Product Description
Tobias Clausnitzer (1619-1684) was a German Lutheran pastor and writer of theological treatises, sermons, and hymns. His best-known hymn, perhaps, is "Liebster Jesu wir sind bier," translated to English and published as "Blessed Jesus, at thy word" by the English hymn-writer and educator Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878) in her Lyra Germanica Hymns for the Sundays and Chief Festivals of the Christian Year, translated from the German (1858), and repeated in her Chorale Book for England (1863).
Winkworth was also translator for Clausnitzer's "Wir glauben all an einen Gott, Yater, Sohn und heilgen Geist" ("We all believe in one true God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost"), a metrical paraphrase of the Apostles Creed designated for Trinity Sunday in the Culmbach-Bayreuth Gesang-Buch (1668). Winkworth also included this in her Chorale Book for England.
This new musical setting, mostly in unison and briefly expanding to three-part harmony at the peak of each verse, is very singable by small and developing choirs composed of soprano, alto, and baritone/bass voices. The accompaniment, with sustained tones, is best realized on organ.
The opening phrase, "We all believe in one true God," may be sung by a solo male voice, similar to the opening intonation of a chanted canticle or psalm. Dynamic contrasts (crescendi and decrescendi) throughout follow the rising and falling of the melodic line and should be carefully observed.
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