A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Luther's Hymn

by George Grove

LUTHER'S HYMN, a popular name among the last generation for a hymn beginning 'Great God, what do I see and hear?' set to an old German tune 'Es ist gewisslich an der Zeit,' and formerly much in vogue at musical festivals and sacred concerts. It was sung by Brahain, and Harper used to accompany it with very effective fanfares on the trumpet between the lines. The author of neither words (German nor English) nor tune is exactly known. There is a tradition that Luther made the words to the tune as he heard it sung by a traveller. It was first printed in 1535, but it is certain that the melody had already served as 2nd melody to the older hymn 'Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g'mein.'^[1]

It will be found in the ordinary collections as 'Luther's Hymn.'

[ G. ]

1. See Düring, 'Choralkunde' (1865), pp. 31, 407.