Posted by Angelika Davey on Saturday, December 24, 2011,
In :
Sing in German
German Advent Calendar Day 24
O du fröhliche
'O du fröhliche' is a German Christmas Carol from the 19th century. It is the final hymn in all protestant churches on Christmas Eve, usually sung while all the bells are ringing.
O du fröhliche, o du selige, gnadenbringende Weihnachtszeit! Welt ging verloren, Christ ist geboren: Freue, freue dich, o Christenheit!
O du fröhliche, o du selige, gnadenbringende Weihnachtszeit! Christ ist erschienen, uns zu versühnen: Freue, freue dich, o Christenheit!
Posted by Angelika Davey on Friday, December 23, 2011,
In :
Sing in German
German Advent Calendar Day 23
Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann
'Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann' (Tomorrow Father Christmas comes) is a German Christmas Carol written originally by Hoffmann von Fallersleben around 1840. Later two of the verses were changed as the original ones mentioned war toys.
This is the newer version:
Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann, kommt mit seinen Gaben. Bunte Lichter, Silberzier, Kind und Krippe, Schaf und Stier, Zottelbär und Pantertier möcht’ ich gerne haben!
Posted by Angelika Davey on Thursday, December 22, 2011,
In :
Sing in German
German Advent Calendar Day 22
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht
'Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht' is possibly the most famous Christmas Carol in the world. Written by headteacher Franz Gruber and turned into music by priest Joseph Mohr on the 24th December 1818 because a flood had made the organ of the Nikolaus church in Oberndorf, Austria, unusable. They wanted a carol that could be sung with a guitar instead and it was a great success. The man who then repaired the organ, heard the melody and liked it...
Posted by Angelika Davey on Wednesday, December 21, 2011,
In :
Sing in German
German Advent Calendar Day 21 Es ist für uns eine Zeit angekommen
Originally a Swiss song from the 19th century, this version is a new German text from 1939 which finally became more popular than the original.
Es ist für uns eine Zeit angekommen, die bringt uns eine große Freud. Es ist für uns eine Zeit angekommen, die bringt uns eine große Freud. Übers schneebedeckte Feld, wandern wir, wandern wir, durch die weite, weiße Welt.
Es schlafen Bächlein und Seen unterm Eise, es träumt der Wald e...
Posted by Angelika Davey on Sunday, December 18, 2011,
In :
Sing in German
German Advent Calendar Day 18
Morgen, Kinder, wird's was geben
'Morgen, Kinder, wird's was geben' is a popular Christmas Carol but it is not a church hymn. It was written by Karl Friedrich Splittegarb in 1795 and the text is about the excitement of the children as they are waiting for their presents.
Posted by Angelika Davey on Saturday, December 17, 2011,
In :
Sing in German
German Advent Calendar Day 17 Hört der Engel helle Lieder
'Hört der Engel helle Lieder' is also known as 'Gloria in excelsis Deo'. The 18th French tune has been given a German text in 1954 by composer Otto Abel.
Posted by Angelika Davey on Friday, December 16, 2011,
In :
Sing in German
German Advent Calendar Day 16
In Dulci Jubilo
'In Dulci Jubilo' is a Latin Christmas Carol from the 14th century and there are two versions. In Catholic churches the hymn is sung in German and Latin, whereas in Protestant churches the text is only in German.
On YouTube I could only find the German-Latin version, so here is the text:
Posted by Angelika Davey on Thursday, December 15, 2011,
In :
Sing in German
German Advent Calendar Day 15
Joseph, lieber Joseph mein
'Joseph, lieber Joseph mein' (Joseph, dearest Joseph mine) is a 14th century German Christmas Carol, printed for the first time in 1544.
Joseph, lieber Joseph mein, Hilf mir wiegen mein Kindelein! Gott, der wird dein Lohner sein Im Himmelreich der Jungfrau Sohn Maria. Gerne, liebe Maria mein Helf ich dir wiegen dein Kindelein! Gott, der wird mein Lohner sein Im Himmelreich der Jungfrau Sohn Maria.
Posted by Angelika Davey on Tuesday, December 13, 2011,
In :
Sing in German
German Advent Calendar Day 13
Ihr Kinderlein, kommet
'Ihr KInderlein, kommet' (Oh come, little children), another German Christmas Carol, is from the 18th century. The text was written by Christoph von Schmid in 1798 and the music is from Johann Abraham Peter Schulz (1794)
Ihr Kinderlein, kommet, o kommet doch all! Zur Krippe her kommet in Bethlehems Stall und seht, was in dieser hochheiligen Nacht der Vater im Himmel für Freude uns macht!
O seht in der Krippe im nächtlichen Stall, seht hier bei d...
Posted by Angelika Davey on Monday, December 12, 2011,
In :
Sing in German
German Advent Calendar Day 12
Herbei, O ihr Gläubigen
This is another German Christmas Carol that you should know, as it's also an English Christmas Carol. The English carol 'Oh come, all ye faithful' was written in 1841 by Frederick Oakley, whereas the German version was written by Friedrich Heinrich Ranke in 1823.
Posted by Angelika Davey on Sunday, December 11, 2011,
In :
Sing in German
German Advent Calendar Day 11
Tochter Zion, freue dich
'Tochter Zion' (composer Georg Friedrich Händel 1685 - 1759) is my all-time favourite hymn and I feel really lucky because I can sing the German text, which is a Christmas Carol and also the English version, which is an Easter hymn (Thyne be the Glory).
The German text is based on Zechariah 9, verse 9 "Rejoice, rejoice, people of Zion! Shout for joy, you people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you! He comes triumphant and victorio...
Posted by Angelika Davey on Saturday, December 10, 2011,
In :
Sing in German
German Advent Calendar Day 10
O Tannenbaum
'O Tannenbaum' is probably one German Christmas Carol that you all know as it is also sung in English (Oh Christmas Tree). 'Eine Tanne' is a fir tree and as it's used as a Christmas tree the Germans often call their Christmas tree Tannenbaum. The other two words are 'Weihnachtsbaum' or 'Christbaum'. The melody is a traditional tune from the 18th century and the 1st verse was written by August Zarnack in 1820. Verses two and three were written by Erns...
Posted by Angelika Davey on Friday, December 9, 2011,
In :
Sing in German
German Advent Calendar Day 9
Am Weihnachtsbaum die Lichter brennen
'Am Weihnachtsbaum die Lichter brennen' (On the Christmas tree the lights are burning) is another traditional Christmas Carol written by Hermann Kletke in 1841.
Posted by Angelika Davey on Tuesday, December 6, 2011,
In :
Sing in German
German Advent Calendar Day 6
Lieb Nachtigall, wach auf
'Lieb Nachtigall, wach auf' (dear nightingale, wake up) is a traditional Christmas carol from 1670.
Lieb' Nachtigall, wach auf Wach auf, du schönes Vögelein Auf jenem grünen Zweigelein Wach hurtig ohn' Verschnauf! Dem Kindelein auserkoren Heut' geboren, fast erfroren Sing, sing, sing dem zarten Jesulein!
Flieg her zum Krippelein Flieg her, geliebtes Schwesterlein Blas an dem feinen Psalterlein Sing, Nachtigall, gar fein. Dem Kindelein mus...
Posted by Angelika Davey on Saturday, December 3, 2011,
In :
Sing in German
German Advent Calendar Day 3
Macht hoch die Tür
This is a hymn from the 17th century. Written by the Prussian vicar Georg Weissel, the hymn is losely based on Psalm 24 "Machet die Tore weit und die Türen in der Welt hoch, dass der König der Ehren einziehe!“ ("Fling wide the gates, open the ancient doors, and the great king will come in." Good News Bible)
It is also the first hymn in the protestant hymn book and a favourite hymn for Advent.
I found a version on Youtube with the lyrics, hope y...
Posted by Angelika Davey on Friday, December 2, 2011,
In :
Sing in German
Advent calendar day 2
Kling Glöckchen klingelingeling
Kling Glöckchen, klingelingeling (Ring, little bell, ringalingaling) is a German Chrismas Carol from the 19th century. The tune is traditional and the lyrics are from Karl Enslin (1814 - 1875).
Posted by Angelika Davey on Thursday, December 1, 2011,
In :
Sing in German
Here it is, as promised, this year's Advent calendar - one German Christmas carol / hymn per day:
The first one is "Es kommt ein Schiff geladen". This is not a Christmas Carol but a song for Advent. The hymn has been published by Daniel Sudermanns in 1626 and describes the pregnant Mary with a heavily laden boat, carrying God's son, a precious load.
Nikki Pilkington's blogging ebook has been very helpful to me. Check out what other books you can buy from her by clicking on the '30 Day Blogging Challenge' book.
