| "Herr, unser Herr, wie bist du zugegen" | |
|---|---|
| Christian hymn | |
 Huub Oosterhuis in 1969 | |
| Written | 1965/1969 |
| Text | translating Huub Oosterhuis |
| Language | German |
| Meter | 10 9 10 8 |
| Melody | traditional Dutch |
| Published | 1975 |
"Herr, unser Herr, wie bist du zugegen" (Lord, our Lord, how present you are) is a Christian hymn with German text, translated in 1969 from a 1965 Dutch hymn by Huub Oosterhuis, "Heer, onze Heer". The song, of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied (NGL), appeared from 1975 in German hymnals.
In the 1960s Oosterhuis was a Catholic priest in Amsterdam in a parish of students. The group was interested in a renewal of the language in the liturgy, both sung and spoken. Inspired by the Second Vatican Council, their service was primarily a meeting of people, intending to serve and proclaim Biblical words. [1] Oosterhuis wrote the hymn text as "Heer, onze Heer" in 1965, [2] based on several biblical themes. [3] [4] He titled it "Lied van Gods aanwezigheid" (song of God's presence). [3] His songs are, like the psalms, "tentative approaches to answer questions of God and man" (tastende Versuche, die Frage nach Gott und dem Menschen zu beantworten). [3]
The melody is a traditional Dutch melody which Bernard Huijbers set. [3] The translation to German was made by Peter Pawlowsky and Nikolaus Greitemann in 1969. [2] The hymn was included in the first common German Catholic hymnal Gotteslob of 1975 as GL 298. [5] Intentions to ban his songs from the 2013 edition, because Oosterhuis and his parish had left the Catholic Church, were met with protests from German parishes, and five of his songs were retained. [1] "Herr, unser Herr, wie bist du zugegen" was included as GL 414, in the section "Leben in Gott – Vertrauen und Trost" (life in God – trust and solace). [2] It is also part of other songbooks, including ecumenical collections. [6]
Oosterhuis received an ecumenical German sermon prize in 2014 for his life's work, in recognition of the great influence of his hymns in German parishes. [1]
The text, in five stanzas of four lines each, is written in the first person plural ("we"), from the point of view of a group of singers, addressing God as "du" (you). It reflects the presence of God, who is experienced as unspeakably close but hidden at the same time. In the final stanza, God's presence is seen in all persons on Earth. He is requested to keep caring about them until an ultimate completion in him (bis wir in dir vollkommen sind). [3]
The melody is taken from a Dutch 16th century song about lovesickness Bedroefde herteken ("Afflicted hearts"). [7]
Hubertus Gerardus Josephus Henricus "Huub" Oosterhuis was a Dutch theologian and poet. He is mainly known for his contribution to Christian music and liturgy in Dutch and also in German, used in both Protestant and Roman Catholic churches. He authored over 60 books and over 700 hymns, songs, psalms, and prayers. Several of his songs were translated, and he received international awards and recognition.
"Gott sei gelobet und gebenedeiet" is a Lutheran hymn of 1524 with words written by Martin Luther who used an older first stanza and melody. It is a song of thanks after communion. Luther's version in three stanzas was printed in the Erfurt Enchiridion of 1524 and in Johann Walter's choral hymnal Eyn geystlich Gesangk Buchleyn the same year. Today, the song appears in German hymnals, including both the Protestant Evangelisches Gesangbuch, and in a different version in the Catholic Gotteslob.
Gotteslob is the title of the hymnbook authorized by the Catholic dioceses in Germany, Austria, South Tyrol, Luxembourg and Liège, Belgium. First published in Advent 2013, it is the current official hymnal for German-speaking Catholics, succeeding the first common German hymnal, the 1975 edition of the same name. Each diocese published a book containing a common section and a regional section. The first editions amounted to around 4 million copies.
"Herr, deine Güt ist unbegrenzt" is a Catholic hymn by Maria Luise Thurmair, based on Psalm 36 and set to a 1525 melody by Matthäus Greitner, the same as "O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß". The hymn in two stanzas of twelve lines was written in 1971. It appeared in the Catholic hymnal Gotteslob in 1975 as GL 289. In the current Gotteslob is GL 427, in the section "Vertrauen und Trost".
"Herr Jesu Christ, wahr Mensch und Gott" is a Lutheran hymn by Paul Eber. It is a hymn for the dying. One of the hymn's tunes, Zahn No. 423, is also used for "Wir danken dir, Herr Jesu Christ".
"Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr" is an early Lutheran hymn, with text and melody attributed to Nikolaus Decius. With the reformers intending church service in German, it was intended as a German version of the Gloria part of the Latin mass, used in almost every service. Decius wrote three stanzas, probably in 1523, while a fourth was added, probably by Joachim Slüter.
"Das Grab ist leer, der Held erwacht" is a Catholic hymn for Easter, first printed in 1777 in the hymnal Landshuter Gesangbuch published by Franz Seraph von Kohlbrenner. Keeping only the first of five stanzas, with additional two stanzas, it appeared in hymnals of the 19th century, and later in different versions in several regional sections of the Catholic hymnal Gotteslob. It is a frequently sung hymn in Easter services.
""Wahrer Gott, wir glauben dir" is a Catholic hymn. Christoph Bernhard Verspoell (1743–1818), a cleric from Münster, wrote text and melody, and published it in 1810 in his hymnal Orgelbegleitung zu den Gesängen beym Römisch-kathol. Gottesdienste. Herausgegeben von C. B. Verspoell. The song in two stanzas has remained in the repertory of church hymns, used mainly during Eastertide, but also for communion and funerals. It appears in several regional sections of the Catholic hymnal Gotteslob, as GL 770 in Cologne, as GL 780 in Limburg and Münster, and as GL 783 in Speyer, among others.
"Herr, dir ist nichts verborgen" is a Catholic hymn by Maria Luise Thurmair, based on Psalm 139 and set to a 1582 melody by Kaspar Ulenberg. The hymn in five stanzas of seven lines each was written in 1973. It appeared in the Catholic hymnal Gotteslob in 1975 as GL 292. In the current Gotteslob, it is GL 428, in the section "Vertrauen und Trost".
"Ik sta voor U in leegte en gemis" is a Christian hymn with Dutch text by Huub Oosterhuis. The melody was composed by Bernard Huijbers.
"Dein Lob, Herr, ruft der Himmel aus" is a German Catholic hymn. Adolf Lohmann adapted a 1659 hymn by the Jesuit astronomer Albert Curtz, who paraphrased Psalm 19. The melody appeared in Augsburg in 1669. It was No. 1 in the 1938 hymnal Kirchenlied and is part of the German Catholic hymnal Gotteslob as GL 381.
"Solang es Menschen gibt auf Erden" is a Christian hymn with German text by Dieter Trautwein, translating a 1969 Dutch hymn by Huub Oosterhuis, "Zolang er mensen zijn op aarde". The song, of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied (NGL), is part of German hymnals and songbooks.
"Mein Hirt ist Gott der Herr" is a Christian hymn with German text by Caspar Ulenberg who paraphrased Psalm 23 in 1582. Based on his melody, Johannes Hatzfeld wrote a melody in 1948.
"Wer unterm Schutz des Höchsten steht" is a Christian hymn in German. The anonymous text, paraphrasing Psalm 91, appeared first in 1972 in a Protestant hymnal, with a 1537 melody from Michael Vehe's hymnal. It is contained in the Catholic hymnal Gotteslob.
"Herr, du bist mein Leben" is a Christian hymn in German, the translation of an Italian hymn by Pierangelo Sequeri from 1977. The hymn of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied (NGL) appears in the 2013 hymnal Gotteslob, and in other songbooks. It is both a confession of faith and a song of encouragement.
"Hilf, Herr meines Lebens" is a Christian hymn, with a text mostly written in 1961 by Gustav Lohmann, and a melody composed the following year by Hans Puls. The song, of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied (NGL), is part of German hymnals, including Gotteslob, and songbooks. It begins: "Hilf, Herr meines Lebens, dass ich nicht vergebens hier auf Erden bin".
"Herr, gib uns Mut zum Hören" is a Christian hymn, with text and melody written in 1963 by Kurt Rommel. The song, of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied (NGL), is part of German hymnals, including Gotteslob, and of songbooks.
"Nahe wollt der Herr uns sein" is a Christian hymn with German text, translated in 1971 from a 1964 Dutch hymn by Huub Oosterhuis. Its refrain says that God is among people but not recognised. The song, of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied (NGL), appeared from 1975 in German hymnals, then in the common section of the Catholic Gotteslob. In the hymnal's second edition, it appeared only in regional sections.
"Herr, nimm auch uns zum Tabor mit" is a Christian hymn with text by Peter Gerloff, written in 2001, with a melody by Richard Mailänder. The song was included in the Catholic hymnal Gotteslob.
"Wie als een God wil leven" is a Christian hymn with Dutch text by Huub Oosterhuis. The older melody was composed by Edmond de Coussemaker in 1856. It has appeared in hymnals in Dutch and German.