Fröhlich soll mein Herze springen

"" ("Merrily my heart shall leap") is a Christian Christmas hymn by Paul Gerhardt, originally in 15 stanzas in artful metre. It was first published, "Frölich sol mein hertze springen", in 1653 in the fifth edition of the hymnal Praxis Pietatis Melica by Johann Crüger, who also created a melody. Johann Sebastian Bach used it as a chorale in his Christmas Oratorio, with a different melody by Johann Georg Ebeling. The song is part, with twelve stanzas, of the current Protestant hymnal Evangelisches Gesangbuch and other songbooks.

Catherine Winkworth translated seven stanzas in 1858 as "All my heart this night rejoices". Other translations also exist.

History Paul Gerhardt wrote the lyrics in the first person, describing a personal reaction to the Christmas story. The hymn appeared first in the fifth edition of the hymnal Praxis Pietatis MelicaCrüger, Johann: Praxis Pietatis Melica. Das ist: Übung der Gottseligkeit in Christlichen und trostreichen Gesängen. Editio V. Runge, Berlin 1653, pp. 779 ff. (Digitalisat der Bayerischen Staatsbibliothek). by Johann Crüger in 1653. It appears in a section titled "Von der Geburt Jesu Christ" (Of the birth of Jesus Christ).

The hymn was missing in the 1854 Deutsches Evangelisches Kirchen-Gesangbuch.Deutsches evangelisches Kirchen-Gesangbuch in 150 Kernliedern Cotta, Stuttgart/Augsburg 1854. From the where it appeared in eleven stanzas, it has remained in the repertory of Protestant church singing. In the current Protestant hymnal Evangelisches Gesangbuch, the song is EG 36. The song is part of several other hymnals and songbooks. It was regarded as ecumenical by the but was not included in the Catholic hymnal Gotteslob of 2013.

Translations Catherine Winkworth translated seven of its twelve stanzas to English as "All my heart this night rejoices", published in the second volume of her Lyra Germanica in 1858. In a 1907 Dictionary of Hymnology. it has been regarded as a "beautiful but rather free translation". Other translations include "Let the voice of glad thanksgiving", of selected stanzas by A. T. Russell, published in the Dalston Hospital Hymn Book in 1848. "All my heart with joy is springing" is a translation of several stanzas by Dr. Kennedy, published in his Hymnologia Christiana in 1863. "Lightly bound my bosom, ringing" is a translation of the complete hymn by Dr. M. Loy, published in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal in 1880.

Text and theme Gerhardt originally wrote 15 stanzas of eight lines each, in an unusual and artful metre. It follows the pattern of a sermon at the time. The text begins saying "I" in a believer's personal statement, for the singer to identify with what is said. It then appeals to a "you", meaning the congregation requested to join in doing so. The song ends in a prayer.

The following table shows Gerhardt's text in the 12 stanzas contained in the Evangelisches Gesangbuch and the translation by Winkworth: German current lyrics Winkworth translationAll my heart this night rejoices as I hear far and near sweetest angel voices. "Christ is born," their choirs are singing till the air ev'rywhere now with joy is ringing.

Forth today the Conqu'ror goeth, who the foe, sin and woe, death and hell, o'erthroweth. God is man, man to deliver; His dear Son now is one with our blood forever.

Shall we still dread God's displeasure, who, to save, freely gave His most cherished Treasure? To redeem us, He hath given His own Son from the throne of His might in heaven.

He becomes the Lamb that taketh sin away and for aye full atonement maketh. For our life His own He tenders; and our race, by His grace, fit for glory renders.

Hark! a voice from yonder manger, soft and sweet, doth entreat, "Flee from woe and danger; brethren, from all ills that grieve you you are freed; all you need I will surely give you."

Come, then, banish all your sadness, one and all, great and small; come with songs of gladness. Love Him who with love is glowing; hail the star, near and far light and joy bestowing.

Dearest Lord, Thee will I cherish. Though my breath fail in death, yet I shall not perish, but with Thee abide forever there on high, in that joy which can vanish never.

Melodies and settings

Johann Crüger first published the hymn in 1653 in the fifth edition of his hymnal Praxis Pietatis Melica, with a melody he composed himself. The melody has "leaping" features and modulates often. The last line, in the first stanza saying that Christ is born, moves downward, corresponding to a move from Heaven to Earth. Crüger also wrote a four-part setting. Burkhart M. Schürmann composed a chorale partita of all 15 stanzas, in both German and English (All my heart), for three-part choir in 2010.

The hymn was also sung with a melody which Johann Georg Ebeling created for Gerhardt's "Warum sollt ich mich denn grämen" (EG 370). It appeared in 1666 in Pauli Gerhardi Geistliche Andachten.Johann Friedrich Bachmann (ed.): Paulus Gerhardts geistliche Lieder: historisch-kritische Ausgabe Oehmigke, Berlin 1866, pp. 138–140. This melody was used by Bach in a four-part setting in his Christmas Oratorio, in Part III, "Ich will dich mit Fleiß bewahren", reflecting the preceding aria, "Schließe, mein Herze, dies selige Wunder".Luke Dahn: BWV 248.33 Bach used the melody also in 1736 in Schemellis Gesangbuch.Georg Christian Schemelli: [Musicalisches Gesang-Buch, Darinnen 954 geistreiche, sowohl alte als neue Lieder und Arien, mit wohlgesetzten Melodien, in Discant und Baß, befindlich sind; Vornehmlich denen Evangelischen Gemeinen im Stifte, Naumburg-Zeitz gewidmet]. Leipzig 1736, pp. 127ff.

Literature Paul Gerhardt: Dichtungen und Schriften. Munich 1957, pp. 1–3. Johann Friedrich Bachmann: Paulus Gerhardts geistliche Lieder: historisch-kritische Ausgabe. Oehmigke, Berlin 1866, pp. 95–97 ().

Fröhlich soll mein Herze springen

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