"Herzliebster Jesu" (often translated into English as "Ah, Holy Jesus", sometimes as "O Dearest Jesus") is a Lutheran Passion hymn in German, written in 1630 by Johann Heermann, in 15 stanzas of 4 lines, first published in Devoti Musica Cordis in Breslau.[1] As the original headline reveals, it is based on Augustine of Hippo; this means the seventh chapter of the so-called "Meditationes Divi Augustini", presently ascribed to John of Fécamp.[2]
The tune, Zahn No. 983, was written ten years later by Johann Crüger and first appeared in Crüger's Neues vollkömmliches Gesangbuch Augsburgischer Confession.[1][3]
Christian Fürchtegott Gellert wrote his Passion hymn "Herr, stärke mich, dein Leiden zu bedenken" (Lord, strengthen me to reflect on your suffering) to the same melody, first published in 1757.
Translationsedit
The most common[7] English translation of this hymn was written by Robert Bridges in 1897 and begins with the first line "Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended?"[8] However, several Lutheran hymnals use a translation written in 1863 by Catherine Winkworth which begins "O dearest Jesus, what law hast thou broken?"[9] An alternative translation in modern English from the Choral Niagara website[10] is also shown below for comparison.
Original German
Bridges translation
Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen, Daß man ein solch scharf Urteil hat gesprochen? Was ist die Schuld? In was für Missetaten Bist du geraten?
Ah, holy Jesus, how hast Thou offended, That man to judge Thee hath in hate pretended? By foes derided, by Thine own rejected, O most afflicted.
Winkworth translation
Choral Niagara translation
O dearest Jesus, what law hast Thou broken That such sharp sentence should on Thee be spoken? Of what great crime hast Thou to make confession, What dark transgression?
Beloved Jesus, what have you done wrong that they have pronounced so hard a sentence? What is your guilt, into what sort of misdeeds have you fallen?
Referencesedit
^ abc"Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen". hymnary.org. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
herzliebster, jesu, often, translated, into, english, holy, jesus, sometimes, dearest, jesus, lutheran, passion, hymn, german, written, 1630, johann, heermann, stanzas, lines, first, published, devoti, musica, cordis, breslau, original, headline, reveals, base. Herzliebster Jesu often translated into English as Ah Holy Jesus sometimes as O Dearest Jesus is a Lutheran Passion hymn in German written in 1630 by Johann Heermann in 15 stanzas of 4 lines first published in Devoti Musica Cordis in Breslau 1 As the original headline reveals it is based on Augustine of Hippo this means the seventh chapter of the so called Meditationes Divi Augustini presently ascribed to John of Fecamp 2 Herzliebster Jesu Lutheran Passion hymnJohann Heermann the poetEnglish O dearest Jesus CatalogueZahn 983GenreHymnWritten1630 1630 Textby Johann HeermannLanguageGermanMeter11 11 11 5Melodyby Johann CrugerPublished1630 1630 Melody and musical settings editThe tune Zahn No 983 was written ten years later by Johann Cruger and first appeared in Cruger s Neues vollkommliches Gesangbuch Augsburgischer Confession 1 3 The tune has been used many times including settings by J S Bach one of the Neumeister Chorales for organ BWV 1093 4 two movements of the St John Passion and three of the St Matthew Passion 1 5 Johannes Brahms used it for one of his Eleven Chorale Preludes for organ Op 122 No 2 6 Max Reger s Passion No 4 from his organ pieces Sieben Stucke Op 145 1915 1916 uses this melody Mauricio Kagel quoted the hymn paraphrased as Herzliebster Johann was hast du verbrochen in his oratorio Sankt Bach Passion telling Bach s life composed for the tricentenary of Bach s birth in 1985 Christian Furchtegott Gellert wrote his Passion hymn Herr starke mich dein Leiden zu bedenken Lord strengthen me to reflect on your suffering to the same melody first published in 1757 Translations editThe most common 7 English translation of this hymn was written by Robert Bridges in 1897 and begins with the first line Ah holy Jesus how hast thou offended 8 However several Lutheran hymnals use a translation written in 1863 by Catherine Winkworth which begins O dearest Jesus what law hast thou broken 9 An alternative translation in modern English from the Choral Niagara website 10 is also shown below for comparison Original German Bridges translation Herzliebster Jesu was hast du verbrochen Dass man ein solch scharf Urteil hat gesprochen Was ist die Schuld In was fur MissetatenBist du geraten Ah holy Jesus how hast Thou offended That man to judge Thee hath in hate pretended By foes derided by Thine own rejected O most afflicted Winkworth translation Choral Niagara translation O dearest Jesus what law hast Thou brokenThat such sharp sentence should on Thee be spoken Of what great crime hast Thou to make confession What dark transgression Beloved Jesus what have you done wrongthat they have pronounced so hard a sentence What is your guilt into what sort of misdeedshave you fallen References edit a b c Herzliebster Jesu was hast du verbrochen hymnary org Retrieved April 15 2014 The Hymnal 1982 Companion Zahn Johannes 1889 Die Melodien der deutschen evangelischen Kirchenlieder in German Vol I Gutersloh Bertelsmann pp 263 265 Herzliebster Jesu was hast du verbrochen JSBach org Retrieved February 10 2013 BWV2a 1998 p 475 Brahms Complete Works Catalogue Deutsche Grammophon Retrieved February 10 2013 Text Results Hymnary org Retrieved February 10 2013 Ah holy Jesus how hast thou offended Hymnary org Retrieved February 10 2013 Alas dear Lord what law then hast Thou broken Hymnary org Retrieved February 10 2013 Chorus Niagara Archived from the original on 2003 04 26 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Herzliebster Jesu amp oldid 1216132515, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
