Seht, er lebt

Last updated
"Seht, er lebt"
Christian Easter hymn
LotharZenetti1978.jpg
Lothar Zenetti in his parish church St. Wendel, Frankfurt, in 1978
EnglishLook, he lives
Written1973 (1973)
Text Lothar Zenetti
LanguageGerman
MelodyIsraeli
Published1975 (1975)

"Seht, er lebt" (Look, he lives) is a Christian poem written by the Catholic priest Lothar Zenetti in 1973. With an Israeli melody, it became an Easter hymn in the Neues Geistliches Lied (NGL) genre, first published in 1975. In the 2013 Catholic hymnal Gotteslob , it appears as GL 781 in the regional section for the Diocese of Limburg.

Contents

History

Zenetti wrote the text in 1973. [1] The poem appeared in the collection Sieben Farben hat das Licht, by J. Pfeiffer in Munich. [2] With a traditional melody from Israel, it was included in the German Catholic hymnal Gotteslob of 1975 in the regional section for the Diocese of Limburg as GL 835. [3] In the 2013 edition it is GL 781 in the section for Easter, [1] as a new Easter hymn. [3] : 148–149 

Text and melody

Zenetti created a refrain and four stanzas, both of four lines each, to a popular melody from Israel [4] which is also used for the earlier song "Kommt herbei, singt dem Herrn" by Diethard Zils (GL 140), a paraphrase of Psalm 95. While Zils repeated his lines when the music repeats, [4] : 107–108  Zenetti wrote consecutive text in both refrain and stanzas. [5]

The refrain begins and ends the song, calling to look: [3] : 155 

Seht, er lebt


Full of exclamation marks, the lines refer to Jesus, who rose on the third day and "stands among us". [3] : 155  A comparison of 15 new Easter hymns shows that two-thirds of them include a statement about the living Jesus, and all of them mention implications for the singers in the present and their reaction. [3] : 149 

The first stanza begins "Kommt durch die verschlossnen Türen" (Comes through the locked doors), [3] : 155  alluding to post-resurrection appearances of Jesus and stressing that Jesus says now as back then: "Habt keine Angst." (Do not be afraid.) and "Friede sei mit euch." (Peace be with you.) [5] The second stanza begins "Und wir hören seine Worte" (And we listen to his words), [3] : 155  referring to the two disciples walking to Emmaus, for whom he broke the bread. [5] The third stanza begins "Keiner lebt nur für sich selber" (Nobody lives only for himself), presenting the idea that believers ("we") live and die belonging to the Lord. [5] The final stanza begins "Er ist bei uns alle Tage" (He is with us always), recalling the promise at the ascension, according to Matthew28:20. [5]

The song was set for four-part choir by Jürgen Theis, published by Butz. [6] Kurt Grahl composed a setting for four-part choir, trumpet and strings or keyboard instrument. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gott sei gelobet und gebenedeiet</span> Lutheran hynm composed by Martin Luther

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lothar Zenetti</span> German Catholic theologian and writer (1926–2019)

Lothar Zenetti was a German Catholic theologian, priest, and author of books and poetry. In Frankfurt, he was both a minister for young people and a parish priest. He was also active on radio and television. His songs, for example the popular "Das Weizenkorn muss sterben" and "Segne dieses Kind", appear in both Protestant and Catholic hymnals.

"Herr, segne uns" is a poem in three stanzas by Lothar Zenetti, written in 1971. With a 1972 melody by Karl Fink, it became a Christian hymn of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied (NGL), appearing in German hymnals. It is usually sung at the end of a service before the blessing. The full title is "Herr, segne uns, lass uns dir dankbar sein".

"Den Herren will ich loben" is a Christian hymn by Maria Luise Thurmair, based on the Magnificat and set to a 1613 melody by Melchior Teschner, which was used for "Valet will ich dir geben". The hymn in three stanzas of eight lines was first written in 1954, and revised in 1971. It appeared in the Catholic hymnal Gotteslob in 1975, and in the current Gotteslob, but also in a German Protestant hymnal. A general song of praise, it has been set to music several times.

"Sag ja zu mir, wenn alles nein sagt" is Christian hymn, with lyrics written by Diethard Zils in 1971, and music by made a hymn of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied with a melody by Ignace de Sutter. It is a penitential song, which appeared in the Catholic hymnal Gotteslob of 1975. In the 2013 version, it appears only in regional sections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Das Grab ist leer, der Held erwacht</span>

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wahrer Gott, wir glauben dir</span>

""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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Das Weizenkorn muss sterben</span>

"Das Weizenkorn muss sterben" is a poem by Lothar Zenetti, based on The Grain of Wheat. With a 1972 melody by Johann Lauermann, it became a Christian hymn of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied (NGL), appearing from 1975 in German hymnals. It is popular, and is regarded as Zenetti's signature work.

"Christus ist erstanden! O tönt" is a Catholic hymn for Easter. It was written as a paraphrase of the Easter sequence Victimae paschali laudes, and appeared in 1816 by Johann Weinzierl. A melody was composed by Paul Schniebel in 1826. The first of six stanzas begins: Christus ist erstanden! O tönt, ihr Jubellieder, tönt!. The hymn is similar to Schubert's Deutsche Messe in its idea to provide singable hymns in German for the congregational.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gott, der du warst und bist und bleibst</span> Catholic hymn (2009); in German Catholic hymnal

"Gott, der du warst und bist und bleibst" is a Christian hymn with text by Eugen Eckert and a melody by Herbert Heine. It is also known by the title of its refrain, "Wir haben hier keine bleibende Stadt". The song was written in 1993, in the genre Neues Geistliches Lied (NGL). It appears in several regional sections of the German Catholic hymnal Gotteslob, and in other songbooks.

"O Licht der wunderbaren Nacht" is a Christian Easter hymn by Georg Thurmair written in 1963. It was part of the German Catholic hymnal Gotteslob of 1975 as GL 208, with a melody from the 14th century. It is part of the second edition of the Gotteslob as GL 334, also of regional sections of the Protestant hymnal Evangelisches Gesangbuch.

"Einer ist unser Leben" is a poem in five stanzas, written by Lothar Zenetti in 1973. It became a Christian hymn of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied (NGL) with a 1971 melody by Jean Liesse. The song is part of many hymnals, both Catholic and Protestant, and of songbooks, remaining popular in the 21st century.

"Der am Kreuz ist meine Liebe" is the beginning of Passion hymns in German. One version was written by Johann Mentzer as a translation of the Latin "Amor meus crucifixus est", attributed to Ignatius of Loyola, to the melody of "Werde munter, mein Gemüte". A famous version was written by Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock, in six stanzas, and first published in 1758. It was associated with the melody used first for "Freue dich, du meine Seele".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seht, der Stein ist weggerückt</span> German Catholic poem and hymn

"Seht, der Stein ist weggerückt" is an Easter hymn in German with text written by the Catholic priest Lothar Zenetti in 1971. With a 2011 melody by Josef Oestemer, it became a Neues Geistliches Lied (NGL) published in 2013 in the Catholic hymnal Gotteslob, as GL 783 in the regional section for the Diocese of Limburg.

"Wo Menschen sich vergessen" is a Christian hymn in German, with text written in 1989 by Thomas Laubach and with music by Christoph Lehmann. The hymn of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied (NGL) is also known by the beginning of the refrain, "Da berühren sich Himmel und Erde". It appears in regional sections of the 2013 hymnal Gotteslob, and in other songbooks.

"Komm, Herr, segne uns" is a Christian hymn in German in four stanzas with text and music by the Protestant pastor Dieter Trautwein, written in 1978. It is a hymn of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied (NGL), appearing in German hymnals of different denominations, including the Protestant Evangelisches Gesangbuch and the Catholic Gotteslob. It begins with the line "Komm Herr, segne uns, dass wir uns nicht trennen".

"Wenn das Brot, das wir teilen" is a Christian hymn, with a text written in 1981 by Claus-Peter März, and a melody by Kurt Grahl. It was written to commemorate St. Elisabeth, and begins with a reference to her Miracle of the Roses. The song, of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied (NGL), is part of German hymnals, including Evangelisches Gesangbuch and Gotteslob, and of songbooks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nahe wollt der Herr uns sein</span> 1973 song

"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.

"Ihr Christen, singet hocherfreut" is a Christian Easter hymn. The German text was adapted by Christoph Moufang in 1865 from the 15th-century Latin hymn "O filii et filiae". It is sung to the same melody. Beginning and ending with a three-fold Halleluja, it is also known as "Halleluja – Ihr Christen, singet hocherfreut". The Latin "O filii" was translated into English by John Mason Neale as "Ye Sons and Daughters of the King" and appears in many English language hymnals.

"Bleibe bei uns, du Wandrer durch die Zeit" is a Christian hymn with text by Peter Gerloff to a melody by William Henry Monk. The song, based on the biblical Road to Emmaus appearance, was included in the Catholic hymnal Gotteslob.

References

  1. 1 2 "Gotteslob 2013 / Diözesan-Ausgabe Limburg / Synopse der Lieder und Gesänge" (PDF). Diocese of Limburg (in German). Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  2. ↑ Milchner, Hans Jürgen, ed. (1994). Beerdigung: Ansprachen, Gebete, Entwürfe (in German). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. p. 61. ISBN   978-3-52-559331-8.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Albert-Zerlik, Annette (2006). "Neue Osterlieder". Auf der Suche nach dem neuen geistlichen Lied: Sichtung – Würdigung – Kritik (in German). Books on Demand. pp. 148–162. ISBN   978-3-77-208168-2.
  4. 1 2 Fischer, Wolfgang, ed. (2000). Lieder aus anderen Ländern und Sprachen (in German). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. p. 64. ISBN   978-3-52-550315-7.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Seht, er lebt (in German). Diocese of Limburg. 2013.
  6. ↑ Theis, Jürgen. "Ostern" (PDF). Butz (in German). Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  7. ↑ Grahl, Kurt. "III. Chor und Instrumente" (PDF). kurt-grahl.de (in German). Retrieved 17 April 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.