Paulus or Paul Gerhardt (12 March 1607 – 27 May 1676) was a German theologian, Lutheran pastor and hymnodist, considered Germany's greatest hymn writer. His songs and hymns were published in contemporary hymnals such as Praxis pietatis melica, and are still part of modern hymnals. Hymn stanzas by him feature prominently in Bach's Passions and the Christmas Oratorio.

Biography

Gerhardt was born into a middle-class family at Gräfenhainichen, a small town between Halle and Wittenberg. His father died in 1619, his mother in 1621. At the age of fifteen, he entered the Fürstenschule in Grimma. The school was known for its pious atmosphere and stern discipline. The school almost closed in 1626 when the plague came to Grimma, but Paul remained and graduated from there in 1627. In January 1628 he enrolled in the University of Wittenberg. There, two teachers in particular had an influence on him: Paul Röber and Jacob Martini. Both of these men were staunch Lutherans, promoting its teachings not only in the classroom but in sermons and hymns. Röber in particular often took his sermon texts from hymns. In this way Gerhardt was taught the use of hymnody as a tool of pastoral care and instruction.

thumb|Paul Gerhardt, posthumous portrait from the church in [[Lübben (Spreewald)]]

thumb|The Paul Gerhardt Building in the heart of [[Münster.]]

thumb|upright|Paul Gerhardt's house, Collegienstraße, Wittenberg

Gerhardt graduated from the University of Wittenberg around 1642. Due to the troubles of the Thirty Years' War it seems he was not immediately placed as a pastor, and thus moved to Berlin where he worked as tutor in the family of an advocate named Andreas Barthold.

!Tune

!Season

!German hymnal numbers

!Use in compositions

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!"Auf, auf, mein Herz, mit Freuden"

|Awake, My Heart, with Gladness

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|Zahn No. 2543 "Auf, auf, mein Herz" — (Crüger, Praxis pietatis melica 1648)

|Easter

|EG 112

|BWV 441

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!"Barmherzger Vater, höchster Gott"

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|BWV 103

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!"Befiehl du deine Wege"

|Commit Whatever Grieves Thee (also, Give to the Winds Thy Fears)

|Psalm 37, Psalm 125:1, Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Peter 5:6-7

|Herzlich tut mich

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|EG 361

|BWV 244, BWV 153

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!"Die güldne Sonne voll Freud und Wonne"

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|morning song

|EG 449

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!"Du meine Seele singe"

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|EG 302

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!"Ein Lämmlein geht und trägt die Schuld"

|A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth

|Isaiah 53:1-12, Exodus 12:5, John 1:29

|An Wasserflüssen Babylon

|Passion

|EG 83

|Set to music by several composers

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!"Fröhlich soll mein Herze springen"

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|Christmas

|EG 36

|BWV 248

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!"Geh aus, mein Herz, und suche Freud"

|Go Forth, My Heart, and Seek Delight

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|EG 503

|summer song

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!"Gott Vater, sende deinen Geist"

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|sung to the melody of (Zahn 2496c): BWV 74, BWV 108

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!"Herr, mein Hirt, Brunn aller Freuden"

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|BWV 228

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!""

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|chorale cantata BWV 92, BWV 65

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!"Ich singe dir mit Herz und Mund"

|Rejoice My Heart, Be Glad and Sing

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|EG 324

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!"Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier"

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|Christmas

|EG 37

|BWV 248

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!""

|"If Jesus be my friend"

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|EG 351

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!""

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|Christmas

|EG 39

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!"Lobet den Herren alle, die ihn ehren

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|EG 447br /> GL 81

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!"Nun danket all und bringet Ehr"

|All Ye Who on This Earth Do Dwell

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|EG 322<br /> GL 267

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!"Nun lasst uns gehn und treten

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|New Year

|EG 58

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!""

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|evening song

|EG 477<br />GL 101

|BWV 392

|-

!""

|O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

|Psalm 22:6-8, Isaiah 53:4-5, John 10:14-15, 27–28, Hebrews 12:2

|Herzlich tut mich

|Passion

|EG 85, GL 179

|BWV 244, BWV 159

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!"O Jesu Christ, dein Kripplein ist"

|O Jesus Christ, Thy Manger Is

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|O Jesu Christ, Dein kripplein ist

|Christmas

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!"O Welt, sieh hier dein Leben"

|Upon the Cross Extended

|Isaiah 53, Hebrews 9:28, 1 Peter 2:21-25

|O Welt, sieh hier

|Passion

|EG 84

|BWV 244, BWV 245

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!"Schaut, schaut, was ist für Wunder dar"

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|BWV 248 II

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!"Schwing dich auf zu deinem Gott"

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|BWV 40

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!"Sollt ich meinem Gott nicht singen?"

|I Will Sing My Maker's Praises

|Ephesians 5:19-20

|Sollt ich meinem Gott nicht singen

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|EG 325

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!"Wach auf, mein Herz, und singe

|Wake up, my heart, and sing

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|EG 446

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!"Warum sollt ich mich denn grämen"

|Why Should Cross and Trial Grieve Me

|1 Peter 1:6-9, James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 4:12, Matthew 11:29-30

|Warum sollt ich mich denn grämen

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|EG 370

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!"Was alle Weisheit in der Welt"

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|BWV 176

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!"Weg, mein Herz, mit den Gedanken"

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|BWV 32

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!"Wie soll ich dich empfangen"

|O How Shall I Receive Thee

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|Advent

|EG 11

|BWV 248

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!"Wir singen dir, Immanuel"

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|BWV 248 II

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!"Zeuch ein zu deinen Toren"

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|Pentecost

|EG 133

|BWV 183

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References

  • Paul Gerhardt 1607–1676 from The Cyber Hymnal
  • Theodore Brown Hewitt. Paul Gerhardt as a Hymn Writer and His Influence on English Hymnody New Haven: Yale University Press. 1918
  • In Behalf of Paul Gerhardt and the Elenchus
  • Paul Gerhardt's Spiritual Songs, trans. J. Kelly, 80 pages, 1867.
  • Paul-Gerhardt-Gemeinde Mannheim