So nimm denn meine Hände
"So nimm denn meine Hände" | |
---|---|
Christian hymn | |
Original print in Maiblumen, 1862 | |
English | "Take Thou my hand, o Father" |
Written | 1862 (1862) |
Text | by Julie Hausmann |
Language | German |
Based on | Luke 9:57 |
Meter | 7 4 7 4 |
Melody | by Friedrich Silcher |
Composed | 1943 (1943) |
"So nimm denn meine Hände" (So take my hands then) is a Christian hymn often sung at funerals. The text by Julie Hausmann was first printed in 1862. The melody by Friedrich Silcher appeared already in 1843 with a different text. The song is well-known beyond churchgoers.[1] It was translated into English as "Take Thou my hand, o Father", and into many other languages.
History
Julie Hausmann, a Baltic German, was influenced by Pietism. She wrote sacred poems for herself, but agreed to an anonymous publication by Gustav Knak [de], entitled Maiblumen. Lieder einer Stillen im Lande (May Flowers. Song by a Quiet Country Woman.) in 1862.[2] The term "Die Stillen im Lande" was often applied to Pietists in general, but was also appropriate for the reticent and withdrawn woman.[3]
The exact date and reasons for "So nimm denn meine Hände" are not known. The poetry expresses faith in the guidance by an addressed "You". The Biblical header, "Ich will Dir folgen, wo Du hingehst" (I will follow you wherever you go, Luke 9:56–57) identifies the You as Jesus. This quotes a follower of Jesus, who promises to follow unconditionally.[4] Another Biblical reference may be the story of Martha and Mary, Luke 10:38–42), with Mary listening to Jesus in a position at his feet as the fourth stanza describes.[4] Legend has it that Hausmann wanted to marry a missionary in Africa, but found him dead when she arrived.[5]
In the first publication, the poem has six stanzas of four lines each, with the final stanza repeating the first as an affirmation. The rhyme scheme fit no traditional hymn tune. Friedrich Silcher wrote a melody published 1843 a collection Zwölf Kinderlieder für Schule und Haus, zwei- drei- und vierstimmig componiert (Twelve children's songs for school and home, composed for two, three and four parts).[6] It was combined with the text "Wie könnt ich ruhig schlafen in dunkler Nacht, wenn ich, o Gott und Vater, nicht dein gedacht?" (How could a sleep peacefully in dark night if I had not thought of you, o God and Father), an evening prayer for children by Agnes Franz. It is not known when Hausmann's text was combined with Silcher's melody. In 1870 at least both were firmly together, now as three stanzas of eight lines each due to the longer melody.[7]
While the song soon became popular, it was included in official hymnals only with hesitation. The Deutsches Evangelisches Gesangbuch [de] of 1915 and its regional versions included it as a "Geistliches Volkslied", a sacred Volkslied or popular song which was not intended for use in church services. It was not included in the general part (Stammteil) of the 1950 Evangelisches Kirchengesangbuch (EKG).[8] In the 1980s, Protestants who were requested to name a sacred song they knew mentioned "So nimm denn meine Hände" as No. 3, after "Ein feste Burg" and "Lobe den Herren".[9] The 1993 Evangelisches Gesangbuch then lists it as a hymn (EG 376) in the section Glaube – Liebe – Hoffnung: Angst und Vertrauen (Faith – Love – Hope: Anxiety and Trust), not under Sterben und ewiges Leben (Death and eternal life). In the regional section of the Catholic hymnal Gotteslob of the Diocese of Hamburg it is listed as GL 851 under Vertrauen und Trost (Trust and Consolation).[8][10]
In a 2019 survey in Germany, "So nimm denn meine Hände" was named No. 7 of musical pieces suitable for memorial services, following Frank Sinatra's "My Way" as No. 6.[11]
Translations
The song was translated into several languages. An early translation into English was made by Herman H. Brueckner as "Take Thou my hand, o Father".[12] Elmer Leon Jorgenson translated it to "Take Thou My Hand, and Lead Me", published in Great Songs of the Church in 1921.[13] In subsequent editions of the hymnal, the song changes number, but it was omitted in the 1937 "Number Two" edition, which was reissued in 1974. The hymn has also been translated by Martha D. Lange, whose version appears in Great Songs of the Church Revised in 1986.[14]
It was also translated into French, Italian, Dutch, Swedish and Czech ("Ó ujmi ruku moji" by Josef Baštecký in 1871),[15] among others. A 1876 Danish translation by Emil Clausen [da], "Så tag mig da ved hånden, og led du mig" was included in the Danish hymnal Den Danske Salmebog in 1953, and retained in the 2002 edition.[16]
References
- ^ Marti 2010, p. 262.
- ^ Fischer 2005, p. 1.
- ^ Fischer 2005, p. 2.
- ^ a b Fischer 2005, p. 5.
- ^ Marti 2010, p. 261.
- ^ Silcher 1843.
- ^ Herbst 2015, p. 60.
- ^ a b Fischer 2005, p. 12–13.
- ^ Fischer 2005, p. 13.
- ^ Holzapfel 2020, p. 75.
- ^ Kirche und Leben 2019.
- ^ Hymnary 2020.
- ^ Great Songs of the Church 1921.
- ^ Great Songs of the Church 1986.
- ^ "559". Evangelický zpěvník. Karlsruhe. 1979. p. 765.
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Holzapfel 2020, p. 76.
Cited sources
- Fischer, Michael (January 2005). "So nimm denn meine Hände" (in German). University of Freiburg. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- Herbst, Wolfgang (January 2015). Evang, Martin; Seibt, Ilsabe (eds.). 376 So nimm denn meine Hände (in German). Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. ISBN 9783525503430.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - Holzapfel, Otto (2020). "So nimm denn meine Hände" (PDF) (in German). Volksmusikarchiv des Bezirks Oberbayern [de]. pp. 75–76. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- Marti, Andreas (2010). "So nimm denn meine Hände" (PDF). Musik und Gottesdienst (in German). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- Silcher, Friedrich (1843). "4. Abend". Zwölf Kinderlieder für Schule und Haus, zwei- drei- und vierstimmig componiert (in German). Laupp. p. 7. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- Great Songs of the Church. Louisville, KY: Word and Work. 1921.
- Forrest McCann, ed. (1986). Great Songs of the Church Revised. Abilene, TX: ACU Press. p. Item 527.
- "Take Thou My Hand, O Father". hymnary.org. 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- "Die beliebtesten Trauerlieder der Deutschen 2019 / Trauerhits: Franz Schubert und Andreas Gabalier am beliebtesten". Kirche und Leben (in German). 14 November 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
Further reading
- Karl Röhrig: Die ursprüngliche Textgestalt von "So nimm denn meine Hände". In: Monatsschrift für Gottesdienst und kirchliche Kunst 30 (1925), H. 4/5, ZDB-ID 221087-3, pp. 115–117 (Digitalisat).
- Waldtraut Ingeborg Sauer-Geppert: So nimm denn meine Hände. In: Jahrbuch für Liturgik und Hymnologie. year 27 (1983), pp. 207–217.
External links
- Literature by and about So nimm denn meine Hände in the German National Library catalogue
- So nimm denn meine Hände (music) sermon-online.com
- So nimm denn meine Hände (text, audio, song books, in German)
- v
- t
- e
Christmas
- "Advent är mörker och kyla"
- "Befiehl du deine Wege" ("Give to the Winds Thy Fears")
- "Bereden väg för Herran" ("Thy Way and All Thy Sorrows")
- "Christum wir sollen loben schon" ("Now Praise We Christ the Holy One")
- "Det kimer nu til julefest" ("The Happy Christmas Comes Once More")
- "Det är advent"
- "Eg veit i himmerik ei borg" ("Ich weiß mir ein ewiges Himmelreich")
- "Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist" ("Arise, My Soul, Sing Joyfully")
- "Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ" ("O Jesus Christ, All Praise to Thee")
- "Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier" ("I Stand Beside Thy Manger Here")
- "Lobt Gott, ihr Christen alle gleich" ("Praise God the Lord, Ye Sons of Men")
- "Macht hoch die Tür" ("Lift Up Your Heads")
- "Mit Ernst, o Menschenkinder"
- "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland" ("Savior of the Nations, Come")
- "Such, wer da will, ein ander Ziel" ("Seek Where Ye May to Find a Way")
- "Vi tänder ett ljus i advent"
- "Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her" ("From Heaven Above to Earth I Come")
- "Wie soll ich dich empfangen" ("O How Shall I Receive Thee")
- "Herr Christ, der einig Gotts Sohn" ("The Only Son from Heaven")
- "Nun liebe Seel, nun ist es Zeit" ("Up, Ye Christians, Join in Singing")
- "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" ("How Lovely Shines the Morning Star")
- "An Wasserflüssen Babylon"
- "Christe, du Lamm Gottes" ("O Christ, Thou Lamb of God")
- "Christus, der uns selig macht" ("Christ, by Whose All-saving Light")
- "Da der Herr Christ zu Tische saß"
- "Da Jesus an dem Kreuze stund ("Our Blessed Savior Spoke Seven Times")
- "Ein Lämmlein geht und trägt die Schuld" ("A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth")
- "Herzliebster Jesu" ("O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken")
- "Jesu Leiden, Pein und Tod"
- "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden ("O Sacred Head, Now Wounded")
- "O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig" ("Lamb of God, Pure and Holy")
- "O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß" ("O Sinner, Come Thy Sin to Mourn")
- "O Welt, sieh hier dein Leben" ("Upon the Cross Extended")
- "Christ lag in Todesbanden" ("Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands")
- "Erschienen ist der herrlich Tag" ("On Earth Has Dawned This Day of Days")
- "Geh aus, mein Herz, und suche Freud" ("Go Forth, My Heart, and Seek Delight")
- "Heut triumphieret Gottes Sohn" ("Today in Triumph Christ Arose")
- "Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, der den Tod..."
- "Jesus för världen givit sitt liv"
- "Wir wollen alle fröhlich sein" ("Now Glad of Heart Be Every One")
- "Komm, Gott Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist" ("Come, Holy Spirit, From Above")
- "Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott" ("Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord")
- "Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist" ("We now implore God the Holy Ghost")
- "Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr" ("All glory be to God on high")
- "Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein" ("O Lord, Look Down from Heaven, Behold")
- "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott ("A Mighty Fortress Is Our God")
- "Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort" ("Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Thy Word")
- "God's Word Is Our Great Heritage"
- "Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit" ("If God Had Not Been on Our Side")
- "Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält" ("Ye Christians, pluck your Courage up")
- "Es spricht der Unweisen Mund wohl" ("The Mouth of Fools Doth God Confess")
- "Sie ist mir lieb, die werte Magd"
- "Jerusalem, du hochgebaute Stadt" ("Jerusalem, Thou City Fair and High")
or Law and Gospel
- "Dies sind die heilgen zehn Gebot" ("I Am Alone, Your God and Lord")
- "Es ist das Heil uns kommen her" ("Salvation Unto Us Is Come")
- "Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g'mein" ("Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice")
- "Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid" ("O Lord, How Many Miseries")
- "Ach lieben Christen seid getrost"
- "Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig"
- "Blott en Dag (Day by Day)
- "Herr Jesu Christ, du höchstes Gut"
- "Ich hab in Gottes Herz und Sinn" ("I Into God's Own Heart and Mind")
- "Lob Gott getrost mit Singen" ("Praise God, praise God with singing")
- "Straf mich nicht in deinem Zorn" ("Not in Anger, Mighty God")
- "Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz" ("Why art Thou Thus Cast Down, My Heart?")
- "Warum sollt ich mich denn grämen" ("Why Should Cross and Trial Grieve Me")
- "Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan" ("What God Ordains Is Always Good")
- "Was willst du dich betrüben"
- "Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten" ("If Thou but Trust in God to Guide Thee")
- "Gott sei gelobet und gebenedeiet" ("O Lord, We Praise Thee")
- "Im Frieden dein, o Herre mein"
- "Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, der von uns..." ("Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior")
- "Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele" ("Soul, Adorn Thyself with Gladness")
- "Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam" ("To Jordan Came Our Lord")
- "Tryggare kan ingen vara ("Children of the Heavenly Father")
- "Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir"
- "Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir" ("Out of the Depths I Cry to Thee")
- "Es ist genug"
- "Herr Jesu Christ, wahr Mensch und Gott" ("Lord Jesus Christ, True Man and God")
- "Herzlich lieb hab ich dich, o Herr" ("Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart")
- "Herzlich tut mich verlangen"
- "Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht" ("Jesus I Will Never Leave")
- "Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin" ("In Peace and Joy I Now Depart")
- "Mitten wir im Leben sind" ("In the Midst of Earthly Life")
- "Nun lasst uns den Leib begraben" ("Now Lay We Calmly in the Grave")
- "So nimm denn meine Hände"
- "Valet will ich dir geben" ("Farewell I Gladly Bid Thee")
- "Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende" ("Who Knows When Death May Overtake Me")
- "De Levendes Land" (Land of the Living)
- "Die beste Zeit im Jahr ist mein"
- "Du meine Seele singe"
- "Es woll uns Gott genädig sein" ("May God Bestow on Us His Grace")
- "Herr Gott, dich loben wir" ("We Sing Thy Praise, O God")
- "How Great Thou Art"
- "Ich singe dir mit Herz und Mund" ("Rejoice My Heart, Be Glad and Sing")
- "Nun danket all und bringet Ehr" ("All Ye Who on This Earth Do Dwell")
- "Nun preiset alle Gottes Barmherzigleit" ("For the Lord reigneth" or "Now Let All Loudly Sing Praise")
- "Nun danket alle Gott" ("Now Thank We All Our God")
- "Nun laßt uns Gott dem Herren" ("Now Let Us Come With Singing")
- "Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren" ("My Soul, Now Bless Thy Maker")
- "Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend" ("Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now")
- "Vater unser im Himmelreich" ("Our Father, Thou in Heaven Above")
- "Wir glauben all an einen Gott" ("We All Believe in One True God")
- "Die güldne Sonne voll Freud und Wonne" ("Evening and Morning")
- "Din klara sol går åter opp" ("Again, Thy Glorious Sun Doth Rise")
- "Der Mond ist aufgegangen" ("The moon has been arising")
- "Weißt du, wie viel Sternlein stehen" ("Can you count the stars that brightly")
- "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" ("Wake, Awake, the Night is Flying")
- "Werde munter, mein Gemüte" ("Sink Not Yet, My Soul, to Slumber")