First Lutheran hymnal
Encyclopedia
The First Lutheran hymnal, published in 1524 as Etlich Cristlich Lider / Lobgesang un Psalm (Some Christian songs / canticle, and psalm), often also often referred to as the Achtliederbuch (Book with eight songs, literally Eightsongsbook), was the first Lutheran
hymnal
.
and Paul Speratus
working in collaboration. It contains eight hymns: four by Luther, three by Speratus, and one anonymous, which has been attributed to Justus Jonas
. The creators declared their intentions on the title page: "Lobgesang / un Psalm / dem rainen wort Gottes gemeß / auß der heylige schrifft / durch mancherley hochgelerter gemacht / in der Kirch zu singen / wie es dann zum tayl Berayt in Wittenberg in übung ist." (Canticle / and psalm / according to the pure word of God / from the holy scripture / made by several learned [people] / to be sung in church / as already practised in part in Wittenberg.)
The hymnal is rather "eine lose buchhändlerische Zusammenfassung", a loose collection of songs which existed as broadsheets, than a hymnal with a concept. It was printed around the turn of the year 1523/1524 in Nuremberg
by Jobst Gutknecht. The title page showed Wittenberg
as the location of print. The booklet of twelve pages contained eight songs on five different melodies.
The little hymnal was distributed in Europe. Luther's adversaries complained that "the whole people are singing themselves into his doctrines." Because of the great demand, a second volume was published the same year, the "Erfurt Enchiridion", containing twenty-five hymns, eighteen of them by Luther.
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
hymnal
Hymnal
Hymnal or hymnary or hymnbook is a collection of hymns, i.e. religious songs, usually in the form of a book. The earliest hand-written hymnals are known since Middle Ages in the context of European Christianity...
.
History and content
The hymnal was created by Martin LutherMartin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
and Paul Speratus
Paul Speratus
Paul Speratus was a Catholic priest who became a Protestant preacher and song-writer. In 1523, he helped Martin Luther to create the First Lutheran hymnal, published in 1524 and called Achtliederbuch.-Early life:...
working in collaboration. It contains eight hymns: four by Luther, three by Speratus, and one anonymous, which has been attributed to Justus Jonas
Justus Jonas
Justus Jonas was a German Lutheran reformer.-Biography:Jonas was born at Nordhausen in Thuringia. His real name was Jodokus Koch, which he changed according to the common custom of German scholars in the sixteenth century, when at the University of Erfurt...
. The creators declared their intentions on the title page: "Lobgesang / un Psalm / dem rainen wort Gottes gemeß / auß der heylige schrifft / durch mancherley hochgelerter gemacht / in der Kirch zu singen / wie es dann zum tayl Berayt in Wittenberg in übung ist." (Canticle / and psalm / according to the pure word of God / from the holy scripture / made by several learned [people] / to be sung in church / as already practised in part in Wittenberg.)
The hymnal is rather "eine lose buchhändlerische Zusammenfassung", a loose collection of songs which existed as broadsheets, than a hymnal with a concept. It was printed around the turn of the year 1523/1524 in Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
by Jobst Gutknecht. The title page showed Wittenberg
Wittenberg
Wittenberg, officially Lutherstadt Wittenberg, is a city in Germany in the Bundesland Saxony-Anhalt, on the river Elbe. It has a population of about 50,000....
as the location of print. The booklet of twelve pages contained eight songs on five different melodies.
The little hymnal was distributed in Europe. Luther's adversaries complained that "the whole people are singing themselves into his doctrines." Because of the great demand, a second volume was published the same year, the "Erfurt Enchiridion", containing twenty-five hymns, eighteen of them by Luther.
Songs
- Nun freut euch, lieben Christen gmein (Luther)
- Es ist das Heil uns kommen herEs ist das Heil uns kommen herEs ist das Heil uns kommen her , BWV 9, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed the chorale cantata in Leipzig for the sixth Sunday after Trinity between 1732 and 1735.-History and words:...
(Speratus) - In Gott gelaub ich, das er hat (Speratus)
- Hilf Gott, wie ist der Menschen Not (Speratus)
- Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh dareinAch Gott, vom Himmel sieh dareinAch Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein , BWV 2, is a church cantata composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach composed the chorale cantata in Leipzig for the second Sunday after Trinity and first performed it on 18 June 1724...
(Luther) - Es spricht der Unweisen Mund wohl (Luther)
- Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dirAus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dirAus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir , BWV 38, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach composed the chorale cantata in Leipzig in 1724 in his second annual cycle for the twenty-first Sunday after Trinity and first performed it on 19 October 1724...
(Luther) - In Jesu Namen wir heben an (anonymous, setting for two voices)
Sources
- Konrad Ameln (Hrsg.): Das Achtliederbuch, facsimile Nürnberg, 1523/24, Jahrbuch für Liturgik und Hymnologie 2, 1956
External links
- Achtliederbuch Portal zu Bibliotheken, Archiven, Museen 2011