"Mitten wir im Leben sind mit dem Tod umfangen" ("In the Midst of Life we are in Death") is a Lutheran hymn, with words written by Martin Luther based on the Latinantiphon "Media vita in morte sumus". The hymn in three stanzas was first published in 1524. The hymn inspired composers from the Renaissance to contemporary to write chorale preludes and vocal compositions. Catherine Winkworth translated Luther's song to English in 1862. It has appeared in hymnals of various denominations.
The Latinantiphon "Media vita in morte sumus" dates back to the 11th century. A German version appeared in Salzburg in 1456. Martin Luther added in 1524 two stanzas following the same scheme. The hymn appeared first that year in Eyn geystlich Gesangk Buchleyn, (booklet of spiritual song), collected by Johann Walter with a melody that Walter adapted from the antiphon.[1] The same year it appeared also in Eyn Enchiridion in Erfurt, titled "Der Lobsanck / Mitten wir ym leben synd." (The song of praise /).
Catherine Winkworth translated Luthers hymn to English in 1862, titled "In the Midst of Life".[2] A translation titled "In the Very Midst of Life" appeared in 1941 in The Lutheran Hymnal.[3] It has appeared in hymnals of various denominations. The song is part of the Protestant hymnal Evangelisches Gesangbuch as EG 518.[4] The first stanza is included in the Catholic hymnal Gotteslob as GL 503.[5] As of 2023, an English translation entitled "In the Midst of Earthly Life" was included in the Wisconsin Synod hymnal.[6]
Textedit
The Latin text has ten lines of different length, with irregular meter.[2] Lines 7 to 9 are reminiscent of the Trisagion, "Sanctus deus, Sanctus fortis, Sanctus immortalis, miserere nobis" (Holy God, Holy Strong One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us).[4]
When Luther added two stanzas, he kept the structure, rendering the final request for mercy in each stanza as the Greek "Kyrieleis". From stanza to stanza, a line explains the respective line in the previous stanza, leading from death in the midst of life to hell in the midst of death, in the third stanza to sin as the reason for fear of hell.[2][7] Biblical sources for Luther's stanzas are Romans 14:7–8, 1 Corinthians 1:9–10 and 1 Corinthians 15:53–54.[3]
The lyrics are given in today's form, with the Latin original corresponding to the first stanza:
German
Latin
(1) Mitten wir im Leben sind mit dem Tod umfangen. Wer ist, der uns Hilfe bringt,[8] dass wir Gnad erlangen? Das bist du, Herr, alleine. Uns reuet unsre Missetat, die dich, Herr, erzürnet hat.
Heiliger Herre Gott, heiliger starker Gott, heiliger barmherziger Heiland, du ewiger Gott: lass uns nicht versinken in des bittern Todes Not. Kyrie eleison.
Media vita In morte sumus. Quem quærimus adiutorem
Nisi te, Domine, Qui pro peccatis nostris Iuste irasceris.
Sancte Deus, Sancte fortis, Sancte et misericors Salvator:
Amaræ morti ne tradas nos!
(2) Mitten in dem Tod anficht uns der Hölle Rachen. Wer will uns aus solcher Not frei und ledig machen? Das tust du, Herr, alleine. Es jammert dein Barmherzigkeit unsre Klag und großes Leid.
Heiliger Herre Gott, heiliger starker Gott, heiliger barmherziger Heiland, du ewiger Gott: lass uns nicht verzagen vor der tiefen Hölle Glut. Kyrie eleison.
(3) Mitten in der Hölle Angst unsre Sünd’ uns treiben. Wo solln wir denn fliehen hin, da wir mögen bleiben? Zu dir, Herr Christ, alleine. Vergossen ist dein teures Blut, das g’nug für die Sünde tut.
Heiliger Herre Gott, heiliger starker Gott, heiliger barmherziger Heiland, du ewiger Gott: lass uns nicht entfallen von des rechten Glaubens Trost. Kyrie eleison.
Melody and settingedit
The melody printed in the Wittenberg is based on the earlier one, adapted by Johann Walter.[4]
J. S. Bach composed a four-part chorale harmonization, BWV 383.
^"Mitten wir im Leben sind, Op. 23, No. 3 (Felix Mendelssohn)". CPDL. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
^""Mitten wir im Leben sind", op. 23,4" (in German). Villa Musica. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
^Schneider, Enjott. ""Media vita – Mitten wir im Leben sind" für Orgel und Percussion (2015)" (in German). Enjott Schneider. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
mitten, leben, sind, 1830, motet, felix, mendelssohn, mendelssohn, umfangen, midst, life, death, lutheran, hymn, with, words, written, martin, luther, based, latin, antiphon, media, vita, morte, sumus, hymn, three, stanzas, first, published, 1524, hymn, inspir. For the 1830 motet by Felix Mendelssohn see Mitten wir im Leben sind Mendelssohn Mitten wir im Leben sind mit dem Tod umfangen In the Midst of Life we are in Death is a Lutheran hymn with words written by Martin Luther based on the Latin antiphon Media vita in morte sumus The hymn in three stanzas was first published in 1524 The hymn inspired composers from the Renaissance to contemporary to write chorale preludes and vocal compositions Catherine Winkworth translated Luther s song to English in 1862 It has appeared in hymnals of various denominations Mitten wir im Leben sind Hymn by Martin LutherLuther s hymn in three stanzas in the Erfurt Enchiridion 1524 EnglishIn the Midst of Life we are in DeathTextby Martin LutherLanguageGermanBased on Media vita in morte sumus Published1524 1524 EG 518 Contents 1 History 2 Text 3 Melody and setting 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editThe Latin antiphon Media vita in morte sumus dates back to the 11th century A German version appeared in Salzburg in 1456 Martin Luther added in 1524 two stanzas following the same scheme The hymn appeared first that year in Eyn geystlich Gesangk Buchleyn booklet of spiritual song collected by Johann Walter with a melody that Walter adapted from the antiphon 1 The same year it appeared also in Eyn Enchiridion in Erfurt titled Der Lobsanck Mitten wir ym leben synd The song of praise Catherine Winkworth translated Luthers hymn to English in 1862 titled In the Midst of Life 2 A translation titled In the Very Midst of Life appeared in 1941 in The Lutheran Hymnal 3 It has appeared in hymnals of various denominations The song is part of the Protestant hymnal Evangelisches Gesangbuch as EG 518 4 The first stanza is included in the Catholic hymnal Gotteslob as GL 503 5 As of 2023 an English translation entitled In the Midst of Earthly Life was included in the Wisconsin Synod hymnal 6 Text editThe Latin text has ten lines of different length with irregular meter 2 Lines 7 to 9 are reminiscent of the Trisagion Sanctus deus Sanctus fortis Sanctus immortalis miserere nobis Holy God Holy Strong One Holy Immortal One have mercy on us 4 When Luther added two stanzas he kept the structure rendering the final request for mercy in each stanza as the Greek Kyrieleis From stanza to stanza a line explains the respective line in the previous stanza leading from death in the midst of life to hell in the midst of death in the third stanza to sin as the reason for fear of hell 2 7 Biblical sources for Luther s stanzas are Romans 14 7 8 1 Corinthians 1 9 10 and 1 Corinthians 15 53 54 3 nbsp Martin Luther the author of two stanzas portrayed by Lucas Cranach 1525 The lyrics are given in today s form with the Latin original corresponding to the first stanza German Latin 1 Mitten wir im Leben sind mit dem Tod umfangen Wer ist der uns Hilfe bringt 8 dass wir Gnad erlangen Das bist du Herr alleine Uns reuet unsre Missetat die dich Herr erzurnet hat Heiliger Herre Gott heiliger starker Gott heiliger barmherziger Heiland du ewiger Gott lass uns nicht versinken in des bittern Todes Not Kyrie eleison Media vita In morte sumus Quem quaerimus adiutorem Nisi te Domine Qui pro peccatis nostris Iuste irasceris Sancte Deus Sancte fortis Sancte et misericors Salvator Amarae morti ne tradas nos 2 Mitten in dem Tod anficht uns der Holle Rachen Wer will uns aus solcher Not frei und ledig machen Das tust du Herr alleine Es jammert dein Barmherzigkeit unsre Klag und grosses Leid Heiliger Herre Gott heiliger starker Gott heiliger barmherziger Heiland du ewiger Gott lass uns nicht verzagen vor der tiefen Holle Glut Kyrie eleison 3 Mitten in der Holle Angst unsre Sund uns treiben Wo solln wir denn fliehen hin da wir mogen bleiben Zu dir Herr Christ alleine Vergossen ist dein teures Blut das g nug fur die Sunde tut Heiliger Herre Gott heiliger starker Gott heiliger barmherziger Heiland du ewiger Gott lass uns nicht entfallen von des rechten Glaubens Trost Kyrie eleison Melody and setting editThe melody printed in the Wittenberg is based on the earlier one adapted by Johann Walter 4 J S Bach composed a four part chorale harmonization BWV 383 Felix Mendelssohn composed an SSAATTBB motet a cappella as the third part of his Kirchenmusik Op 23 9 10 Enjott Schneider wrote in 2015 a piece for organ and percussion called Media vita Mitten wir im Leben sind 11 See also editList of hymns by Martin LutherReferences edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mitten wir im Leben sind mit dem Tod umfangen nbsp German Wikisource has original text related to this article Mytten wir ym leben synd nbsp German Wikisource has original text related to this article Mitten wir im Leben sind mit dem Tod umfangen 33 Mitten wir im Leben sind PDF Luther Gesellschaft Retrieved 19 November 2014 a b c Media vita in morte sumus CPDL Retrieved 19 November 2014 a b In the Very Midst of Life hymnary org Retrieved 19 November 2014 a b c Schulz Frieder 2003 185 4 Agios o Theos Liederkunde zum Evangelischen Gesangbuch in German Vandenhoeck amp Ruprecht pp 63 84 ISBN 9783525503300 Dreisbach Gunther Lieder Martin Luthers in German Gunther Dreisbach Archived from the original on 13 January 2017 Retrieved 12 January 2017 In the Midst of Earthly Life hymnary org Retrieved 28 June 2023 Mitten wir im Leben sind hymnary org Retrieved 19 November 2014 Luther Wen suchen wir der Hilfe tu Mitten wir im Leben sind Op 23 No 3 Felix Mendelssohn CPDL Retrieved 26 November 2014 Mitten wir im Leben sind op 23 4 in German Villa Musica Retrieved 26 November 2014 Schneider Enjott Media vita Mitten wir im Leben sind fur Orgel und Percussion 2015 in German Enjott Schneider Retrieved 26 November 2016 External links editKirchenmusik Op 23 Mendelssohn Felix Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mitten wir im Leben sind amp oldid 1206469169, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
