Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-11-05

tombstone. Thus much regarding the
hymn itself, but the tune was almost
certainly composed by Luther. We say
'almos, certainly. for though II has been
asserted positively that he wrote the
tune, II is but right to say that doubts
have been raised on the point. We
cannot discuss the matter here. II must
be sufficient to state that the evidence is
largely in favor OF the reiormer's having
composed the tune. The melody is
certainly noble one, full OF the spirit
OF the words to which il was adapted"
LUTHER, PoEr AND MUSICIAN.
However leaving discussion aside, It
Is certain that Luther was intensely fond
OF both music aud poetry, and long
before Shakespeare he said: "Hc who
despises music. as all fanatics do. will
never be my friend." And ggain,
"For would fain see all arts, especially
music, in the service OF Him who has
given and created them" We are in
debtcd to Charlotte Winkworth and her
Christian singers of Germany for much
interesting information about l.uther's
poetic work. In 1870 Il was, the wear
after his marriage, and while residing at
want Of German Psalms and hymns TO
Gil the place OF the Latin hymns and
sequences, and he at once set 10 work TO
supply il. And In the years when he
was composing most of his hymns, il
Is recorded, four printers in Erfirt alone
were entirely occupied In printing and
publishing them. They were sent every
where, carried all over the country by
gffgIaFtu 3
THE whole people" wrote a chronlclcr
Of his day, lis singing itself into the
Lutheran doctrine"
With the assistance Of Conrad Rupf,
choir'master of the Elector Of Saxony
and Johann Walther, then choir-master
to Frederick the Wise at Jorgan, whom
he invited TO reside with him, Luther,
while at Wi,tenberg, rejected the tunes
most suitable for his purpose and pro.
vided them with new words. Besides q
large number Of translalions from the
Latin, thirty'seven hymns are ascrbed
to him, as well rs several chorals, the
best known of which are Elm feste
Burgist Unser Cot" and his Christmas
carol, From Heaven Above to Earth |
Come" at is my intention" he wrote
to Spalaten, after the example Of the
prophets and the ancient fathers, TO
make German psalms for the people;
that is, spiritual songs, whereby the
Word Of God may be Kept alive among
them by singing. We seek, therefore,
everywhere TOR German poets"
HANS SACHS HEARS THE CALL.
1--WE seek, therefore, everywhere for
German poets" And il was fiom
Nuremberg that the first response came.
From Hans Sachs, the chiefof the Master
singers. Luther had many adherents in
Nuremberg, whose citizens were among
the first to hail the new doctrine. In
the same bill which had condemned
Luther as hereto the learned Will.
bald Perkheimer and the town clerk
Lazarus OF Nuremberg had fallen under
the ban OF communication. The
City Fathers, too were In arms against
the Papacy. Hans Sachs wrote un.
weariedly during this religious conf &.
In answer to Luthers call, he set to
work composing hymns, he paraphrased
the Bible in song after song, and his
verse, sung in nearly all tile Master
singer schools Of Germany, spread the
Lutheran faith among the most earnest
and energetic worl;men OF the land.
THE NIGHTINGALE OF wITTRNBERG.
During fihy years Hans Sachs did
poetic battle for the cause OF Luther and