Part 6 (1/2)

Father--not more old than thou?

Mother--younger, can it be?

Older, younger is the Son, Younger, older, she than he.”{27}

Even in dour Scotland, with its hatred of religious festivals, some kind of carolling survived here and there among Highland folk, and a remarkable and very ”Celtic” Christmas song has been translated from the Gaelic by Mr. J. A. Campbell. It begins:--

”Sing hey the Gift, sing ho the Gift, Sing hey the Gift of the Living, Son of the Dawn, Son of the Star, Son of the Planet, Son of the Far [twice], Sing hey the Gift, sing ho the Gift.”{28}

[Ill.u.s.tration:

THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT: THE REST BY THE WAY

MASTER OF THE SEVEN SORROWS OF MARY (ALSO ATTRIBUTED TO JOACHIM PATINIR)

(_Vienna: Imperial Gallery_)]

[Ill.u.s.tration:

SINGING ”VOM HIMMEL HOCH” FROM A CHURCH TOWER AT CHRISTMAS.

_By Ludwig Richter._]

Before I close this study with a survey of Christmas poetry in England after the Reformation, it may be interesting to follow the developments in Protestant Germany. The Reformation gave a great impetus to German religious song, and we owe to it some of the finest of Christmas hymns.

It is no doubt largely due to Luther, that pa.s.sionate lover of music and folk-poetry, that hymns have practically become the liturgy of German Protestantism; yet he did but give typical expression to the natural instincts of his countrymen for song. Luther, though a rebel, was no Puritan; we can hardly call him an iconoclast; he had a conservative mind, which only gradually became loosened from its old attachments. His was an essentially artistic nature: ”I would fain,” he said, ”see all arts, especially music, in the service of Him who has given and created them,” and in the matter of hymnody he continued, in many respects, the mediaeval German tradition. Homely, kindly, a lover of children, he had a deep feeling for the festival of Christmas; and not only did he translate into German ”A solis ortus cardine” and ”Veni, redemptor

71

gentium,”

but he wrote for his little son Hans one of the most delightful and touching of all Christmas hymns--”Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her.”

”Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her, Ich bring euch gute neue Mar, Der guten Mar bring ich so viel, Davon ich singen und sagen will.

Euch ist ein Kindlein heut gebor'n Von einer Jungfrau auserkor'n, Ein Kindelein so zart und fein, Das soll eu'r Freud und Wonne sein.

Merk auf, mein Herz, und sich dort hin: Was liegt doch in dem Kripplein drin?

Wess ist das schone Kindelein?

Es ist das liebe Jesulein.

Ach Herr, du Schopfer aller Ding, Wie bist du worden so gering, Da.s.s du da liegst auf durrem Gras, Davon ein Rind und Esel a.s.s?

Ach, mein herzliebes Jesulein, Mach dir ein rein sanft Bettelein, Zu ruhen in mein's Herzens Schrein, Da.s.s ich nimmer vergesse dein.

Davon ich allzeit frohlich sei, Zu springen, singen immer frei Das rechte Lied dem Gottessohn Mit Herzensl.u.s.t, den sussen Ton.”[29]{29}

72

”Vom Himmel hoch” has qualities of simplicity, directness, and warm human feeling which link it to the less ornate forms of carol literature. Its first verse is adapted from a secular song; its melody may, perhaps, have been composed by Luther himself. There is another Christmas hymn of Luther's, too--”Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schar”--written for use when ”Vom Himmel hoch” was thought too long, and he also composed additional verses for the mediaeval ”Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ.”

”Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, Da.s.s du Mensch geboren bist Von einer Jungfrau, das ist wahr, Des freuet sich der Engel Schar.

_Kyrieleis!_

Des ew'gen Vaters einig Kind Jetzt man in der Krippe find't, In unser armes Fleisch und Blut Verkleidet sich das ewig Gut.

_Kyrieleis!_