Herr Gott, dich loben wir

"Herr Gott, dich loben wir" (Lord God, we praise you) is a Lutheran hymn, which Martin Luther wrote in 1529 as a translation and partial paraphrase of the Latin Te Deum. It is sometimes called the German Te Deum. The hymn was first published in 1529. Its hymn tune, Zahn No. 8652, is a simplification of the melody of the traditional Te Deum.[1] It has appeared in 24 hymnals.

"Herr Gott, dich loben wir"
Hymn by Martin Luther
The author in 1526, wedding picture by Lucas Cranach
EnglishLord God, we praise you
CatalogueZahn 8652
Textby Martin Luther
LanguageGerman
Based onTe Deum
Melodyby Luther, derived from the Te Deum
Published1529 (1529)

Text and melody

Luther translated and slightly expanded the Latin text of the Te Deum,[2] which is also known as the Ambrosian Hymn, but is currently credited to Nicetas of Remesiana, a bishop of the 4th century. Luther wrote 27 verses, intending it for two responsorial groups.[3][4] The song of praise, thanks and petition is used regularly on festive occasions.

For a melody, Luther used a simplified version of the traditional melody of the early Christian Te Deum.[3] The early tune is based on an evening song of the Greek church, which in turn may go back to early Christian rites or an evening song of the synagogue. Luther's version was first published in Joseph Klug's Geistliche Lieder (Spiritual Songs) in Wittenberg in 1529. No copy of this edition is extant.[5][6] It has appeared in 24 hymnals.[7]

Musical settings

Johann Hermann Schein composed in 1618 Das Tedeum for four choirs and two instrumental groups ("Capellen"); and in 1627 a setting for four-part choir and continuo.[5]

Johann Sebastian Bach used parts of the text and melody in cantatas for New Year's Day, Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 190, and Herr Gott, dich loben wir, BWV 16.[5]

Felix Mendelssohn composed a setting Herr Gott, dich loben wir (TeDeum) for solo voices, double chorus, four trombones, strings, and organ, first performed at the Berlin Cathedral on 6 August 1843, to mark "the millennium of the founding of the German Reich".[5]

See also

References
  1. Zahn, Johannes (1892). Die Melodien der deutschen evangelischen Kirchenlieder (in German). V. Gütersloh: Bertelsmann. pp. 328–330.
  2. "Herr Gott, dich loben wir / The German Tedeum / Text and Translation of Chorale". Bach Cantatas Website. 2005. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  3. Bausman, Christina Lea (2008). The Organ Te Deum: Its History and Practice. pp. 33–36. ISBN 0-54-959584-8.
  4. "XXVIII.: Herr Gott, dich loben wir. Lord God, thy Praise we sing". oll.libertyfund.org. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  5. "Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works / Herr Gott, dich loben wir / Das Deutsche Tedeum ("The German Te Deum")". Bach Cantatas Website. 2005. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  6. Gerhards, Albert; Lurz, Friedrich (1993). Te deum in Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche. 9 (3 ed.). Freiburg: Herder. pp. 1306–1308.
  7. "Herr Gott, dich loben wir, Herr Gott, wir danken". hymnary.org. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
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