Bóg się rodzi

Bóg się rodzi ( German: Christ is born or God is finally born, to us ) is a famous Polish Christmas carol. It is an integral part of the midnight mass Pasterka and is considered a national Christmas hymn of Poland. Once it was removed briefly as the national anthem into consideration - for example, by the poet Jan Lechoń. It has also been referred to as the most popular Polish Christmas carol.

History

The lyrics of " Bóg się rodzi " was written in 1792 by Franciszek Karpiński. The composer is unknown. The solemn melody is a familiar Krönungspolonaise for Polish kings, which can be traced back to the reign of Polish king Stefan Batory in the 16th century.

The carol was first published nabożne ( Devotional songs) in a collection of works called Karpinski's Pieśni 1792. The book was printed by Basilian monks in Supraśl in northeastern Poland. However, the anthem was probably already listed some years before the public in the old basilica of Białystok, as Karpiński lived in Białystos Branicki Palace 1785-1818.

At the first performance of the Christmas carol today commemorated by a plaque on the church wall. It says: " In this church for the first time ever, the devotional songs of Franciszek Karpiński were performed ." The original name of the Christmas song is " Pieśń o Narodzeniu Pańskim " ( " On the birth of God " ) or " Song of the birth of our Lord."

The anthem was recorded by various famous Polish artists - including Anna Maria Jopek, Violetta Villas, Michał Bajor, Ryszard Rynkowski, Krzysztof Krawczyk and Eleni Tzoka. It was also sung by Polish prisoners of the concentration camp Auschwitz. A report of the prisoner Jozef Jedrych from the collection of the State Museum Auschwitz -Birkenau describes as " the singing German carols began and then as waves of the sea, the powerful words [ of a Polish Christmas carol ] came ' power is weak, God is born .'"

Structure of the song

The Christmas song consists of five stanzas. Each stanza has eight lines and each line in the Polish original eight syllables.

First stanza: Power is weak, God is born Lord of the world ohn to shine ' Light of the fire is frozen The Infinite has limits Honor has been despised Mortality is the enthroned forever And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

3rd verse: In poverty must ' he live, Manger served as his cradle. From the shepherds he was surrounded. On the hay he had to lie. Suffering hath been bestowed upon him because sin ' dwell in our hearts And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

Fifth stanza: Son of God, uplifting your Händlein, Bless our fatherland, Strengthening people ' with your wisdom in the city and in the countryside Prosperity may beorden Your word, where your mother is enthroned And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

Analysis and interpretation of the song

The text of the anthem is distinguished by its stylistic tautology out by using strong linguistic contrasts:

Power is weak, God is born Lord of the world ohn to shine ' light of the fire is frozen The Infinite has limits

Such tautological figures of speech the meaning of the miracle is emphasized, which took place with the birth of Jesus Christ in a stable in Bethlehem. The lyric " And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" is a quote from the Gospel of John: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us " (John 1, 14 ). In addition Karpiński wove a patriotic statement at the beginning of the fifth stanza - with a request to the Child Jesus: " Son of God, uplifting your Händlein, Bless our fatherland ."

Pope John Paul II referred on 23 December 1996 in the Vatican audience hall of the Christmas carol " Bóg się rodzi ". In this case, the Pope quoted the words of the hymn

" Power is weak, God is born Lord of the world ohn to shine ' light of the fire is frozen The Infinite has its limits "

And led to this: "The poet shows us the mystery of the Incarnation of God's Son, by using opposites to express what is essential to the mystery: By assuming the Human form, the infinite God took the same time the limited nature of a creature of. "

In pop culture

Has an instrumental version of this song, the "Brave New World " expansion pack for Civilization V. " Bóg się rodzi " here is the musical theme of Polish civilization, King Casimir III. (also: Casimir the Great ) is cited.

Clips

• Video is played on Youtube on the " Bóg rodzi oneself " in a church.
• Video on Youtube with a studio version of " Bóg się rodzi ".
• Video on Youtube by " Bóg się rodzi " ( version with orchestra and choir )