The Earth, with All That Dwell Therein

Performance Notes:

• The following article is from the Psalter Hymnal Handbook.

Tune Information:

LOBT GOTT, IHR CHRISTEN is a relatively short tune for a German chorale, but it is distinguished by insistently repeated soprano tones and a charming rising-scale motif that leads into the final phrase. The tune was composed by Nikolaus Herman (b. Altdorf, near Nuremberg, Germany, c. 1485; d. Joachimsthal, Bohemia, 1561) and first published in Ein Christlicher Abentreien (1554) as a setting for a children's hymn by Herman about John the Baptist. The tune's name derives from its use since 1561 with the chorale text "Lobt Gott, ihr Christen allzugleich."

Herman spent most of his life (1518-1560) in the mining town of Joachimsthal, where he served as schoolmaster in the Latin School and organist and choirmaster in the Lutheran Church. After a careful study of Martin Luther's writings, he adopted the Protestant faith. Many of his 190 hymn texts were inspired by the sermons of Johannes Mathesius, pastor of the Lutheran Church where Herman worked. A writer of hymn tunes as well as texts, he often wrote his hymns for use in homes and schools, but they gained acceptance as well in a number of Lutheran churches. His texts and tunes were included in Die Sontags-Evangelia (1560) and Die Historien von der Sindfludt (1562).

Other Resources

• Visit hymnary.org for more information on this song and additional resources.