Ihr Kinderlein kommet
Encyclopedia
"Ihr Kinderlein, kommet" ("Oh, come, little children") is a German Christmas carol
.
The lyrics were written by Catholic
priest
and writer
Christoph von Schmid
in 1798. His poem, titled "Die Kinder bei der Krippe" ("The Children at the Manger"), had originally eight verses and was first published in 1811. Schmid then included it in his 1818 collection Blüten dem blühenden Alter gewidmet (Flowers Dedicated to the Flowering Age). Together with other poems from this collection, it was then set to music by Franz Xaver Luft in 1837.
The music to the poem as it is known today was written by the composer Johann Abraham Peter Schulz
in 1790 as a secular song named "Wie reizend, wie wonnig" ("How charming, how pleasant"). Around 1832, this melody was first published with Schmid's poem in a collection Sixty German Songs for Thirty Pennies by Friedrich Heinrich Eickhoff (1807–1886). This collection was later printed in large numbers by the just founded (1835) C. Bertelsmann Verlag
.
Christmas carol
A Christmas carol is a carol whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas or the winter season in general and which are traditionally sung in the period before Christmas.-History:...
.
The lyrics were written by Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
Christoph von Schmid
Christoph von Schmid
Christoph von Schmid was a writer of children's stories and an educator.His stories were very popular and translated into many languages. His best-known work in the English-speaking world is The Basket of Flowers .-Biography:He studied theology and was ordained priest in 1791...
in 1798. His poem, titled "Die Kinder bei der Krippe" ("The Children at the Manger"), had originally eight verses and was first published in 1811. Schmid then included it in his 1818 collection Blüten dem blühenden Alter gewidmet (Flowers Dedicated to the Flowering Age). Together with other poems from this collection, it was then set to music by Franz Xaver Luft in 1837.
The music to the poem as it is known today was written by the composer Johann Abraham Peter Schulz
Johann Abraham Peter Schulz
Johann Abraham Peter Schulz was a German musician and composer. Today he is best known as the composer of the melody for Matthias Claudius's poem "Der Mond ist aufgegangen" and the Christmas carol "Ihr Kinderlein kommet".-Life:Schulz attended the Michaelis School from 1757 to 1759 and then the...
in 1790 as a secular song named "Wie reizend, wie wonnig" ("How charming, how pleasant"). Around 1832, this melody was first published with Schmid's poem in a collection Sixty German Songs for Thirty Pennies by Friedrich Heinrich Eickhoff (1807–1886). This collection was later printed in large numbers by the just founded (1835) C. Bertelsmann Verlag
Bertelsmann
Bertelsmann AG is a multinational media corporation founded in 1835, based in Gütersloh, Germany. The company operates in 63 countries and employs 102,983 workers , which makes it the most international media corporation in the world. In 2008 the company reported a €16.118 billion consolidated...
.
Melody and lyrics
| German | English |
|---|---|
Ihr Kinderlein, kommet, o kommet doch all! Zur Krippe her kommet in Bethlehems Stall und seht, was in dieser hochheiligen Nacht der Vater im Himmel für Freude uns macht! O seht in der Krippe im nächtlichen Stall, seht hier bei des Lichtleins hell glänzendem Strahl den reinliche Windeln, das himmlische Kind, viel schöner und holder als Engel es sind! Da liegt es, das Kindlein, auf Heu und auf Stroh, Maria und Josef betrachten es froh. Die redlichen Hirten knien betend davor, hoch oben schwebt jubelnd der Engelein Chor. O beugt wie die Hirten anbetend die Knie, erhebet die Hände und danket wie sie! Stimmt freudig, ihr Kinder, wer wollt sich nicht freun, stimmt freudig zum Jubel der Engel mit ein! O betet: Du liebes, du göttliches Kind, was leidest du alles für unsere Sünd! Ach hier in der Krippe schon Armut und Not, am Kreuze dort gar noch den bitteren Tod. So nimm unsre Herzen zum Opfer denn hin; wir geben sie gerne mit fröhlichem Sinn. Ach mache sie heilig und selig wie Deins und mach sie auf ewig mit Deinem nur eins. |
Oh, come, little children, oh, come, one and all, To Bethlehem’s stable, in Bethlehem’s stall. And see with rejoicing this glorious sight, Our Father in heaven has sent us this night. Oh, see in the manger, in hallowèd light A star throws its beam on this holiest sight. In clean swaddling clothes lies the heavenly Child, More lovely than angels, this Baby so mild. Oh, there lies the Christ Child, on hay and on straw; The shepherds are kneeling before Him with awe. And Mary and Joseph smile on Him with love, While angels are singing sweet songs from above. Translated from German to English by Melanie Schulte (1885–1922) |
External links
- Lyrics and melody (MIDIMusical Instrument Digital InterfaceMIDI is an industry-standard protocol, first defined in 1982 by Gordon Hall, that enables electronic musical instruments , computers and other electronic equipment to communicate and synchronize with each other...
) at the Cyber Hymnal