God the Father help us

Martin Luther: God the Father live with us ( WA 35)

melody

God the Father live (stand) with us is a Protestant hymn. Martin Luther wrote it with the beginning of the song "God the Father live with us and let us not spoil ..." based on a German litany of the 15th century, which is already mentioned in the Crailsheim school regulations from 1480 as a processional song . It was first printed in Johann Walter's hymn book Eyn geystlich Gesangk Buchleyn , Wittenberg 1524 (there with a melody in five-part set). It is in Protestant church hymn books as a song for Trinity ( Evangelisches Gesangbuch , 1995, no. 138). In the Roman Catholic Praise to God (1975) it is in the column Trust and Request (No. 305). In both places the newer form “God the Father help us ...” was chosen.

The three stanzas of the song differ only in the address: "God the Father - Jesus Christ - Holy Spirit". The stanza text is a prayer for God's help and forgiveness, for a good death, protection from the devil and firm trust in God.

"Halberstadt around 1500" is given as the melody source; the Catholic tradition refers to the hymn book by Michael Vehe , 1537. In the standard work for the older popular German song, Erk-Böhme, Deutscher Liederhort , both traditions (Walter 1524 and Vehe 1537) are under the numbers 2020 and 2010 with melodies one after the other . Inspired by the medieval prayer song to Mary and the saints and in the style of an All Saints' litany, Luther wrote the song as a “poem for the congregation”.

Translations

Danish translation "Gud fader bliv du nu med os ..." in the Danish hymn book, Rostock 1529, No. 12 and under "New Psalms" No. 16 in a variant "Herre Gud Fader stat oss by ..."; Taken over into the Danish church hymn book by Hans Tausen , En Ny Psalmebog , 1553.

Web links

Commons : God the Father live with us - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

↑ In praise of God (2013) , it is no longer included.
↑ In praise of God in the form of address: "God the Father, help us ... help us die blissfully".
↑ See Konrad Ameln . In: Jahrbuch für Liturgik und Hymnologie 28 (1984), pp. 84-90 (with further references).
↑ See Deutscher Liederhort on No. 2021.
^ Arnold E. Berger: Song, saying and fable poetry in the service of the Reformation [1938]. Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, Darmstadt 1967, No. 7 and note p. 258.
↑ Cf. Otto Holzapfel : Lied index: The older German-language popular song tradition ( online version on the Volksmusikarchiv homepage of the Upper Bavaria district ; in PDF format; ongoing updates) with further information.

[1] In praise of God (2013) , it is no longer included.

[2] In praise of God in the form of address: "God the Father, help us ... help us die blissfully".

[3] See Konrad Ameln . In: Jahrbuch für Liturgik und Hymnologie 28 (1984), pp. 84-90 (with further references).

[4] See Deutscher Liederhort on No. 2021.

[5] Arnold E. Berger: Song, saying and fable poetry in the service of the Reformation [1938]. Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, Darmstadt 1967, No. 7 and note p. 258.

[6] Cf. Otto Holzapfel : Lied index: The older German-language popular song tradition ( online version on the Volksmusikarchiv homepage of the Upper Bavaria district ; in PDF format; ongoing updates) with further information.