"Ich singe dir" (TLH #29)

I didn't recognize this tune from the title or even from what the notation looks like, but once I started playing it, it did sound vaguely familiar.  The first note isn't quite in sync among the instruments, but I was having some problems with getting everything to match up, so I didn't want to try doing it again.

"Joy to the World"

A couple weeks ago, I wrote a post about the Biblical sources for "Joy to the World."  I thought that the lines "No more let sins and sorrows grow / Nor thorns infest the ground" came from the first part of Revelation 22.  Revelation 22:2 mentions "the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruits," and verse 3 says that "No longer will there be anything accursed."  I thought these two things (an agricultural image and no more curses) were reworkt into these two lines in the hymn, yet I also felt I was missing something.

Earlier this week, I realized that this is a reference to Genesis 3:17-18 where God says to Adam, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you...."  These are the "thorns" that are mentioned in "Joy to the World," and this is also "the curse" that's mentioned later in that verse: "He comes to make His blessings flow / Far as the curse is found."

LSB #389 "Let All Together Praise Our God"

Biblical citations in the hymnal:  Luke 2:1-20; 2 Corinthians 8:9; John 1:1-5, 10-14; Philippians 2:5-7

Luke 2:1-20:  "1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.  3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.  4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.  6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.  7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

"8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.  10 And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.'  13 And suddenly there was with the angels a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!'

"15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.'  16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.  17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.  18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.  19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.  20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them."

2 Corinthians 8:9:  "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich."

John 1:1-5:  "1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2 He was in the beginning with God.  3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

John 1:10-14:  "10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.  11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.  12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

"14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Philippians 2:5-7:  "5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men."

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The Luke text is the source for the first two verses, more so the second (which mentions the "infant small... in a manger") than the first (which is more general).

The two selections from John 1 form the third verse, which explains how Jesus "hides / His all-creating light" in "an earthborn form."

The verse from 2 Corinthians 8 informs the fourth verse, which also talks about "a great exchange."  The hymn seems to expand on 2 Corinthians' "so that you by his poverty might become rich" by specifically describing that "in return [He] gives us His realm, His glory, and His name."

The fifth verse starts with the line "He is a servant, I a lord," which - while still drawing on 2 Corinthians 8:9 - also uses Philippians 2:7, specifically "taking the form of a servant."

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There are a number of uncited Biblical sources in the sixth verse.  The first line is "He is the key and He the door," which uses two names for Jesus: the Key of David (Isaiah 22:22) and the Door (John 10:9).  The third line ("The angel bars the way no more") refers to the angel sent to guard the way to the tree of life in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24).

"Nun preiset alle" (TLH #28)

I recorded this yester-day because to-day's Christmas Eve and I didn't know if I would have time to do it to-day.

I currently have a cold, which has slightly affected my hearing, so the mix on this might be a bit off.

I wasn't familiar with this tune, but I think I did a decent job of it.

"Lift up Your Heads, You Everlasting Doors"

Earlier this month I wrote a post about the first phrase of "Lift up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates."  On the opposite page in the hymnal, there's the hymn "Lift up Your Heads, You Everlasting Doors," and I noticed that it has the same feature.

The first line is "Lift up your heads, you everlasting doors," the first part of which is sung to an ascending phrase (an arpeggiated C major spanning an octave):

There's an ascent in the tune ("Conrad"), which represents the "lift[ing] up" in the text.  A similar text ("Lift up your heads, you everlasting gates") is sung to the same musical phrase later in the first verse, and the third verse begins with "Who may ascend Mount Zion's holy hill," for which there's a similar feature (a rising melody to represent "ascend[ing]").

LSB #388 "Go Tell It on the Mountain"

Biblical citations in the hymnal:  Luke 2:7-20, Isaiah 40:9-11

Luke 2:7-20:  "7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

"8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.  10 And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.'  13 And suddenly there was with the angels a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!'

"15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.'  16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.  17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.  18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.  19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.  20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them."

Isaiah 40:9-11:  "9 Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, 'Behold your God!'  10 Behold, the LORD GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.  11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young."

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The text is public domain:

Go tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and ev'rywhere;
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born!

While shepherds kept their watching
O'er silent flocks by night,
Behold, throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light.

Go tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and ev'rywhere;
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born!

The shepherds feared and trembled
When lo, above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior's birth.

Go tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and ev'rywhere;
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born!

Down in a lonely manger
The humble Christ was born;
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn.

Go tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and ev'rywhere;
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born!

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The Biblical sources here are very straightforward.  The Luke 2 text, about Jesus' birth and its announcement to the shepherds, is the source of the verses, and the Isaiah 40 text, specifically the first part of verse nine ("Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news") is the source of the chorus.

"St. Thomas" (TLH #27)

This is a tune I'm familiar with, so I took it a bit faster than I probably would have otherwise.

"The Night Will Soon Be Ending"

Since the church year recently started over, I'm starting something new: rather than continue on in my long list of things to write about, I'm going to try to have the hymns I write about in these musicological types of posts correspond to the current season.

A couple months ago, I watched the One LSB Hymn a Week video for "The Night Will Soon Be Ending":

The tune is "Llangloffan."  I found quite a bit to write about, so I'm going to go phrase by phrase.

The first phrase:

The last word in each line sung to this phrase is sung with a melisma.  The third verse begins with "The earth in sure rotation," with "rotation" sung to four syllables rather than the three it's spoken with.  This articulation provides some sense of that movement.

The third phrase:

In the first verse, the line here is "Let songs of praise ascending."  "Ascending" is sung to a rising group of notes, so there's a musical representation of the text.  "Ascending" is even sung with an extra syllable (four rather than three), which emphasizes the effect.

The fourth phrase contains the first of two cross inscriptions in the melody, which could actually been seen with two different groups of notes:

There seems to be only one connection between this cross inscription and the hymn's text.  In the second verse, the line here describes how God "Bears all [that] our sins deserve," and Christ bore our sins on the cross.

The second cross inscription (which is actually the same as the first) is in the eight phrase (the final phrase):

Again, there seems to be only one connection between this inscription and the hymn's text.  The last two lines of the fourth verse are "God comes for our redeeming / From sin's oppressive might."  Christ freed us from sin by taking it upon Himself on the cross.

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At the beginning of the year, I wrote a post about the Biblical sources for "The Night Will Soon Be Ending."   I found a text that I missed, which I knew was bound to happen eventually in this project.  The beginning of the fifth verse is "God dwells with us in darkness / And makes the night as day."  This bears some resemblance to a part of Psalm 139: "11 If I say, 'Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,' 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you."

LSB #387 "Joy to the World"

Biblical citations in the hymnal:  Psalm 98, Romans 5:16-19, Revelation 22:1-5

Psalm 98:  "1 Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things!  His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.  2 The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.  3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.  All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!  5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody!  6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!

7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!  8 Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together 9 before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.  He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity."

Romans 5:16-19:  "16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin.  For the judgement following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.  17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

"18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.  19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous."

Revelation 22:1-5:  "1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month.  The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.  3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.  4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.  5 And night will be no more.  They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the LORD GOD will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever."

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The text is public domain:

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room
And heav'n and nature sing,
And heav'n and nature sing,
And heav'n, and heav'n and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders of His love.

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Parts of the first two verses come from Psalm 98, specifically "Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!  Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the LORD."  The hymn also has creation praising the Lord: "Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room / And heav'n and nature sing" and "fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains / Repeat the sounding joy."

The Romans text seems to be present in the third verse, specifically the lines "He comes to make His blessings flow / Far as the curse is found."  This isn't too different from Romans 5:18-19.  The hymn describes the breadth of "His blessings," and the text from Romans mentions that justification, life, and righteousness "for all men" and "the many" come "through the one man Jesus Christ."

The Revelation text is in the last two verses.  After describing trees and fruit, Revelation declares that "No longer will there be anything accursed," and in the hymn, this appears in the lines "No more let sins and sorrows grow / Nor thorns infest the ground."  The fourth verse's "glories of His righteousness / And wonders of His love" seem to be a more general description of the scene in Revelation 22.

"Lobe den Herren, o meine" (TLH #26)

I skipt #25 because it was in Eb major, which isn't one of the easier keys for mandolin, and because I couldn't get a good sense of the melody.  So here's the next tune.  I wasn't familiar with this one either, but it wasn't that difficult.

"O Jesu"

When I played through "O Jesu" in preparation for recording it this week, the first and third phrases (which are the same) sounded familiar to me.  I was pretty sure it I knew it from Bach, but it took me a couple days to find the specific piece.

Here's the phrase from "O Jesu":

And here's the beginning of the Quodlibet from Bach's Goldberg Variations, BWV 988:

[notation found here]

While the specific note values are different, the ratios of the lengths are the same (those in the Quodlibet are half those in "O Jesu"), and while the two phrases are in different keys and begin on different pitches, the intervals are the same.

I did some research and discovered that the Goldberg Variations were published in 1741, which is the same year listed for "O Jesu" in The Lutheran Hymnal.  Under the title of the tune, it reads: "Evangelisches Gesangbuch" Hirschberg, 1741.

However, the Quodlibet is Bach's combination of tunes from German folk songs.  According to a diagram on this website, this phrase in the Quodlibet was taken from the folk song "Ich bin so lang nicht bei dir g'west."  So I'm not sure whether this phrase in "O Jesu" came from that folk tune (either directly or via the Goldberg Variations) or whether its similarity is just coincidental.

LSB #386 "Now Sing We, Now Rejoice"

Biblical citations in the hymnal:  Luke 2:1-14, John 12:32, 1 Peter 1:8-9, Revelation 21:3-4

Luke 2:1-14:  "1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.  3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.  4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.  6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.  7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

"8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.  10 And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.'  13 And suddenly there was with the angels a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!'"

John 12:32:  "'And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.'"

1 Peter 1:8-9:  "8 Though you have not seen him, you love him.  Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

Revelation 21:3-4:  "3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.  He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.  4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'"

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The text is public domain:

Now sing we, now rejoice,
Now raise to heav'n our voice;
He from whom joy streamth
Poor in a manger lies;
Not so brightly beameth
The sun in yonder skies.
Thou my Savior art!
Thou my Savior art!

Come from on high to me;
I cannot rise to Thee.
Cheer my wearing spirit,
O pure and holy Child;
Through Thy grace and merit,
Blest Jesus, Lord most mild,
Draw me unto Thee!
Draw me unto Thee!

Now through His Son doth shine
The Father's grace divine.
Death was reigning o'er us
Through sin and vanity
Till He opened for us
A bright eternity.
May we praise Him there!
May we praise Him there!

Oh, where shall joy be found?
Where but on heav'nly ground?
Where the angels singing
With all His saints unite,
Sweetest praises bringing
In heav'nly joy and light.
Oh, that we were there!
Oh, that we were there!

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The title line ("Now sing we, now rejoice") seems to come from 1 Peter, specifically "you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory."  The lines "Poor in a manger lies" in the first verse and "O pure and holy Child" in the second come from the Luke text.

The Revelation text appears in the third verse.  Revelation 21:4 says that "the former things have passed away."  In the hymn, this is rendered as "Death was reigning o'er us / Through sin and vanity / Till He opened for us / A bright eternity."

John 12:32 seems to be referred to in the last two verses.  Jesus says that He will "draw all people" to Him, and the hymn portrays this as "prais[ing] Him there [in heaven]... in heav'nly joy and light."

"O Jesu" (TLH #24)

This is an-other tune I didn't know, and yet the first and third phrases (they're the same) sound familiar.  I think they bear some resemblance to a classical piece, but I haven't been able to identify which specific one.

"Lift up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates"

A couple months ago, I watched the One LSB Hymn a Week video for "Lift up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates" (LSB #341):

It occurred to me that there's an ascending interval at the beginning of the first phrase, the melody to which "Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates" is sung:

The title of this tune is "Milwaukee," but in The Lutheran Service Book, "Lift up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates" is also paired with the tune "Macht hoch die Tür" (LSB #340).  The first phrase of that tune also begins with an ascending interval:

It's a smaller interval than that in "Milwaukee" (a minor third compared to a sixth), but it still provides the idea of the "lift[ing] up" in the hymn's text.