hereford) is written by Henry John Gauntlett, born in Wellington, England, 1805. He studied law originally, and was admitted a member of the legal profession in 1830. In 1827 he became organist of St. Olave’s, Southwark, London, an appointment which he held for more than 20 years. Dr. Gauntlett died February 21, 1876. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
139
Gebauer, Johan Christian, 1808-84
The melody [Maria, hun var en Jomfru reen] was written by the Danish organist and composer, Johan Christian Gebauer (b. Copenhagen, 1808; d. ibid. 1884), for the hymn “Du Herre Krist, min Frelser est.” The first four measures are repeated. Lindeman’s Koralbog has two melodies, the one being taken from Kingo’s Gradual, 1699, the other being composed by Lindeman. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
268
Geistliche Deutsche Lieder, Frankfurt a. O., 1601
358
Geistliche gesangk Buchleyn, Wittenberg, J. Klug, 1524
33, 48, 247, 327
Geistliche Kirchengesäng, Köln, 1623
16, 389
Geistliche Lieder und Psalmen, Magdeburg, 1540
132
Geistliche Lieder, Leipzig, 1589
511, 578
Geistliche Lieder, Wittenberg, J. Klug
24, 25, 173, 190, 225, 234, 255, 316, 344, 368, 396, 492, 538, 589
Geistliche Psalmen, Nürnberg, 1611
511
Geistliche Volkslieder, Paderborn, 1850
297
Geistreiches Gesang-Buch, Darmstadt, 1698
89, 159
Geistreiches Gesangbuch, 4th edition, Halle, 1708
setting: 252
Geistreiches Gesangbuch, Darmstadt, 1698
6
Gellert, Christian Fürchtegott, 1715-69
Christian Fürchtegott Gellert, son of the minister, Christian Gellert, in Hainichen, Saxony, was born July 4, 1715. He first attended school in Meissen. After having completed his theological studies at the University of Leipzig, he served for a time as his father’s assistant. The story is told that he had to make use of his sermon manuscript in the pulpit, as he could not depend upon his memory. This aroused dissatisfaction and criticism, because the practice of using sermon manuscripts was not in accord with the traditions of the Lutheran Church. Gellert then sought another vocation and resumed his studies at the university. He received his master’s degree in 1744, and the following year was appointed lecturer in the faculty of philosophy, and in 1751, extraordinary professor of philosophy. He lectured on poetry, rhetoric, and moral philosophy. In 1761 he was offered a position as ordinary professor, but declined, since he did not feel strong enough. He always suffered from a weak constitution, and in his later years suffered much from hypochondria. Gellert died in Leipzig December 13, 1769.
As a teacher and as a man, Gellert was highly esteemed and loved by the students, both on account of his exceptional ability and on account of the keen interest which he showed toward his pupils, among whom were Goethe and Lessing. As an author and hymn writer, he gained considerable fame. His Fables (first series, 1746, second, 1748), spirited and humorous, won him universal recognition and gave him a place among the German classics. He ranks high also as a writer of hymns. He is, indeed, not free from the rationalistic, moralizing tendencies of his age; yet in general his hymns are Scriptural and characterized by deep Christian piety and pathos, in spite of the fact that many of them are more didactic than lyric. He always prepared to write his hymns through fervent prayer. His Geistliche Oden und Lieder mentioned above appeared in many editions, and many of these hymns have been translated into English and other languages. Fifteen of Gellert’s hymns were translated by Birgitte Boye for Guldberg’s Hymnal. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
GELLERT, Christian Fürchtegott (1715-1769), the son of a Lutheran pastor, was born at Hainichen in the Saxon Harz on July 4, 1715. After preliminary schooling at Meissen, he entered the University of Leipzig to pursue theological studies. After his graduation Gellert became an assistant to his father. However, he was forced to turn to some other profession since he had a poor memory and the use of a manuscript in the pulpit was not tolerated in the Lutheran Church in his day. Consequently he became the domestic tutor of the sons of Herr von Lüttichau in 1739, but two years later returned to Leipzig to superintend the studies of a nephew at the university and to resume his own studies. Gellert graduated in 1744 (M. A. ) in the faculty of Belles Lettres. The following year Gellert became private tutor or lecturer in the philosophical faculty. As a professor Gellert was most popular with his students, among whom were Goethe and Lessing. He took a warm interest in his students personal conduct and welfare. His lectures were much favored, not only because of their charm of style, but also because of their substance and high moral tone. Gellert’s Fables, spirited and humorous, won him fame and universal recognition as a German classicist. In 1751 he was appointed extraordinary professor of philosophy, and in this capacity he lectured on poetry, rhetoric, and moral philosophy. Ten years later he was offered an ordinary professorship, but declined because of ill health, having had a delicate constitution since childhood. After 1752 Gellert suffered greatly from hypochondria and died at Leipzig on December 13, 1769. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
353
General Selection of Spiritual Songs, Lynchburg, 1811
306
Gerhardt, Paul, 1607-76
Paul Gerhardt was born March 12, 1607, in Gräfenhaynichen, a village between Halle and Wittenberg. His father, Christian Gerhardt, who was mayor of the village, died before Paul had reached maturity. Paul Gerhardt’s youth was spent under the stress and suffering of the Thirty Years’ War. Otherwise there is little of note to relate from his early life. From 1622-1627 he attended school at Grimma. On the 2nd of January, 1628, he began the study of theology at the university of Wittenberg. This was in his twenty-first year. There is reason to suppose that he remained in Berlin until the first part of the year 1642; but there is very little reliable information on this period of his life. Germany was desolate and depopulated, and many of the younger theologians had to wait a long time before they could enter the active ministry. Thus Paul Gerhardt served for a number of years as family tutor in the home of Andreas Berthold, an attorney in Berlin. In the Christian atmosphere his gift of song began to develop and bear fruit. Many of his hymns were published in 1648 in Johann Crüger’s Praxis Pietatis Melica. Crüger was cantor and director of music in the church of St. Nicholas, where Gerhardt frequently preached. In 1651 he was called to Mittenwalde, a little town near Berlin, and entered upon his duties there the following year. Four years later he married Anna Maria Berthold. Their first child—a daughter—died in infancy. His office in Mittenwalde brought him only a scant income. Further, he experienced much unpleasantness from his colleague, deacon Allhorn, who was jealous of Gerhardt because he had been selected to the office of provost in preference to himself. Hence, Gerhardt gladly accepted the call from Berlin, in 1657, to become third assistant pastor of the church of St. Nicholas. His activity in Berlin gave him an opportunity to unfold his unusual gifts. He continued to write hymns. He was recognized as the most popular preacher in the city and gathered large audiences at his services. He also became famous for his philanthropy. He gave assistance to all the needy who came to his door. He was of a kindly temperament and bore up cheerfully under all trials. But he was also a most conscientious minister in matters of doctrine and confession.
At this time Prussia was ruled by Elector Friedrich Wilhelm the Great. The majority of the people were Lutherans, but the ruler himself was a Calvinist. There was bitter opposition between the ministers of the two churches, and they condemned each other’s doctrine in the most violent terms. Gerhardt, although as faithful and ardent a Lutheran as any one, used more moderate language, for which he gained the respect and esteem of many of the leaders among the Reformed, among whom may be mentioned Duchess Louise. The elector arranged conferences between the leading men of both parties in an attempt to bring about more unity or at least greater tolerance; but this did not bring the desired results. He became impatient and issued an edict forbidding the ministers to attack each other’s doctrine and confession, and later he required all the Lutheran ministers to sign a document compelling them to follow the order of the edict. No Lutheran minister who wished to remain true to his confession could agree to this. Several were thus compelled to leave their charges. Gerhardt, who was sick at the time, summoned the ministers of Berlin to his bedside and admonished them to stand firm and not to yield to the demands of the elector.
On the 9th of February, 1666, Gerhardt was called before the consistory and asked to sign the famous document. He was given one week’s time to consider the matter; but even before the meeting adjourned he declared that his decision in the matter would not be changed. Following this announcement, Gerhardt was deposed from his office. This caused great consternation and sorrow among his towns-people. Gerhardt, however, retained his calmness of mind and referred to the incident as his “Berlin martyrdom.” The matter became more serious when the authorities prohibited him even from conducting private meetings for worship in his own house. This grieved him very much. But other sorrows followed fast. At an earlier period he had lost three of his five children. During this time of trial one of his sons also died and his wife became seriously ill.
The Lutherans of Berlin disliked very much to see their beloved pastor deposed in this manner. Many petitions were sent to the elector by the citizens, by the laborers, by the town council, and even by the wife of the elector. The elector assumed a more favorable attitude towards Gerhardt, and January 9, 1667, he ordered him reinstated. But this did not make matters very much better. The messenger who brought in the news brought also an oral greeting from the elector, which expressed his conviction that Gerhardt, who was known for his moderation, would be able to appear and preach in harmony with the before mentioned edict of the elector. To agree to this would be just as binding upon his conscience as though he had signed the edict. This he expressed in writing to the magistrates as follows: “Whatever is done with a bad conscience, it is an abomination in the eyes of God and brings no blessing, but rather a curse upon the doer; neither I myself nor my congregation will be served in this manner.” Then, in 1667, the elector appointed a successor; but this preacher could not take up the work until the latter part of the following year, and until that time Gerhardt received the income from the office. After this he was supported by a number of charitable members of his congregation. His wife died at Eastertide, 1668. Only a son, six years of age, now remained with him. In May, 1669, he was called to the office of archdeacon of Lübben. He labored here for seven years with great success. Gerhardt died June 7, 1676. Here, in the latter period of his life, he found much comfort in the eighth verse of the hymn composed by himself: “Warum sollt’ ich mich denn grämen,” “Døden kan os ikke døde,” “Death cannot destroy forever” (L. H. 342, 4).
Death cannot destroy forever: From our fears, Cares and tears, Soon shall it deliver. Doors of grief and gloom it closes, While the soul, Free and whole, With the saints reposes.
A life-size painting of Gerhardt has been placed in the church of Lübben. The painting has this inscription: Theologus in cribro Satanae versatus (A theologian sifted in the sieve of Satan). Paul Gerhardt was an excellent pastor and one of the best, if not the best one, of the hymn writers of Germany. In the upbuilding of the German-Protestant Church Paul Gerhardt ranks second only to Luther as a hymnist. Wackernagel says: “In regard to their spiritual value, the hymns of Paul Gerhardt may be viewed from two opposite angles. His poems seem to reflect the transitional character of his times. His own subjective spiritual life began to assert itself besides giving expression to the Christian consciousness of the congregation. Thus he may be regarded as the last and at the same time the best of those poets who were rooted in confessional Christianity. Gerhardt concludes the list of ‘church poets’.” In conclusion we quote the following from Rudelbach: “Together with Paul Gerhardt, who on account of his faithfulness toward the Lutheran confession suffered himself to be deposed from office, all Lutheran Christians join in song, whether it be his hymns for children or his Christmas hymns—which in spirit rank beside those of Luther—or the hymns of sorrow and comfort at the cross of Christ, or hymns of prayer for the Holy Spirit, or when he appears on the side of God as the soldier of Christ and joyfully brings to others the comfort which the Lord has given unto him, or when he meditates upon Christian life, its beginning, progress and end, as it rests in the hand of God.”
Paul Gerhardt possesses a certain poetic richness, which by no means can be referred to his poetic individuality alone. It finds its fullest explanation only in the sincere Lutheran spirit with which he was imbued. It is by no means the case, as some of the modern writers have thought, that he was lacking in traditional Lutheran force; indeed, as the Thirty Years’ War, which in its campaigns and results brought so much suffering, produced many spiritual heroes, who took on the armor of the Lord; thus also Gerhardt, who himself had experienced many sufferings, took the harp of Zion and sang with a loud voice as follows:
Not fire, nor sword, nor thunder, Shall sever me from Thee; Though earth be rent asunder Thou’rt mine eternally: Not hunger, thirst, nor danger, Not pain, nor pinching want, Nor mighty princes’ anger, My fearless soul shall daunt.
No angel, and no gladness, No throne, no pomp, no show, No love, no hate, no sadness, No pain, no depth of woe, No scheme of man’s contrivance, Though it be great or small, Shall draw me from Thy guidance— Not one of these, nor all! [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
GERHARDT, Paul (1607-1676). In the Lutheran church at Luebden in Germany there hangs a life-size painting of Paul Gerhardt. Beneath it is the inscription: “Theologus in cribro Satanae versatus” (A divine sifted in Satan’s sieve). That inscription may be said to epitomize the sad life-story of Germany’s great psalmist. Paul Gerhardt was born on March 12, 1607, in Gräfenhaynichen, a village between Halle and Wittenberg. His father was Christian Gerhardt, mayor of the village. He died before Paul reached maturity. During his youth Paul experienced much suffering because of the Thirty Years War that was raging. From 1622 to 1627 he attended school at Grimma. On January 2, 1628, he began the study of theology at the University of Wittenberg, where he remained until at least April, 1642, and then went to Berlin, where he became family tutor in the home of Andreas Barthold, an attorney. Here in a Christian atmosphere his gift of song began to develop and bear fruit. Many of Gerhardt’s hymns were published in 1648 in Johann Crüger’s Praxis Pietatis Melica (q. v.). In 1651 Gerhardt was called to Mittenwalde as provost. When he started his duties of his first settled position, Gerhardt was forty-four years old. Four years later he married Anna Maria Berthold. Their first child, a daughter, died in infancy. The income of the family was sparse. Gerhardt also experienced unpleasantness because of the jealousy of a colleague. In 1657 Gerhardt accepted a call to be third assistant pastor of the Church of St. Nicholas in Berlin. Here he continued to write hymns. Gerhardt was recognized as the most popular preacher in the city. Later he became known also for his philanthropy. At this time there was bitter opposition between the Lutherans and the Calvinists. Since Gerhardt was not as violent as others in condemning the opposition, he gained the respect and esteem of many of the leaders of the Reformed group, including the Duchess Louise. The elector Friedrich Wilhelm the Great, a Calvinist, arranged conferences between the leading men of both parties. But all such attempts failed, and finally the elector issued an edict forbidding ministers to attack each others doctrine and confession. Later he required all the Lutheran ministers to sign a document compelling them to follow the order of the edict. No Lutheran minister who wished to remain true to his confession could agree to this. Gerhardt believed that signing the document would be to compromise the faith. He was sick at the time, but nevertheless he summoned the Lutheran ministers to his bedside and admonished them to stand firm and not to yield to the demands of the elector. On February 9, 1666, Gerhardt was called before his own consistory and asked to sign the famous document. He was given a week in which to consider the matter, but he immediately said that he would not sign. Gerhardt was then deposed from office and even prohibited from conducting private meetings for worship in his own house. Gerhardt called this his Berlin martyrdom. Just before this unfortunate occurrence he had lost three of his five children, and now a son died, and his wife was seriously ill. Petitions from citizens, laborers, the town council, and even from the wife of the elector led the elector to reinstate Gerhardt on January 9, 1667. But the elector had done this with the understanding that Gerhardt would preach in harmony with the aforementioned edict. Under such a condition Gerhardt refused. In the same year the elector appointed Gerhardt’s successor. As he did not take up his work until late in 1668, Gerhardt received the income from the office until then. After that he was supported by charitable members of his congregation. Gerhardt’s wife died at Eastertide, 1668. Now only a son, aged six, remained. In May, 1669, Gerhardt was called to the offlce of archdeacon of Lübben. Here he labored for seven years with success until his death. Paul Gerhardt was an excellent pastor and one of the best, if not the best, of the hymn-writers of the Lutheran Church in Germany. He wrote 133 hymns in all. Not even the hymns of Martin Luther are used so generally throughout the Christian world as are those of Gerhardt. More of the beautiful lyrics of this sweet singer have found their way into the English language than the hymns of any other German hymn-writer, and with the passing of years their popularity increases rather than diminishes. In Gerhardt’s hymns is found the transition to the modern subjective note in hymnody. He died at Lübben, June 7, 1676. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
20, 52, 57, 94, 115, 128, 129, 152, 161, 208, 304, 331, 334, 335, 341, 372, 377, 400, 405, 448, 457, 517, 569
German sources
136, 507, 555, 578
German sources…103, 128, 131, 135, 136, 146, 150, 154, 175, 337, 399, 449, 490
Germanus of Constantinople, 634-734
St. Germanus (634-734) was a Greek hymnwriter and one of the most eminent defenders of image-worship. He was born in Constantinople and was a member of a noble family. He became Bishop of Cyzicus and later took part in the Synod of Constantinople (712), which adopted a resolution favoring Monothelitism (Monothelites, a sect which taught that Christ had two natures, but one will, the divine). But St. Germanus later condemned this doctrine. In 715 he was made patriarch of Constantinople. Despite vigorous opposition to the contrary, he was removed from this office in 730 by the iconoclastic emperor, Leo the Isaurian. Shortly afterwards he died at the age of 100 years. A number of his hymns have been translated into English by Dr. J. M. Neale. Among these the present hymn was included in his Hymns of the Eastern Church, 1862. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
St. Germanus of Constantinople, (634-734), was born in Constantinople of a patrician family. He was ordained there and subsequently became the Bishop of Cyzicus. He was present at the Synod of Constantinople in 712, which restored the Monothelite heresy, but in after years he condemned the heresy. In 715 he was made the Patriarch of Constantinople. In 730 St. Germanus was driven from that see, not without blows, for refusing to yield to the Iconoclastic Emperor, Leo III, the Isaurian. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
113
Gesangbuch, Münster, 1677
54
Gesangbuch, Rudolstadt, 1688
427
Gesangbuch, Wittenberg, Klug, J., 1543
36
Gesangbuch…der Herzogl…, Württemberg, 1784
279, 485
Gesenius, Justus, 1601-73
Justus Gesenius, D. D., son of Joachim Gesenius, pastor at Esbeck, near Lauenstein, Hannover, was born at Esbeck, July 6, 1601. He studied at the universities of Helmstedt and Jena, receiving the degree of master of arts at the latter institution, 1628. In 1629 he became pastor of the church of St. Magnus, Brunswick; in 1636 court chaplain and preacher at the cathedral in Hildesheim; and in 1642 chief court preacher, “consistorialrath,” and general superintendent of Hannover. He died at Hannover September 18, 1673.
Gesenius was an accomplished and influential theologian, a famous preacher, and distinguished himself by his efforts to further the catechetical instruction of children in his district. Together with D. Denicke he edited The Hannoverian Hymn Books of 1646-1660.—Johann Gerhard, the noted theologian, used the fifth stanza of this hymn every day as a means of reminding himself of the suffering and death of Jesus. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
GESENIUS, Justus (1601-1673), was the son of Joachim Gesenius, pastor at Essbeck, Hanover, where Justus was born on July 6, 1601. He studied theology at Helmstedt and Jena and was awarded his M. A. from the latter university in 1628. The following year Gesenius became pastor of St. Magnus’s Church at Brunswick. In 1636 he became court chaplain and preacher at the Cathedral in Hildesheim and in 1642 councilor and general superintendent of Hanover. Gesenius and David Denicke (q. v.) were coeditors of the Hanoverian hymn-books of 1646-1660. They did not give any of the authors names, and they recast many of the hymns according to the poetical canons of Martin Opitz. In some cases they destroyed very much, but their book was not as bad as the recasts of the rationalistic period. In spite of their shortcomings these hymnals met with favor and were widely used. Gesenius was an accomplished and influential theologian, a famous preacher, who distinguished himself by his efforts to further the catechetical instruction of the laity. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
276, 564
Gesius, Bartholomäus, c. 1555-1613
The melody is of German origin and has been ascribed to Bartholomäus Gesius, who in 1605 composed a hymn to which this melody was first set, namely, “Mein Seel, o Gott, musz loben dich.” In the Scandinavian countries this melody has been associated with the hymn “Jesu, din Ihukommelse” (Landst. 66), “Jesus, the very thought is sweet” (L. H. 154), “Jesu dulcis memoria.” Gesius (1555-1621) was cantor at Frankfurt an der Oder. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
208, 323, 324, 422, 432
Geystliche gesangk Buchleyn, Wittenberg, 1524
setting: 90
Giardini, Felice de, 1716-96
The melody (Italian Hymn) was composed by Felici de Giardini, an Italian musician born 1716, in Turin, Italy, and died 1796, in Moscow, Russia. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
GIARDINI, Felice de (1716-1796), was born in Turin, Piedmont, Italy, on April 12, 1716. He studied singing, clavier, and harmony in Milan. He became a celebrated violinist in both Italy and Germany, made his London debut in 1750, where he became the leader and in 1856 impressario of the Italian Opera. Giardini afterwards served Sir William Hamilton, British ambassador to the Sardinian court at Naples. When he returned to London five years later, Giardini found that his popularity had waned considerably. He traveled to Moscow, hoping for better recognition, but was disappointed. He died there in poverty in 1796. Giardini composed a great number of operas, quartets, concertos, sonatas, and other pieces. Capricious in character, he seems to have had few friends and many enemies, but he is considered one of the greatest musicians of the 18th century. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
11, 12, 202
Gibbons, Orlando, 1583-1625
The melody (Gibbons) is by Orlando Gibbons (15831625). Gibbons was one of the most prominent English musicians and composers of his time. He was the first chorister of King’s College, Cambridge, and became, 1604, organist of Chapel Royal, and in 1623 organist of Westminster Abbey. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
GIBBONS, Orlando (1583-1625), was born in Cambridge, England. He joined the choir of King’s College at 13 and at 21 became organist of the Chapel Royal. In 1619 he was King’s musician for the virginals, and after receiving his degree of Doctor of Music from Oxford in 1622, he was made organist of Westminster Abbey. He played the organ for the funeral of James I. He died at Canterbury on June 5, 1625, while preparing to attend Charles I at his marriage with Henrietta Maria of France. Gibbons was one of the greatest of the polyphonic writers. The tunes for Withe’rs Hymns and Songs of the Church, 1623, are from his pen. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
402
Gieschen, H., 1899-1987
tr. 166
Gläser, Carl Gotthelf, 1784-1829
The melody (Azmon) was composed by Carl G. Gläser, born in 1784 at Weissenfels; died 1829, in Barmen, Germany. [Dahle, Library of Christian Hymns]
GLÄSER, Carl Gotthelf (1784-1829), was born at Weissenfels, Germany, on May 4, 1784, was taught music by his father, and later attended St. Thomas’s School in Leipzig. In 1801 he began to study law at the Leipzig University, but he soon gave it up for music. He studied music under J. A. Hiller, A. E. Müller, and Campagnoli. He settled in Barmen, where he taught piano, violin, and voice. He was known as a director of choruses and composed many chorals and songs. He died April 16, 1829. [Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal]
176
Goss, Sir John, 1800-81
The melody (Waterstock) was composed by John Goss (1800-1880). Sir John Goss studied music under Thomas Attwood and became his successor as organist of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, 1856-1872. Goss became a prominent church composer, editor of the Parochial Ps