Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist

"Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist" is a German Christmas carol with lyrics by Johann Rist and a melody by Johann Schop, first published in 1641. Historically it was contained in Protestant hymnals, but the current one, Evangelisches Gesangbuch, uses only three of its stanzas, the ninth, the second and the twelfth, titled "Brich an, du schönes Morgenlicht". This stanza was used by Johann Sebastian Bach as a chorale in Part II of his 1734 Christmas Oratorio.

"Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist"
German Christmas carol
Other name"Brich an, du schönes Morgenlicht"
Textby Johann Rist
LanguageGerman
Melodyby Johann Schop
Published1641 (1641)

History

Johann Rist wrote the text of "Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist" as a Christmas carol in twelve stanzas. The melody by Johann Schop was first published with the text in Lüneburg in 1641, as the opening song of Rist's collection Himlischer Lieder (of heavenly songs). The song is titled "Lob-Gesang. Von der frewdenreichen Geburt vnd Menschwerdung vnsers Hernn und Heylandes Jesu Christi" (Song of praise. Of the joyful birth and incarnation of or Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ).[1] It was reprinted in Protestant hymnals, beginning in Johann Crüger's Praxis pietatis melica of 1648 or 1653, with a slightly revised melody.[1] A Lutheran hymnal from the 19th century has the hymn in nine stanzas.[2] In the 1878 lexicon of hymns of all times, the song is described as most often rendered in nine stanzas.[3]

The modern Protestant hymnal, Evangelisches Gesangbuch, uses only three of the song's stanzas, the ninth, the second and the twelfth of the original, under the title "Brich an, du schönes Morgenlicht".[1]: 10 

Text and tune

The text begins with a call of the individual singer to self, to contemplate the birth of the Saviour.[1]: 10  The ninth stanza refers to the light that the shepherds see, saying "Brich an, du schönes Morgenlicht" (Break, you beautiful morning light) tells the shepherds to not be afraid, and announces that the weak little boy will ultimately bring peace.[1]: 11 

Musical settings

Vincent Lübeck composed a Christmas cantata, Willkommen, süßer Bräutigam (Welcome, sweet bridegroom), beginning with the hymn's second stanza.[1]: 10  Johann Sebastian Bach set the text and tune of the ninth stanza, "Brich an, du schönes Morgenlicht", as a chorale[4] in Part II of his 1734 Christmas Oratorio,[5] as the reaction of the shepherds to the light in the sky, beginning the annunciation to the shepherds.[1]: 10 

Harmonisation in Bach's Christmas Oratorio

In 1735, Bach set the text as a sacred song for Schemellis Gesangbuch, scored for voice and continuo in nine of the twelve stanzas, BWV 454.[6][7] In 1777, his son Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach used the setting from the Christmas Oratorio as the 6th movement of his Ascension Oratorio, first performed then in Bückeburg.[8]

References
  1. Schmidt, Eberhardt (2000). "33 Brich an, du schönes Morgenlicht". In Hahn, Gerhard; Henkys, Jürgen (eds.). Liederkunde zum Evangelischen Gesangbuch (in German). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. pp. 9–13. ISBN 978-3-52-550325-6.
  2. Evangelisch-lutherisches Gesangbuch Wilh. Hassel, 1857
  3. Fischer, Albert Friedrich Wilhelm (1878). "Ermuntre dich mein schwacher Geist". Kirchenlieder-Lexicon: Hymnologisch-literarische Nachweisungen über ca. 4500 der wichtigsten und verbreitetsten Kirchenlieder aller Zeiten, in alphabetischer Folge nebst einer Übersicht der Liederdichter (in German). F. A. Perthes. p. 172.
  4. "Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist BWV 248/12 ChS; BC F 57.2a/b". Bach Digital. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  5. Dahn, Luke. "BWV 248(2).12(3)". bach-chorales.com (in German).
  6. Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist, BWV 454 (Bach, Johann Sebastian): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
  7. Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist University of Alberta
  8. "Himmelfahrtskantate (original version) BR‑JCFB F 3a; Wf XIV/8". Bach Digital. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
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