Johanna Meyer (songwriter)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Maria Rosina Johanna Meyer (born April 2, 1851 in Schangnau , † December 9, 1921 in Stein am Rhein ) was a Swiss teacher and Christian songwriter.

Life

Johanna Meyer was the eldest daughter of the pastor Johann Ludwig Albert Meyer from Schangnau in the Emmental . After the early death of their father, the family moved to Bern . Here Johanna received her training as a teacher and then taught as a primary school teacher in the free girls' school Bärenhöfli . She was gifted and spoke except German and French , Italian and English .

Johanna Meyer volunteered in the Sunday School and Blue Cross work and became one of the most important employees of Pastor Arnold Bovet . Bovet, one of the leading people of the Blue Cross, looked for particularly suitable songs for his work among the drinkers. He selected melodies and Johanna Meyer wrote the lyrics for them. She also translated many songs from English, among others. a. those by Ira David Sankey . She also worked for Dr. Eduard Blösch, the founder of the Berner Kindersonntagblatt, and like Bovet was a contemporary of Franz Eugen Schlachter . She died unexpectedly in 1921 as a result of a heartbeat. She is buried in Stein am Rhein.

Works

Title page of the Blue Cross hymnbook published by Johanna Meyer

Johanna Meyer composed and translated numerous English and French songs, some of which can still be found today, especially in free church hymn books and in song collections of the various branches of the community movement . She was co-editor of the Blue Cross club songs, In Honor of the Savior .

Own songs (selection)

  • Oh, how did I once have my life
  • The groom is coming
  • Like lost sheep
  • Have you surrendered to the Lord?
  • I can, I don't want to live by myself anymore
  • I am so weak, full of hardship
  • Jesus came to redeem us
  • Jesus always healed by grace
  • My God and Father who made me
  • Tired and depressed with guilt
  • Just a look from the good shepherd
  • Gladly sing a song of praise in God's honor

Translated English songs (selection)

  • Take me poor out of mercy
  • We, Jesus, are yours until death
  • Brothers, there is still time to be saved
  • Bring the royal jewelry
  • You know me
  • Once the news came to you
  • Explore me, Jesus, my light
  • Firm and true as Daniel was
  • Have you heard Jesus' call?
  • I lie before your face, Lord
  • I was so weak and guilty
  • Come to the cross with your burdens
  • Long after a glimmer of light
  • Light after dark
  • Connected to you, O Lord
  • O soul, turn to the light
  • Seeking to save souls from the edge of the grave
  • I don't know when I'm in the light

Translated French songs (selection)

  • Stop and think (orig. Arrête, ô pécheur, arrête! )
  • O love without barriers (orig. Dieu, lui-même, ô mystère )
  • I can believe it and know it (orig. Mon âme est libérée )
  • On the narrow, narrow path (orig. Par ce chemin solitaire, Voyageurs où courez-vous? )
  • Lord, we pray fervently ( orig.Rends-toi maître de nos âmes )
  • Mine is the Savior ( orig.Si vous saviez quel Sauveur je possède )

literature

  • Walter Schulz: Reich singer. Key to the German Reichsliederbuch , Gotha 1930
  • Karl-Hermann Kauffmann: Franz Eugen Schlachter, a Bible translator in the context of the sanctification movement , Verlag Johannis, Lahr 2007, ISBN 978-3-501-01568-1

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Christian song database: Maria Rosina Johanna Meyer ; Accessed July 11, 2014
  2. ↑ Walter Schulz: Reich singer. Key to the German Reichsliederbuch , Gotha 1930
  3. ↑ Oncken-Verlag u. a. (Ed.): Celebrate and praise . Die Gemeindelieder , Kassel 2003, p. 749, columns I and II
personal data
SURNAME Meyer, Johanna
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Meyer, Maria Rosina Johanna (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swiss teacher and Christian song poet
DATE OF BIRTH April 2, 1851
PLACE OF BIRTH Schangnau
DATE OF DEATH December 9, 1921
Place of death Stone at the Rhein