Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ
Blessed are You, Jesus Christ ( Urtext, Blessed Jesus Christ seystu ) is a hymn of Martin Luther, published in 1524 in Erfurt Enchiridion. He was the Lutheran main song for the first Christmas Day.
Luther's text
Luther's seal refers to as first verse a pre-Reformation Quiet, which is based on the Latin sequence for the Christmas Midnight Mass Grates nunc omnes. The added sealed six stanzas of Luther end with the call Kyrieleis. Following on from patristic motives unfolds Luther in ever new images the contrast between the omnipotence of the eternal Son of God and the smallness and poverty of the child, where he became a man, and therefore the size of divine love.
The seal was in 1524 in Erfurt published in the Eyn Enchiridion collection.
Melody
The melody first appeared in Geystliche gesangk Buchleyn, collected by Johann Walter. It is likely that Luther and Walter worked together on the change in an older melody. The top notes of the manner of singing fall in the first stanza exactly with the meaning -bearing words. Characteristic are the rhythmically alternating rows and Beginnings: upbeat in row 1, 3 and 4, the downbeat in line 2
Musical arrangements
Balthasar Resinarius composed a chorale motet, published 1544th A set of Walter is from the year 1551, one of Antonio Scandello 1575th Lucas Osiander wrote in 1586 a four-part set, Erhard Bodenschatz 1608, Samuel Scheidt wrote in 1650 two sets. A five- part motet by Johannes Eccard printed in 1597, one of Adam Gumpelzhaimer in Augsburg in 1618, Andreas Raselius wrote in 1610 a five -part harmony. Melchior Schärer (1570-1602) continued the chant as a three-part a cappella motet, and Michael Praetorius composed rates for various occupations. Johann Hermann Schein 1618 wrote a cantata for three voices, Johann Crüger sat him for four voices, two obbligato instruments ( violins) and continuo.
At the time of Johann Sebastian Bach chorale was the main song for the first Christmas Day. In 1724 he created for this day his eponymous cantata Blessed are You, Jesus Christ. He also used some verses for Christmas music, in 1723 verse 7 in the cantata for the 3rd Christmas Behold what manner of love has bestowed upon us the Father, and in 1734 two verses in his Christmas Oratorio, verse 6 in Theorem 7 in conjunction with recitative verse 7 used in Theorem 28 Johann Mattheson the first and last stanza as the opening chorus and final chorus of his Christmas Oratorio the largest child, where he replaced Kyrieleis by Hallelujah.
Cantatas were also composed by Gottfried August Homilius cell Friedrich (1845-1927), and Kurt Hessenberg, the 1935, a chorale cantata for mixed choir, two solo voices, organ and orchestra, Op 9 wrote. Walter Steffens wrote motets in part ZDF, including 1982 Blessed are You, Jesus Christ for a cappella choirs.
The chorale -inspired organ sets of Baroque composers such as Dieterich Buxtehude, Johann Pachelbel, Georg Böhm, Bach, Homilius, Johann Christoph and Johann Philipp Altnikol KirnBerger.
Today's use
The hymn has been translated into numerous languages , recorded in hymnals and sung as a Christmas carol. The song can be found in the Protestant hymnal (EC 23) and in praise of God (GL 252; GLalt 130).