Ihr Kinderlein, kommet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids "Ihr Kinderlein, kommet" |
|
|---|---|
| German Christmas carol | |
| English | Oh, come, little children |
| Written | 1811 |
| Text | Christoph von Schmid |
| Language | German |
| Melody |
|
"Ihr Kinderlein, kommet" ("Oh, come, little children") is a very popular German Christmas carol. It's a song that many people sing during the Christmas season. This carol tells the story of children coming to see the baby Jesus in the manger.
Contents
The Story Behind the Song
This famous Christmas carol has an interesting history. Its words and music were actually created by different people at different times.
Who Wrote the Words?
The words for "Ihr Kinderlein, kommet" were written by a Catholic priest named Christoph von Schmid. He was also a writer. Schmid wrote the poem in 1798. It was first called "Die Kinder bei der Krippe", which means "The children at the manger".
His poem had eight verses. It was first published in 1811. Later, Schmid put it in his book of poems in 1818. The book was titled Blüten dem blühenden Alter gewidmet. This means "Flowers dedicated to the flowering age".
Who Wrote the Music?
The tune we know today for "Ihr Kinderlein, kommet" was written by a composer named Johann Abraham Peter Schulz. He wrote the music in 1794. But he didn't write it for a Christmas carol. It was for a regular song called "Wie reizend, wie wonnig". This means "How charming, how pleasant".
How the Words and Music Met
Around 1832, Schmid's poem and Schulz's melody were put together for the first time. This happened in a songbook called Sechzig deutsche Lieder für dreißig Pfennig. This means "Sixty German songs for thirty pennies". Friedrich Eickhoff put this collection together.
A publishing company called C. Bertelsmann Verlag started in 1835. They printed many copies of this songbook. This helped the song become very well known.
Melody and Lyrics
Here you can see the music notes and the words for "Ihr Kinderlein, kommet". The German words are shown first, followed by an English translation.
<score sound="1"> \relative a' { \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"clarinet" \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4 = 80 \key d \major \time 2/4 \partial 8 \autoBeamOff a8 a4 fis8 a a4 fis8 a g4 e8 g fis4 r8 \bar "" \break a8 a4 fis8 a a4 fis8 a g4 e8 g fis4 r8 \bar "" \break fis e4 e8 e g4 g8 g fis4 fis8 fis b4 r8 \bar "" \break b a4 a8 a8 d4 a8 fis g4 e8 cis d4. \bar "|." } \addlyrics {Ihr Kin -- der -- lein, kom -- met, o kom -- met doch all! Zur Krip -- pe her kom -- met in Beth -- le -- hems Stall und seht, was in die -- ser hoch -- hei -- li -- gen Nacht der Va -- ter im Him -- mel für Freu -- de uns macht! }</score>
Ihr Kinderlein, kommet, o kommet doch all!
Zur Krippe her kommet in Bethlehems Stall
und seht, was in dieser hochheiligen Nacht
der Vater im Himmel für Freude uns macht!
O seht in der Krippe im nächtlichen Stall,
seht hier bei des Lichtleins hell glänzendem Strahl
den reinliche Windeln, das himmlische Kind,
viel schöner und holder als Engel es sind!
Da liegt es, das Kindlein, auf Heu und auf Stroh,
Maria und Josef betrachten es froh.
Die redlichen Hirten knien betend davor,
hoch oben schwebt jubelnd der Engelein Chor.
O beugt wie die Hirten anbetend die Knie,
erhebet die Hände und danket wie sie!
Stimmt freudig, ihr Kinder, wer wollt sich nicht freun,
stimmt freudig zum Jubel der Engel mit ein!
O betet: Du liebes, du göttliches Kind,
was leidest du alles für unsere Sünd!
Ach hier in der Krippe schon Armut und Not,
am Kreuze dort gar noch den bitteren Tod.
So nimm unsre Herzen zum Opfer denn hin;
wir geben sie gerne mit fröhlichem Sinn.
Ach mache sie heilig und selig wie Deins
und mach sie auf ewig mit Deinem nur eins.
Oh, come, little children, oh, come, one and all,
To Bethlehem's stable, in Bethlehem's stall.
And see with rejoicing this glorious sight,
Our Father in heaven has sent us this night.
Oh, see in the manger, in hallowèd light
A star throws its beam on this holiest sight.
In clean swaddling clothes lies the heavenly Child,
More lovely than angels, this Baby so mild.
Oh, there lies the Christ Child, on hay and on straw;
The shepherds are kneeling before Him with awe.
And Mary and Joseph smile on Him with love,
While angels are singing sweet songs from above.
Translated by Melanie Schulte (1885–1922)
See also
In Spanish: Venid, niñitos para niños
