Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist
Now we ask the Holy Spirit is a hymn. The first verse is from the 13th century. Martin Luther wrote three more stanzas, which first appeared in 1524. The song in the Protestant hymn book number 124 in the praise of God on the other hand continued as GL 248, the first stanza of three verses of Maria Luise Thurmair and one of Michael Vehe ( 1537 ). The song inspired vocal and organ music from the Renaissance to modern times, including by Michael Praetorius, Dieterich Buxtehude, Johann Sebastian Bach and Ernst Pepping.
History and wording
The first verse is found in the 13th century, the Franciscan Berthold of Regensburg ( † 1272 ) quoted it in a sermon.
Nu we biten the holy spirit renamed the right glouben abundantly, daz he behüete us unsrem end, sô we get home consuls varn uz disem ellende. Kyrieleis.
It is a prayer to the Holy Spirit, which is reminiscent of the Latin sequence Veni Sancte Spiritus. The overriding concern is the right faith, the starting point is the desired ride home from the stranger of life. In the language of the time " ellende " meant exile and was stressed on the second syllable rhymed with " end ".
Luther wrote the song further into three verses that appeal to the Holy Spirit as "You precious Light ", " You are the sweet lovers " and "You highest Comforter ". The song is a Quiet, each stanza is ended by Kyrieleis. The three added verses can be associated with the idea of Paul the Apostle of Faith, Love, Hope from the first letter to the Corinthians ( 1 Cor 13:13 LUT). Luther's text was first published in 1524 in Wittenberg in Eyn geystlich Gesangk Buchleyn.
In Lutheran churches, the song was sung especially at Pentecost. Due to its general content, it is suitable for many occasions, including funerals. It is part of many hymnals. The oldest translation in Danish was published 1528th One of the many English translations is "We now implore God the Holy Ghost" in The Lutheran Hymnal, St. Louis, 1941. In praise of God as GL 248 is the first verse, the three stanzas of Maria Luise Thurmair and one of Michael Vehe ( 1537 ) will be continued.
Melody and music
The melody was derived from the melody of the sequence and first appeared in 1420 in the South Bohemian town Jistebnitz. It is pentatonic, with the exception of the final turn. Luther's version was published in 1524 in Wittenberg, five voices set of Johann Walter, who worked with Luther. Michael Praetorius composed of seven a cappella sentences of two to six voices. The melody was set five voices by Martin Zeuner, Paul and John Luetkeman Eccard.
Dieterich Buxtehude wrote two Orgelvorspiele, BuxWV 208 and BuxWV 209 Johann Sebastian Bach used the third verse in his cantata God alone shall have my heart. Further organ preludes were composed by Georg Böhm, Helmut Eder, Paul Hamburger, Arnold Mendelssohn, Ernst Pepping, Heinrich Scheidemann, Johann Gottfried Vierling, Helmut Walcha, Johann Gottfried Walther and others.
Johann Nepomuk David wrote 1936 Choralmottete for four-part choir a cappella Now we ask the Holy Spirit. The song is the first sentence of Ernst Pepping German Choral Mass for six voices a cappella ( SSATBB ).
Herbert Blendinger composed in 1984 for cello and organ meditation on the hymn "Now we ask the Holy Spirit" Op. 36 Jacques Wildberger wrote diaphanie: per viola sola: fantasia su per " Veni creator spiritus " et canons diversi super "Now we ask the Holy Spirit", published in Zurich in 1989.