The Hymns and Small Cathechism | Page 9

the work would have been impossible within the limits of
time necessarily prescribed. In the choice of harmonies for these
ancient tunes, he has wisely preferred, in general, the arrangements of
the older masters. The critical musician will see, and will not complain,
that the original modal structure of the melodies is sometimes affected
by the harmonic treatment.
And now the proper conclusion to this Introduction, which, like the rest
of the volume, is in so slight a degree the work of the editor, is to add
the successive prefaces from the pen of Luther which accompanied
successive hymn-books published during his life-time and under his
supervision.
LEONARD WOOLSEY BACON
______________________________________________________
1 Quoted in the Christian Examiner, 1860, p. 240; transcribed
Philadelphia, 1875.
2 The popular impression that the hymn "Ein' feste Burg" was produced
in these circumstances is due, doubtless, to a parallel in the third stanza,
to the famous saying imputed to Luther on the eve of the Diet of
Worms: "I'll go, be there as many devils in the city as there be tiles on
the roofs." The time of its composition was in the year 1529, just before
the Diet of Augsburg. If not written in his temporary refuge, the noble
"Burg" or "Festung" of Coburg, it must often have been sung there by
him; and it was sung, says Merle d'Aubigne, "during the Diet, not only
at Augsburg, but in all the churches of Saxony."
3 This much-quoted phrase is from Richter. It is reported as an
expression of Melanchthon, looking on Luther's picture, _" Fulmina
erant singula verba tua."_

4 Merle d'Aubigne, History of the Reformation, Vol. III.
5 This interesting and characteristic document was printed first in the
Syntagma Musicum of Michael Praetorius, many of whose harmonies
are to be found in this volume. It has been repeatedly copied since. I
take it from Rambach, "Ueber D. Martin Luthers Verdienst um den
Kirchengesang, oder Darstellung desjenigen was er als Liturg, als
Liederdichter und Tonsetzer zur Verbesserung des oeffentlichen
Gottesdienstes geleistet hat. Hamburg, 1813."
6 Quoted in Rambach, p. 215.
7 In more than one of his cantatas, especially that for the
Reformationsfest.

Luther's First Preface.
To the _"Geystliche Gsangbuechlin, Erstlich zu Wittenberg, und
volgend durch Peter schoeffern getruckt, im jar_ m. d. xxv. Autore
Ioanne Walthero."
That it is good, and pleasing to God, for us to sing spiritual songs is, I
think, a truth whereof no Christian can be ignorant; since not only the
example of the prophets and kings of the Old Testament (who praised
God with singing and music, poesy and all kind of stringed instruments)
but also the like practice of all Christendom from the beginning,
especially in respect to psalms, is well known to every one: yea, St.
Paul doth also appoint the same (I Cor. xiv.) and command the
Colossians, in the third chapter, to sing spiritual songs and psalms from
the heart unto the Lord, that thereby the word of God and Christian
doctrine be in every way furthered and practiced.
Accordingly, to make a good beginning and to encourage others who
can do it better, I have myself, with some others, put together a few
hymns, in order to bring into full play the blessed Gospel, which by
God's grace hath again risen: that we may boast, as Moses doth in his
song (Exodus xv.) that Christ is become our praise and our song, and

that, whether we sing or speak, we may not know anything save Christ
our Saviour, as St. Paul saith (I Cor. ii).
These songs have been set in four parts, for no other reason than
because I wished to provide our young people (who both will and ought
to be instructed in music and other sciences) with something whereby
they might rid themselves of amorous and carnal songs, and in their
stead learn something wholesome, and so apply themselves to what is
good with pleasure, as becometh the young.
Beside this, I am not of opinion that all sciences should be beaten down
and made to cease by the Gospel, as some fanatics pretend; but I would
fain see all the arts, and music in particular, used in the service of Him
who hath given and created them.
Therefore I entreat every pious Christian to give a favorable reception
to these hymns, and to help forward my undertaking, according as God
hath given him more or less ability. The world is, alas, not so mindful
and diligent to train and teach our poor youth, but that we ought to be
forward in promoting the same. God grant us his grace. Amen.
Luther's Second Preface.
To the Funeral Hymns: _"Christliche Geseng, Lateinisch und Deudsch,
zum Begrebnis. Wittemberg,_ Anno m. d. xlii."
DR. MARTIN LUTHER TO THE CHRISTIAN READER. St. Paul
writes to