Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier (Präludium)

The tune written by Martin Luther in 1523 is known as either "Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g'mein", or "Es ist gewißlich an der Zeit". Its use for this reflective Christmas text by Paul Gerhardt comes from J.S.Bach's setting in part 6 of the Weihnachtsoratorium BWV 248, a favourite of my wife, for whom I wrote this piece as a Christmas present.

You may know that this tune has many historical variants, particularly for the third phrase which can go in a few quite different directions. I chose to use the version of the melody found in the modern Gesangbuch ("Es ist gewißlich an der Zeit"), except that I changed the pickup note to the penultimate phrase to match the majority of older versions.

Frohes Fest!

(written 23.Dez.2018)

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Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier,
o Jesu, du mein Leben;
ich komme, bring und schenke dir,
was du mir hast gegeben.
Nimm hin, es ist mein Geist und Sinn,
Herz, Seel und Mut, nimm alles hin,
und laß dir’s wohlgefallen.

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Here is my attempted (non-poetical) English translation:

Here I stand by your crib,
Oh Jesus, my life;
I come here, bring and give to you,
what you gave to me.
Take it, it is my spirit and purpose,
Heart, soul and courage, take it all,
and let it be a delight to you.

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To me the meaning of the text seems clear: the gift we have been given, our life, is what we can also give. What a great message of love and hope for the world.

A sermon on this text (in German): https://www.ekd.de/070107_huber_paul_gerhardt.htm