Search Results

Switch back to the old search page.Advanced Search

Long in the spirit-world my soul had sought

Author: Johann Baptist von Albertini; Catherine Winkworth Meter: 10.10.10.10.10.10 Appears in 3 hymnals First Line: Long in the spirit world my soul had sought

Instances

Published text-tune combinations (hymns) from specific hymnals

Long in the spirit-world my soul had sought

Author: Albertini; Catherine Winkworth Hymnal: Lyra Germanica #78 (1861) Meter: 10.10.10.10.10.10 Lyrics: Long in the spirit-world my soul had sought Some friendly being, close to her akin; Long had prepared a dwelling in her thought And heart for such an one; for she could win Through Him alone her strength, for Him she yearned, Toward Him her fervent longing ever burned. And rich the world in things invisible, In heathen gods, and spirits great and small, And bright and dark; yet ever did she dwell Alone, for One was wanting 'mid them all; One having might and glory, rich in love, God, who as man could shame and weakness prove. Then came the Word, and took on Him our flesh, And dwelt with men, here in the world of sight, And made an end of strife, and linked afresh Our sinful earth unto the throne of light; Into His ancient glory He is gone, And yet He dwells with us till time be done. Thus, O my soul, hast thou received thy will; The glory of the world of ghosts is dim Before the One, who is and was, and still Shall ever be; all hearts are fixed on Him, And spirit worlds, since He is there, become Hallowed and safe to thee, thy proper home. Thou soarest now through all their heights sublime, And not as once dost empty back return, But gazing on Thy God, forgettest time Beneath His loving glance, whence thou wouldst learn How thou shouldst love, and know His Word aright: Ah, blest the love and faith that ask not sight! Languages: English

Long in the spirit world my soul had sought

Author: Catherine Winkworth, 1827-1878; Johann B. von Albertini Hymnal: Lyra Germanica #191 (1856) Languages: English

Long in the spirit-world my soul had sought

Author: Albertini; Catherine Winkworth Hymnal: Lyra Germanica #S1-78 (1881) Languages: English

People

Authors, composers, editors, etc.

Catherine Winkworth

1827 - 1878 Translator of "Long in the spirit-world my soul had sought" Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used in many modern hymnals. Her work was published in two series of Lyra Germanica (1855, 1858) and in The Chorale Book for England (1863), which included the appropriate German tune with each text as provided by Sterndale Bennett and Otto Goldschmidt. Winkworth also translated biographies of German Christians who promoted ministries to the poor and sick and compiled a handbook of biographies of German hymn authors, Christian Singers of Germany (1869). Bert Polman ======================== Winkworth, Catherine, daughter of Henry Winkworth, of Alderley Edge, Cheshire, was born in London, Sep. 13, 1829. Most of her early life was spent in the neighbourhood of Manchester. Subsequently she removed with the family to Clifton, near Bristol. She died suddenly of heart disease, at Monnetier, in Savoy, in July, 1878. Miss Winkworth published:— Translations from the German of the Life of Pastor Fliedner, the Founder of the Sisterhood of Protestant Deaconesses at Kaiserworth, 1861; and of the Life of Amelia Sieveking, 1863. Her sympathy with practical efforts for the benefit of women, and with a pure devotional life, as seen in these translations, received from her the most practical illustration possible in the deep and active interest which she took in educational work in connection with the Clifton Association for the Higher Education of Women, and kindred societies there and elsewhere. Our interest, however, is mainly centred in her hymnological work as embodied in her:— (1) Lyra Germanica, 1st Ser., 1855. (2) Lyra Germanica, 2nd Ser., 1858. (3) The Chorale Book for England (containing translations from the German, together with music), 1863; and (4) her charming biographical work, the Christian Singers of Germany, 1869. In a sympathetic article on Miss Winkworth in the Inquirer of July 20, 1878, Dr. Martineau says:— "The translations contained in these volumes are invariably faithful, and for the most part both terse and delicate; and an admirable art is applied to the management of complex and difficult versification. They have not quite the fire of John Wesley's versions of Moravian hymns, or the wonderful fusion and reproduction of thought which may be found in Coleridge. But if less flowing they are more conscientious than either, and attain a result as poetical as severe exactitude admits, being only a little short of ‘native music'" Dr. Percival, then Principal of Clifton College, also wrote concerning her (in the Bristol Times and Mirror), in July, 1878:— "She was a person of remarkable intellectual and social gifts, and very unusual attainments; but what specially distinguished her was her combination of rare ability and great knowledge with a certain tender and sympathetic refinement which constitutes the special charm of the true womanly character." Dr. Martineau (as above) says her religious life afforded "a happy example of the piety which the Church of England discipline may implant.....The fast hold she retained of her discipleship of Christ was no example of ‘feminine simplicity,' carrying on the childish mind into maturer years, but the clear allegiance of a firm mind, familiar with the pretensions of non-Christian schools, well able to test them, and undiverted by them from her first love." Miss Winkworth, although not the earliest of modern translators from the German into English, is certainly the foremost in rank and popularity. Her translations are the most widely used of any from that language, and have had more to do with the modern revival of the English use of German hymns than the versions of any other writer. -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) ============================ See also in: Hymn Writers of the Church

Johann Baptist von Albertini

1769 - 1831 Author of "Long in the spirit-world my soul had sought" Albertini, Johann Baptist. s. of Jakob Ulrich v. Albertini, a native of the Grisons, Switzerland, who had joined the Moravians, and settled among them at Neuwied, near Coblenz, b. at Neuwied Feb. 17, 1769. After passing through the Moravian school at Niesky, and their Theological Seminary at Barby, in both of, which he had Friedrich Schlciermacher as a fellow-student, he was, in 1788, appointed one of the masters in the Moravian school at Niesky, and in 1789 at Barby. In 1796, he was appointed tutor at the Theological Seminary at Niesky, and ordained as diaconus of the Moravian Church. Up to this time he had devoted himself chiefly to the study of the Oriental languages, and of botany, but now his studies of Holy Scripture for his theological lectures and for the pulpit, brought him to the feet of Christ, whose earnest and devoted disciple and witness he henceforth became. In 1804 he relinquished his tutorial work to devote himself entirely to ministerial labour in Niesky, where he was, in 1810, ordained presbyter. In Feb. 1814 he went to Gnadenberg, near Bunzlau, Silesia, as head of the Girls' School, and preacher; and while on a visit to Herrnhut, was, Aug. 24, 1814, constituted a bishop of the Moravian Church. By the synod of 1818, he was appointed to Gnadenfrei, near Reichenbach, Silesia, and after three years of faithful and successful labour, was chosen one of the heads of the Moravian Church (one of the UnitatS'Aeltesten-Conferenz), his special department being the oversight of their charitable and educational establishments ; and in 1824 President of the Conference. In love and meekness he ruled and visited the churches till, in Nov. 1831, an illness seized him, which terminated fatally at Berthelsdorf, near Herrnhut, Dec. 6, 1831. (Koch, vii. 330-334; Allg. Deutsche Biog., i. 216-217.) Distinguished as a preacher beyond the bounds of his church, he was, in the estimation of Koch, apart from Novalis, the most important hymn-writer of his time— spiritual, simple, and childlike. Yet it must be said that his brother Moravian, G. B. Garve, and E. M. Arndt, are more fully represented in hymnals since 1820. Albertini's hymns appeared to the number of 400, (many, however, being single verses,) in his Geistliche Lieder fur Mitglieder und Freunde der Bruder-yemeine, Bunzlau, 1821 (2nd ed. 1827). None of them have passed into English common use, and the only three we have to note are:— i. Brenne hell, du Lampe meiner Seele. [Second Advent.] On the Lamp of the Wise Virgin. 1st pub. 1821, as above, p. 139, in 3 stanzas of 8 lines. The only translation is, "Lamp within me! brightly burn and glow," by Miss Winkworth, 1869, p. 311. ii. Freund, komm in der Fruhe. [Morning.] 1st pub. 1821, as above, p. 273, in 5 st. of 10 1. Tr. as, " Come at the morning hour," by Miss Borthwick in Hymns from the Land of Luther 1862 (cd. 1862, p. 256; 1884, p. 190). iii. Langst suchtest du, mein Geist! ein nahes Wesen. [Christmas.] 1st pub. 1821, as above, p. 9, in 5 stanzas of 6 lines. Translated as, "Long in the spirit world my soul had sought," by Miss Winkworth, 1855, p. 191 (later eds. p. 193), assigned to St. Thomas's Day. -John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)