24
October 1648 A.D. Peace of
Westphalia Signed—Rev. Martin Rinkart & “Now Thank We All Our God.”
King's College
Choir Cambridge: Now Thank We All Our God
Published on Jul
28, 2012
Martin Rinkart: Now thank we all our God / Nun danket alle Gott
Martin Rinkart (1586-1649) was a Lutheran minister in Eilenburg, Saxony. During the Thirty Years' War (1618--1648), the walled city of Eilenburg saw a steady stream of refugees pour through its gates. Eight hundred of the 1000 homes in the city were destroyed by passing armies. Famine and plague were rampant. During the year 1638 eight thousand people died, including the pastor's wife. There was a tremendous strain on the pastors who had to conduct dozens of funerals daily. Finally, the pastors, too, died, and Rinkart was the only one left - doing 40 - 50 funerals a day. When the Swedes demanded a huge ransom, Rinkart left the safety of the walls to plead for mercy. The Swedish commander, impressed by his faith and courage, lowered his demands. Soon afterward, the war ended, and Rinkart wrote this hymn (based on Ecclesiasticus 50:22-24) for a service of thanksgiving for the end of the war. It is a testament to his enduring faith that after such misery he was able to write a hymn of abiding trust and gratitude that is still known and sung in many languages by Christians all over the world.
Martin Rinkart (1586-1649) was a Lutheran minister in Eilenburg, Saxony. During the Thirty Years' War (1618--1648), the walled city of Eilenburg saw a steady stream of refugees pour through its gates. Eight hundred of the 1000 homes in the city were destroyed by passing armies. Famine and plague were rampant. During the year 1638 eight thousand people died, including the pastor's wife. There was a tremendous strain on the pastors who had to conduct dozens of funerals daily. Finally, the pastors, too, died, and Rinkart was the only one left - doing 40 - 50 funerals a day. When the Swedes demanded a huge ransom, Rinkart left the safety of the walls to plead for mercy. The Swedish commander, impressed by his faith and courage, lowered his demands. Soon afterward, the war ended, and Rinkart wrote this hymn (based on Ecclesiasticus 50:22-24) for a service of thanksgiving for the end of the war. It is a testament to his enduring faith that after such misery he was able to write a hymn of abiding trust and gratitude that is still known and sung in many languages by Christians all over the world.
(The text of the modern German version follows the English translation)
**********************************
Now thank we all our God
1. Now thank we all our God,
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom this world rejoices;
who from our mothers' arms
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.
2. O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us;
and keep us still in grace,
and guide us when perplexed;
and free us from all ills,
in this world and the next.
3. All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given;
the Son, and him who reigns
with them in highest heaven;
the one eternal God,
whom earth and heaven adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.
**********************************
Nun danket alle Gott
1. Nun danket alle Gott
Mit Herzen, Mund und Händen,
Der große Dinge tut
An uns und allen Enden,
Der uns von Mutterleib
Und Kindesbeinen an
Unzählig viel zu gut
Bis hier her hat getan.
2. Der ewig reiche Gott
Woll uns bei unsrem Leben
Ein immer fröhlich Herz
Und edlen Frieden geben,
Und uns in seiner Gnad,
Erhalten fort und fort
Und uns aus aller Not
Erlösen hier und dort.
3. Lob, Ehr und Preis sei Gott,
Dem Vater und dem Sohne
Und dem, der beiden gleich
Im höchsten Himmelsthrone,
Dem einig höchsten Gott,
Als er anfänglich war
Und ist und bleiben wird
Jetzt und immerdar.
Also, from the Cyber Hymnal:
|
Words: Martin Rinkart,
circa
1636 (Nun danket alle Gott); first appeared in Praxis Pietatis Melica, by
Johann Crüger (Berlin, Germany: 1647); translated from German to English
by Catherine Winkworth,
1856.
Music: Nun Danket, attributed
to Johann Crüger,
1647; harmony by Felix
Mendelssohn, 1840 (MIDI, score).
Though the tune is found Crüger’s Praxis
Pietatis Melica, and is attributed to Crüger, Catherine
Winkworth believed Martin Rinkart wrote the tune in 1644.
|
Johann Crüger (1598-1662)
|
Martin Rinkart, a Lutheran minister, was in Eilenburg,
Saxony, during the Thirty Years’ War. The walled city of Eilenburg saw a
steady stream of refugees pour through its gates. The Swedish army surrounded
the city, and famine and plague were rampant. Eight hundred homes were destroyed,
and the people began to perish. There was a tremendous strain on the pastors
who had to conduct dozens of funerals daily. Finally, the pastors, too,
succumbed, and Rinkart was the only one left—doing 50 funerals a day. When
the Swedes demanded a huge ransom, Rinkart left the safety of the walls to
plead for mercy. The Swedish commander, impressed by his faith and courage,
lowered his demands. Soon afterward, the Thirty Years’ War ended, and
Rinkart wrote this hymn for a grand celebration service. It is a testament
to his faith that, after such misery, he was able to write a hymn of abiding
trust and gratitude toward God.
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessèd peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And free us from all ills, in this world and the next!
With ever joyful hearts and blessèd peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And free us from all ills, in this world and the next!
All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given;
The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, whom earth and Heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.
The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, whom earth and Heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.
Lincoln Minster
School Choir - Now thank we all our God (Crüger)
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