Christ fuhr gen Himmel (extended)

Here is my translation of the supplemental stanzas for the Ascension hymn, “Christ fuhr gen Himmel,” of which I translated the first and second stanzas in 2012 for inclusion in Walther’s Hymnal. The German text, found in ELGB #157, follows what is identified as Luther’s original version (ELGB #156) “Christ ist erstanden / von der Marter alle”  altered by Christoph Söll to “Christ fuhr gen Himmel / da sandt er uns hernieder…,” leaving only the Kyrieleis and the Hallelujah-stanza of the original, in fact a 15th c. Leise pre-dating Luther’s form in Babst Gsb 1545. That form had the 2nd line in statement form “Da sandt er uns ernieder.” The interrogative “Was sendt er uns herwider” is found in a hymnal from 1568. Nicolaus Herman made an expansion on this Ascension hymn, “Christ fuhr gen Himmel / Was sandt er uns herwieder? Seinen heiligen Geist,” etc., in 4 stanzas, st. 2 being “Er sitzt zus Vaters rechten,” st. 3, “Von dannen wird er kommen,” st. 4, “Auf sein Zukunft wir hoffen…” Our present reworking of the expansion by Söll first appears in New Auserlesen Gesangbüchlein (Strassburg, 1545) with the title “An old hymn of praise and joy on the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ,” yet only in 3 stanzas with 2. “Wer er nit hingangen,” and 3. “Gen himel fur der Heilig Christ.” A five-stanza reworking of this is found in the Eisleben Gsb 1598, which is the ultimate source for that in the Buffalo Synod hymnal, perhaps from the Vorrath von alten und neuen christlichen Gesängen (Leizpig, 1673) or the Dresden Gsb 1731. (Information from Fischer’s Kirchenlieder-Lexicon.)

 

CHRIST rose to heaven.
What then to us was given?
The Comforter, the Holy Ghost,
To comfort His poor Christian host.
Kyrieleis.

2 At God’s right seated,
Lest we should be defeated,
Our Mediator there is He:
To Him alone we make our plea.
Kyrieleis.

3 His own protecting,
The foe’s assaults deflecting,
He makes the prince of this world chafe,
His Word from him He keepeth safe.
Kyrieleis.

4 For Thy well-doing,
Salvation, and renewing,
We praise Thee, Jesus, without end,
Who into heaven didst ascend.
Kyrieleis.

5 Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Therefore let us all joyful be,
Christ our Comfort true will be.
Kyrieleis.

Translation © 2012, 2023 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Christ fuhr gen Himmel.
Was sandt Er uns hernieder?
Den Tröster, den heiligen Geist,
zu Trost der armen Christenheit.
Kyrieleis.

2 Sitzt zu Gottes Rechten,
zu Gut seinen Knechten,
da will er unser Mittler sein,
zu dem wir rufen solln allein.
Kyrieleis.

3 Sein Volk beschützet
wider den, der uns trotzet,
das ist der Fürst in dieser Welt,
sein Wort er wohl für ihm behält.
Kyrieleis.

4 Mit dem Wohlthaten
will er uns berathen,
das sei dir Lob, Herr Jesu Christ,
der du gen Himmel gfahren bist.
Kyrieleis.

5 Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah!
des solln wir alle froh sein,
Christ will unser Trost sein.
Kyrieleis.