From Heaven Above I Come

Yesterday, I found a reproduction of a magnificent print of Martin Luther's "Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her.“

Luther wrote the text and melody of the Christmas carol in 1534, initially for the Heiliger Abend. The Christmas Eve observance was held annually at his home with his children. Later, he had the carol sung also in church services.

The text of "Vom Himmel hoch" is based on the Bible verses in Luke 2:1-18. The opening verses were traditionally sung by a man dressed as an angel proclaiming the birth of Jesus.

Catherine Winkworth translated the traditional English lyrics from German in 1855.

Vom Himmel hoch, da komm' ich her. Ich bring' euch gute neue Mär, Der guten Mär bring' ich so viel, Davon ich sing'n und sagen will. Euch ist ein Kindlein heut' gebor'n Von einer Jungfrau auserkor'n, Ein Kindelein, so zart und fein, Das soll eur' Freud' und Wonne sein. Es ist der Herr Christ, unser Gott, Der will euch führ'n aus aller Not, Er will eu'r Heiland selber sein, Von allen Sünden machen rein. Er bringt euch alle Seligkeit, Die Gott der Vater hat bereit, Dass ihr mit uns im Himmelreich Sollt leben nun und ewiglich. So merket nun das Zeichen recht, Die Krippe, Windelein so schlecht, Da findet ihr das Kind gelegt, Das alle Welt erhält und trägt. Des laßt uns alle fröhlich sein Und mit den Hirten gehn hinein, Zu sehn, was Gott uns hat beschert, Mit seinem lieben Sohn verehrt.

From heaven above I come. I bring you good new tidings, Of glad tidings I bring so many, Whereof I want to sing and say: To you a small child is born today of a chosen Virgin; A little child so tender and fine, should be your joy and bliss. It is the Lord Christ, our God, Who wants to lead you out of all adversity, He Himself wants to be your Savior, to purify you of all sins. He brings you all blessings, that God the Father has ready, (so) that you with us in heaven should live, now and forever. So note now the sign rightly, the manger, swaddling-clothes so bad, There you'll find the Child laid, who all the world maintains and bears. Let us all be of good cheer and go with the shepherds thereto to see what God has bestowed upon us, honored with his dear Son.

Johann Sebastian Bach must have held Luther's Christmas carol in high regard, given that he used the melody as the basis for several chorale cantatas and cantata movements. In the Christmas Oratorio, the melody resounds as a cantus firmus, artfully embedded in the movement. Bach understands the chorale as a theological confession.

Listen to “Vom Himmel hoch” in an interpretation by Munich’s University Choir. After an instrumental introduction, the choir performs the version in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio until the community sings Luther’s Christmas carol.

Merry Christmas to my loyal readers

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