Macht hoch die Tür

"Macht hoch die Tür" (Fling wide the door) is a German popular Advent hymn, written in Ducal Prussia in the 17th century. The lyrics were written by Georg Weissel in 1623, for the inauguration of the Altroßgärter Kirche in Königsberg. The melody that is now associated with the text appeared first in 1704 in the hymnal by Johann Anastasius Freylinghausen.

"Macht hoch die Tür" appears as number 1 in the current German Protestant hymnal '' Evangelisches Gesangbuch'' (EG 1). It is also part of the Catholic hymnal ''Gotteslob'' (GL 218), among others. As one of the best-known and most popular Advent songs, it was translated, into English by Catherine Winkworth in 1855 as "Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates", also to Swedish and Norwegian, among others. It was also translated to Indian languages like Telugu and Tamil.

History

The lyrics were written by Georg Weissel in 1623, on the occasion of the inauguration of the Altroßgärter Kirche in Königsberg on the second Sunday in Advent that year, where he was appointed minister the following Sunday. For the service of his appointment as minister the following Sunday, he wrote " Such, wer da will, ein ander Ziel".

"Macht hoch die Tür" appears as number 1 in the current German Protestant hymnal '' Evangelisches Gesangbuch'' (EG 1). It is also part of the Catholic hymnal ''Gotteslob'' (GL 218), It is published in 62 hymnals.

Text

The lyrics are in five stanzas of eight lines each. The beginning is based on the call to open the gates for the King from Psalm 24, which causes the question for which king.() This passage meant originally the celebration of the entry of the Ark of the Covenant in the Temple in Jerusalem. It was early interpreted in the Christian church as referring also to the entry of Jesus in Jerusalem, narrated by Matthew () quoting Zechariah (). Both the psalm and the gospel are recommended readings in the Protestant church in Germany for the first Sunday in Advent.

The last two lines of all stanzas express praise, similar to a refrain, with the first stanza praising God, the second the Saviour, the third the Comforter, the fourth the Trinity, the final one the name of God for ever.
Macht hoch die Tür, die Tor macht weit;
es kommt der Herr der Herrlichkeit,
ein König aller Königreich,
ein Heiland aller Welt zugleich,
der Heil und Leben mit sich bringt;
derhalben jauchzt, mit Freuden singt:
Gelobet sei mein Gott,
mein Schöpfer reich von Rat.

Er ist gerecht, ein Helfer wert;
Sanftmütigkeit ist sein Gefährt,
sein Königskron ist Heiligkeit,
sein Zepter ist Barmherzigkeit;
all unsre Not zum End er bringt,
derhalben jauchzt, mit Freuden singt:
Gelobet sei mein Gott,
mein Heiland groß von Tat.

O wohl dem Land, o wohl der Stadt,
so diesen König bei sich hat.
Wohl allen Herzen insgemein,
da dieser König ziehet ein.
Er ist die rechte Freudensonn,
bringt mit sich lauter Freud und Wonn.
Gelobet sei mein Gott,
mein Tröster früh und spat.

Macht hoch die Tür, die Tor macht weit,
eu'r Herz zum Tempel zubereit'.
Die Zweiglein der Gottseligkeit
steckt auf mit Andacht, Lust und Freud;
so kommt der König auch zu euch,
ja, Heil und Leben mit zugleich.
Gelobet sei mein Gott,
voll Rat, voll Tat, voll Gnad.

Komm, o mein Heiland Jesu Christ,
meins Herzens Tür dir offen ist.
Ach zieh mit deiner Gnade ein;
dein Freundlichkeit auch uns erschein.
Dein Heilger Geist uns führ und leit
den Weg zur ewgen Seligkeit.
Dem Namen dein, o Herr,
sei ewig Preis und Ehr.
Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates!
Behold, the King of Glory waits;
The King of kings is drawing near,
The Savior of the world is here.
Life and salvation He doth bring,
Wherefore rejoice and gladly sing:
We praise Thee, Father, now,
Creator, wise art Thou!

A Helper just He comes to thee,
His chariot is humility,
His kingly crown is holiness,
His scepter, pity in distress,
The end of all our woe He brings;
Wherefore the earth is glad and sings:
We praise Thee, Savior, now,
Mighty in deed art Thou!

O blest the land, the city blest,
Where Christ the Ruler is confessed!
O happy hearts and happy homes
To whom this King in triumph comes!
The cloudless Sun of joy He is,
Who bringeth pure delight and bliss.
We praise Thee, Spirit, now,
Our Comforter art Thou!

Fling wide the portals of your heart;
Make it a temple set apart
From earthly use for Heaven's employ,
Adorned with prayer and love and joy.
So shall your Sovereign enter in
And new and nobler life begin.
To Thee, O God, be praise
For word and deed and grace!

Redeemer, come! I open wide
My heart to Thee; here, Lord, abide!
Let me Thy inner presence feel,
Thy grace and love in me reveal;
Thy Holy Spirit guide us on
Until our glorious goal is won.
Eternal praise and fame
We offer to Thy name.

Melodies

It took some time until the text was connected with the melody popular today. The first music for the lyrics was a five-part choral setting by Johann Stobäus, whom Weissel knew from his time of studies in Königsberg. Stobäus re-published in 1642 ''Preußische Fest-Lieder auf das ganze Jahr für 5–8 Stimmen'' by his teacher Johannes Eccard, which was first printed in 1598. He included his setting of "Macht hoch die Tür" in its ''Erster Teil'' (First part).

The melody that is now associated with the text appeared first in 1704 in a hymnal by Johann Anastasius Freylinghausen, the ''Freylinghausen'sches Gesangbuch'' (Freylinghausen's Songbook), titled ''Geist-reiches Gesang-Buch'' (Song book rich in spirit). Johann Anastasius Freylinghausen: ''Geist-reiches Gesang-Buch''. 3. Auflage. Waisenhaus, Halle 1706, S. 7 f. ().

It has been set to music frequently, such as a five-part choral setting by Max Reger, No. 1 of his ''Zwölf deutsche geistliche Gesänge'', WoO VI/13/1, written in 1899.

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Translations

As one of the best-known and most popular Advent songs, it was translated to several languages. Niels Johannes Holm translated it to Norwegian in 1829, revised by Magnus Brostrup Landstad in 1861, as "Gjør døren høy". Catherine Winkworth wrote a translation to English in 1855, "Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates". A Swedish version, "Gör porten hög" was translated by for Jesper Swedberg's Book of Hymns, printed in 1694. It was revised for a later edition by Johan Olaf Wallin. In English, it has been translated as "Fling Wide the Door" by Gracia Grinal, 1943, published by Augsburg Fortress in its hymnals, most recently Evangelical Lutheran Worship.

Literature

* Werner Krause: ''Es kommt der Herr der Herrlichkeit. Wie das Adventslied "Macht hoch die Tür" entstand''. 4th ed. Johannis, Lahr 2004, .
* Martin Gotthard Schneider, Gerhard Vicktor (eds.): ''Alte Choräle – neu erlebt. Kreativer Umgang mit Kirchenliedern in Schule und Gemeinde''. Kaufmann, Lahr 1993, , pp 144ff
* Karl Christian Thust: ''Die Lieder des Evangelischen Gesangbuchs'', vol I: ''Kirchenjahr und Gottesdienst (EG 1–269). Kommentar zu Entstehung, Text und Musik''. Bärenreiter, Kassel et al. 2012, , pp 10–12.

References

External links

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Macht hoch die Tür
Liederprojekt of SWR

Macht hoch die Tür', die Tor' macht weit
lieder-archiv.de

''Macht hoch die Tür''
Christliche Liederdatenbank
* Xaver Frühbeis

BR-Klassik, 25 December 2015

Macht hoch die Tür
lieder-vom-glauben.de Protestant Church of Württemberg


Carus
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Macht hoch die Tür
17th-century hymns in German
Advent songs
Hymn tunes