Unless stated otherwise, my source for hymn texts and tunes is The Lutheran Service Book.

Friday, April 5, 2024

"Christ Is Arisen"

Lutheran Worship and The Lutheran Service Book have different translations of "Christ Is Arisen" (LW #124 is by F. Samuel Janzow, and LSB #459 is by Martin L. Seltz).  While referencing the hymn last year, I noticed a small feature specific to the Lutheran Worship version.

The hymn is sung to the tune "Christ ist erstanden."  Here's the third musical phrase:


In the Lutheran Worship version, the text here is "So let our song exulting rise," and the "ris[ing]" corresponds to the melody's ascent at the end.  In The Lutheran Service Book version, the text is "So let our joy rise full and free," and since "rise" comes earlier in the line, this effect is lacking.