LL-L "Literature" 2003.12.18 (03) [E]

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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Literature

Dear Lowlanders,

I have located a 1558 Middle Saxon ("Middle Low German") translation of the
German Christmas hymn _Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her_ of 1535 by Martin
Luther.  Although it shows signs of ("High") German interference -- or
perhaps because of it -- it is an interesting piece, certainly
linguistically, which is the reason why I want to share it with you
(certainly not for religious reasons).

I have attempted phonetic reconstructions, in other words the pronunciation
of the time, using the International Phonetic Alpabet
(http://www.arts.gla.ac.uk/IPA/ipachart.html,
http://multiweb.lib.calpoly.edu/medialib/ipa/ipap.html).  There are two
versions of the phonetic reconstruction.  The first version assumes that
umlauting was in progress at the time, while the second versions assumes
that umlauting was complete.  (Please note that what we now show as umlauted
characters with two dots on top at that time was symbolized by vowel signs
with a small version of "e" above it.)

My reconstructions are based upon what I have read about the pronunciation
of the time, what I can deduce from spelling (including its
inconsistencies), and what I know about the phonologies of the descendant
dialects.  I would appreciate anyone's input on this.

Perhaps some of you will even be daring enough to sing the hymn in Middle
Saxon this or next Christmas.  ;)

If you cannot read the IPA transcription in your email program, or if you
prefer to see the texts side-by-side, please download one of the following
PDF files in which I embedded the font (Arial Unicode):

U.S. letter size: http://sassisch.net/hemmel-letter.pdf
International A4 size: http://sassisch.net/hemmel-A4.pdf
Music (MIDI): http://sassisch.net/vomhimmelhoch.mid

Happy Holidays, and friendly regards,
Reinhard/Ron

***


Contents:
   I. German Version
   II. Middle Saxon (“Middle Low German”) version
   III. Phonetic Middle Saxon version A
   IV. Phonetic Middle Saxon version B
   V. English Version

***

I. German Version:
Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her
Words by Martin Luther,1535
Tune by Valten (Valentin) Schumann, Leipzig 1539
MIDI: http://www.sassisch.net/vomhimmelhoch.mid
1.
   Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her,
   ich bring Euch gute neue Mär,
   der guten Mär bring ich so viel,
   davon ich sing’n und sagen will.
2.
   Euch ist ein Kindlein heut’ geborn
   von einer Jungfrau, auserkorn;
   das Kindelein so zart und fein,
   das soll eu’r Freund’ und Wonne sein.
3.
   Es ist der Herr Christ unser Gott,
   der will euch führn aus aller Not,
   er will eu’r Heiland selber sein,
   von allen Sünden machen rein.
4.
   Er bringt euch alle Seligkeit,
   die Gott, der Vater, hat bereit’,
   daß ihr mit uns im Himmelreich
   sollt leben nun und ewiglich.
5.
   So merket an das Zeichen recht,
   die Krippen, Windelein so schlecht:
   Da findet ihr das Kind gelegt,
   das alle Welt erhebt und trägt.
6.
   Des laßt uns alle fröhlich sein
   und mit den Hirten gehn hinein,
   zu sehen, was Gott uns beschert,
   mit seinem lieben Sohn verehrt.
7.
   Merkt auf, mein Herz, und sieh dort hin:
   Was liegt doch in dem Krippelein?
   Was ist das schöne Kindelein?
   Es ist das liebe Jesulein.
8.
   Sei uns willkomm’n, du edler Gast!
   Den Sünder nicht verschmähet hast
   und kommst ins Elend her zu mir,
   wie soll ich immer danken dir?
9.
   Ach Herr, du Schöpfer aller Ding’,
   wie bist du ‘worden so gering,
   daß du da liegst auf dürrem Gras,
   davon ein Rind und Esel aß.
10.
   Und wär’ die Welt vielmal so weit,
   von Edelstein und Gold bereit’,
   so wär’sie doch dir viel zu klein,
   zu sein ein enges Wiegelein.
11.
   Der Sammet und die Seiden dein,
   das ist grob’Heu und Windelein,
   darauf du Kind, so groß und reich,
   her prangst als wär’s dein Himmelreich.
12.
   Das hat also gefallen dir,
   die Wahrheit anzuzeigen mir:
   Wie aller Welt Macht, Ehr’und Gut
   vor Dir nichts gilt, nichts hilft noch tut.
13.
   Ach, mein herzliebes Jesulein,
   mach dir ein fein sanft’ Bettelein,
   zu ruhn in meines Herzens Schrein,
   daß ich nimmer vergesse dein!
14.
   Davon ich all’zeit fröhlich sei,
   zu springen, singen immer frei
   das rechte Susaninne schon,
   mit Herzens Lust den süßen Ton.
15.
   Lob, Ehr’ sei Gott im höchsten Thron,
   der uns schenkt’ seinen ein’gen Sohn;
   des freuen sich der Engel Schar’
   und singen uns solch’s neues Jahr.

***

II. Middle Saxon (“Middle Low German”) version:
Vam Hemmel hoch dar kaem ick her
Translation with German interference
Hamburg Hymnal, 1558
[Bracketed numbers indicate verse order of the translation]
1.
   [1] Vam Hemmel hoch dar kaem ick her,
   ick bringe iuw gude nye meer,
   Der guden meer bringe ick so vel,
   darvan ick singen und seggen wil.
2.
   [2] Iuw ys ein Kindlin hüdt gebarn,
   van einer Junckfrouw utherkarn,
   Ein Kindelin so zart und fyn,
   dat schal iuwe fröud und wunne syn.
3.
   [3] Idt ys de Here Christ unser Godt,
   de will iuw helpen uth aller noth,
   He wil iuwe Heilandt sülven syn,
   van allen Sünden maken rein.
4.
   [4] He bringet yuw alle salichheit,
   de Godt de Vader hefft bereidt,
   Dat gy mit uns im Hemmelryck,
   schölt leven nu und ewichlick.
5.
   [10] So mercket nu dat teken recht,
   de Krübben, windelin so slecht,
   Dar vinde gy dat Kindt gelecht,
   dat alle Werldt erholdt und drecht.
6.
   [11] Des lath unns alle frölick syn,
   und mit den Herdes ghan hen in.
   Tho seen wath Godt uns hefft beschert,
   mit synem leven sön vorehrt.
7.
   [12] Merck up myn herte und sü darhen,
   wath licht doch in dem Krübbelin,
   Wens ys dat schöne Kindelin,
   yth ys dat leve Jhesulin.
8.
   [13] Wes wilkamen du eddle Gast,
   den Sunder nicht vorsmadet hast,
   Und kumpst int elend her to my,
   wo schal ick yümmer dancken dy.
9.
   [14] Ach Herr du Schepper aller ding,
   wo bistu worden so gering,
   Dat du dar lichst up dörrem Gras,
   darvan ein Rindt und Esel ass.
10.
   [15] Und weer de Werldt vel mäl so wydt,
   van eddel Steen und Goldt bereidt,
   So weer se doch dy vel tho klein,
   tho syn ein enge Wegelin.
11.
   [5] De Sammit und de Syden dyn,
   dat us groff Höw und Windelin,
   Darup du Köninck so groth und ryck,
   her prangst als weer ydt dyn Hemmelryck.
12.
   [6] Dat hefft also gefallen dy,
   de warheit an thotögen my,
   Wo aller Werldt macht ehr und gudt,
   vor dy nichts geldt, nichts helpt noch dhot.
13.
   [7] Ach myn hertz leve Jhesulin,
   mäck dy ein rein week beddelin,
   Tho röuwen in mynes herten schryn,
   dat ick nümmer vorgethe dyn.
14.
   [8] Darvan ick alltydt frölick sy,
   tho springen singen yümmer fry,
   Dat rechte süsseninne schon,
   mit herten lust den söten thon.
15.
   [9] Loff ehr sy Godth im högsten Thron,
   de uns schenckt synen enigen Sön,
   Des fröuwet sich der Engel schär,
   und singet uns dat thom nyen Jar.

***

   Phonetic Middle Saxon Version A:
   faˑm 'hɛːməɫ hoːx dɒːr kɒːm ɪk heːr
   simplified tentative reconstruction, R. F. Hahn, 2003
   A. Incomplete umlauting
   Verse order as in translation
1.
    faˑm 'hɛːməɫ hoːx dɒːr kɒˑəm ɪk heːr
   ɪk 'brɪˑŋə juːw 'guːdə 'niːjə meːr
   deːr 'guːdən meːr 'brɪˑŋə ɪk zoː feːɫ
   dɒːr faË‘n ɪk 'zɪˑŋən Ê Ë‘nt 'zÉ›gÉ™n vɪˑɫ
2.
   juːw ɪs ɛˑɪn 'kɪˑntliˑn huˑɪt gə'bɒːrn
   faË‘n 'ɛˑɪnÉ™r 'jÊ Ë‘Å‹kfrÉ”Ë‘Ê w uːtʔɛˑrkɒːrn
   ɛˑɪn 'kɪˑndÉ™liË‘n zoː (t)saË‘rt Ê Ë‘nt fiːn
   dat ʃaË‘É« 'juːwÉ™ frÉ”eʏd Ê Ë‘nt 'vÊ Ë‘nÉ™ ziːn
3.
   ɪt ɪs deˑɪ 'hɛˑrÉ™ krɪst 'Ê Ë‘nzÉ™r gÉ”t
   deˑɪ vɪˑɫ juːw 'hɛˑɫpən uːt 'aˑlər noːt
   heˑɪ vɪˑɫ 'juːwÉ™ 'hɛˑɪlaË‘nt 'zÊ ÉªÉ«vÉ™n ziːn
   faË‘n 'aË‘lÉ™n 'zÊ ÉªndÉ™n 'mɒːkÉ™n rɛˑɪn
4.
   heˑɪ 'brɪˑŋət 'juːw 'aˑlə 'zɒːlɪçhɛˑɪt
   deˑɪ gɔt deˑɪ 'fɒːdər hɛft bə'rɛˑɪt
   dat giː mɪt Ê Ë‘ns ɪˑm 'hɛˑməɫriːk
   ʃɔˑeÉ«t 'leːvÉ™n nuː Ê Ë‘nt 'eˑɪvɪçlɪk
5.
   deˑɪ 'zaË‘mɪt Ê Ë‘nt deˑɪ 'ziːdÉ™n diːn
   dat Ê s grÉ”f hɔˑew Ê Ë‘nt 'vɪˑndÉ™liːn
   dɒː'rÊ p duː 'koË‘É™nɪˑŋk zoː groːt Ê Ë‘nt riːk
   hɛˑr praˑŋkst aˑɫs weːr ɪt diːn 'hɛˑməɫriːk
6.
   dat hɛft aˑɫ'zoː gə'faˑlən diː
   deˑɪ 'vɒːrhɛˑɪt aˑn tɔˑə 'toˑəgən miː
   vɔˑə 'aË‘lÉ™r vɛˑrÉ«t maxt eːɪr Ê Ë‘nt guːt
   fɔˑr diː nɪçts gɛˑɫt nɪçts hɛˑɫpt nɔx dɔˑət
7.
   ax miːn hɛˑrts 'leˑɪvə 'jeːzuliˑn
   mɒˑək diː ɛˑɪn rɛˑɪn weˑɪk 'bɛdəliˑn
   tɔˑə 'rɔeʏwən ɪˑn 'miːnəs 'hɛˑrtən ʃriːn
   dat ɪk 'nÊ ÉªmÉ™r fɔˑr'geːtÉ™ diːn
8.
   dɒːr faˑn ɪk 'aˑɫtiːt 'froˑəlɪk ziː
   tɔˑə 'sprɪˑŋən 'zɪˑŋən jÊ ÉªmÉ™r friː
   dat 'rɛçtÉ™ 'zÊ ÉªsəˑnɪˑnÉ™ ʃoːn
   mɪt 'hɛˑrtÉ™ lÊ st dɛˑn 'zɔˑətÉ™n toːn
9.
   lɔf eːɪr ziː gɔt ɪˑm 'hoˑəçstən troːn
   deˑɪ Ê Ë‘ns ʃɛˑŋkt 'ziːnÉ™n 'ɛˑɪnigÉ™n zoË‘en
   dɛs 'frɔewət zɪç dɛˑr ' ɛˑŋəɫ ʃɒːər
   Ê Ë‘nt 'zɪˑŋət Ê Ë‘ns dat tɔˑəm 'niːjÉ™n jɒːr
10.
   zoː 'mɛˑrkət nuː dat 'teˑɪkən rɛçt
   deˑɪ 'krÊ ÉªbÉ™n 'vɪˑndÉ™liË‘n zoː slɛçt
   dɒːr 'fɪˑndə giː dat kɪˑnt gə'lɛçt
   dat 'aË‘lÉ™ vɛˑrÉ«t É›r'hɔˑɫt Ê Ë‘nt drɛçt
11.
   dÉ›s lɒːt Ê Ë‘ns 'aË‘lÉ™ 'froË‘É™lɪk ziːn
   Ê Ë‘nt mit dɛˑn 'hɛˑrdÉ™s gɒːn hɛˑn ɪˑn
   tɔˑə zeːn vat gÉ”t Ê Ë‘ns hÉ›ft bÉ™'ʃeːrt
   mɪt 'ziːnəm 'leˑɪvən zoˑən fɔˑr'ʔeːrt
12.
   mɛˑrk Ê”Ê p miːn 'hɛˑrtÉ™ Ê Ë‘nt zuˑɪ dɒːr hɛˑn
   vat lɪçt dÉ”x ʔɪˑn dɛˑm 'krÊ ÉªbÉ™liË‘n
   vɛˑns ɪs dat 'ʃoˑənə 'kɪˑndəliˑn
   ɪt ɪs dat 'leˑɪvə 'jeːzuliˑn
13.
   veːˑz 'vɪˑɫkɒːmən duː 'ɛdlə gast
   dɛˑn 'zÊ Ë‘ndÉ™r nɪçt fɔˑr'smɒːdÉ™t hast
   Ê Ë‘nt kÊ Ë‘mpst ɪˑnt 'eːlɛˑnt heːr tɔˑə miː
   vɔˑə ʃaË‘É« ɪk 'jÊ ÉªmÉ™r 'daË‘Å‹kÉ™n diː
14.
   ax hɛˑr duː 'ʃɛpər 'aˑlər dɪˑŋ
   vɔˑə 'bɪstu 'voˑrdən zoː gə'rɪˑŋ
   dat duː dɒːr lɪçst Ê p 'dɔərÉ™m gras
   dɒːr faË‘n ɛˑɪn rɪˑnt Ê Ë‘nt 'eːzəɫ as
15.
   Ê Ë‘nt veːr deˑɪ vɛˑrÉ«t feːɫ mɒˑəɫ zoː viːt
   faË‘n 'É›dəɫ steˑɪn Ê Ë‘nt gɔˑɫt bÉ™'rɛˑɪt
   zoː veːr zeˑɪ dɔx diː feːɫ tɔˑə klɛˑɪn
   tɔˑə 'ziːn ɛˑɪn 'ɛˑŋə 'veˑɪgəliˑn

***

Phonetic Middle Saxon Version B:
faˑm 'hɛːməɫ hoːx dɒːr kɒːm ɪk heːr
simplified tentative reconstruction, R. F. Hahn, 2003
B. Complete umlauting and sch-shift
Verse order as in translation
1.
    faˑm 'hɛːməɫ hoːx dɒːr kɒˑm ɪk heːr
   ɪk 'brɪˑŋə juːw 'guːdə 'niːjə meːr
   deːr 'guːdən meːr 'brɪˑŋə ɪk zoː feːɫ
   dɒːr faË‘n ɪk 'zɪˑŋən Ê Ë‘nt 'zÉ›gÉ™n vɪˑɫ
2.
   juːw ɪs ɛˑɪn 'kɪˑntliˑn hyːt gə'bɒːrn
   faË‘n 'ɛˑɪnÉ™r 'jÊ Ë‘Å‹kfrÉ”Ë‘Ê w uːtʔɛˑrkɒːrn
   ɛˑɪn 'kɪˑndÉ™liË‘n zoː (t)saË‘rt Ê Ë‘nt fiːn
   dat ʃaË‘É« 'juːwÉ™ frœːʏd Ê Ë‘nt 'vÊ Ë‘nÉ™ ziːn
3.
   ɪt ɪs deˑɪ 'hɛˑrÉ™ krɪst 'Ê Ë‘nzÉ™r gÉ”t
   deˑɪ vɪˑɫ juːw 'hɛˑɫpən uːt 'aˑlər noːt
   heˑɪ vɪˑɫ 'juːwə 'hɛˑɪlaˑnt 'zʏɫvən ziːn
   faˑn 'aˑlən 'zʏndən 'mɒːkən rɛˑɪn
4.
   heˑɪ 'brɪˑŋət 'juːw 'aˑlə 'zɒːlɪçhɛˑɪt
   deˑɪ gɔt deˑɪ 'fɒːdər hɛft bə'rɛˑɪt
   dat giː mɪt Ê Ë‘ns ɪˑm 'hɛˑməɫriːk
   ʃøːɫt 'leːvÉ™n nuː Ê Ë‘nt 'eˑɪvɪçlɪk
5.
   deˑɪ 'zaË‘mɪt Ê Ë‘nt deˑɪ 'ziːdÉ™n diːn
   dat Ê s grÉ”f hœˑʏw Ê Ë‘nt 'vɪˑndÉ™liːn
   dɒː'rÊ p duː 'køːnɪˑŋk zoː groːt Ê Ë‘nt riːk
   hɛˑr praˑŋkst aˑɫs weːr ɪt diːn 'hɛˑməɫriːk
6.
   dat hɛft aˑɫ'zoː gə'faˑlən diː
   deˑɪ 'vɒːrhɛˑɪt aˑn tɔˑə 'tøːgən miː
   vɔˑə 'aË‘lÉ™r vɛˑrÉ«t maxt eːɪr Ê Ë‘nt guːt
   fɔˑr diː nɪçts gɛˑɫt nɪçts hɛˑɫpt nɔx dɔˑət
7.
   ax miːn hɛˑrts 'leˑɪvə 'jeːzuliˑn
   mɒˑək diː ɛˑɪn rɛˑɪn weˑɪk 'bɛdəliˑn
   tɔˑə 'rœˑʏwən ɪˑn 'miːnəs 'hɛˑrtən ʃriːn
   dat ɪk 'nʏˑmər fɔˑr'geːtə diːn
8.
   dɒːr faˑn ɪk 'aˑɫtiːt 'frøːlɪk ziː
   tɔˑə 'sprɪˑŋən 'zɪˑŋən jʏˑmər friː
   dat 'rɛçtə 'zʏsəˑnɪˑnə ʃoːn
   mɪt 'hɛˑrtÉ™ lÊ st dɛˑn 'zœˑʏtÉ™n toːn
9.
   lɔf eːɪr ziː gɔt ɪˑm 'høːçstən troːn
   deˑɪ Ê Ë‘ns ʃɛˑŋkt 'ziːnÉ™n 'ɛˑɪnigÉ™n zøːn
   dɛs 'frɔewət zɪç dɛˑr ' ɛˑŋəɫ ʃɒːr
   Ê Ë‘nt 'zɪˑŋət Ê Ë‘ns dat tɔˑəm 'niːjÉ™n jɒːr
10.
   zoː 'mɛˑrkət nuː dat 'teˑɪkən rɛçt
   deˑɪ 'krʏbən 'vɪˑndəliˑn zoː slɛçt
   dɒːr 'fɪˑndə giː dat kɪˑnt gə'lɛçt
   dat 'aË‘lÉ™ vɛˑrÉ«t É›r'hɔˑɫt Ê Ë‘nt drɛçt
11.
   dÉ›s lɒːt Ê Ë‘ns 'aË‘lÉ™ 'frøːlɪk ziːn
   Ê Ë‘nt mit dɛˑn 'hɛˑrdÉ™s gɒːn hɛˑn ɪˑn
   tɔˑə zeːn vat gÉ”t Ê Ë‘ns hÉ›ft bÉ™'ʃeːrt
   mɪt 'ziːnəm 'leˑɪvən zøːn fɔˑr'ʔeːrt
12.
   mɛˑrk Ê”Ê p miːn 'hɛˑrtÉ™ Ê Ë‘nt zyː dɒːr hɛˑn
   vat lɪçt dɔx ʔɪˑn dɛˑm 'krʏbəliˑn
   vɛˑns ɪs dat 'ʃøːnə 'kɪˑndəliˑn
   ɪt ɪs dat 'leˑɪvə 'jeːzuliˑn
13.
   veːˑz 'vɪˑɫkɒːmən duː 'ɛdlə gast
   dɛˑn 'zÊ Ë‘ndÉ™r nɪçt fɔˑr'smɒːdÉ™t hast
   Ê Ë‘nt kÊ Ë‘mpst ɪˑnt 'eːlɛˑnt heːr tɔˑə miː
   vɔˑə ʃaˑɫ ɪk 'jʏˑmər 'daˑŋkən diː
14.
   ax hɛˑr duː 'ʃɛpər 'aˑlər dɪˑŋ
   vɔˑə 'bɪstu 'voˑrdən zoː gə'rɪˑŋ
   dat duː dɒːr lɪçst Ê p 'dÅ“Ë‘rÉ™m gras
   dɒːr faË‘n ɛˑɪn rɪˑnt Ê Ë‘nt 'eːzəɫ as
15.
   Ê Ë‘nt veːr deˑɪ vɛˑrÉ«t feːɫ mɒːɫ zoː viːt
   faË‘n 'É›dəɫ steˑɪn Ê Ë‘nt gɔˑɫt bÉ™'rɛˑɪt
   zoː veːr zeˑɪ dɔx diː feːɫ tɔˑə klɛˑɪn
   tɔˑə 'ziːn ɛˑɪn 'ɛˑŋə 'veˑɪgəliˑn

***

V. English Version:
>From Heaven High I Come To You
Translation by Catherine Winkworth, 1855
[Bracketed numbers indicate verse order of the translation]
1.
   [1] “From heaven above to earth I come
   To bear good news to every home;
   Glad tidings of great joy I bring,
   Whereof I now will say and sing:
2.
   [2] “To you this night is born a child
   Of Mary, chosen virgin mild;
   This little child, of lowly birth,
   Shall be the joy of all the earth.
3.
   [3] “This is the Christ, our God and Lord,
   Who in all need shall aid afford;
   He will Himself your Savior be
   From all your sins to set you free.
4.
   [4] “He will on you the gifts bestow
   Prepared by God for all below,
   That in His kingdom, bright and fair,
   You may with us His glory share.
5.
   [11] For velvets soft and silken stuff
   Thou hast but hay and straw so rough,
   Whereon Thou, King, so rich and great,
   As ’twere Thy heaven, art throned in state.
6.
   [12] And thus, dear Lord, it pleaseth Thee
   To make this truth quite plain to me,
   That all the world’s wealth, honor, might,
   Are naught and worthless in Thy sight.
7.
   [13] Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,
   Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
   Within my heart, that it may be
   A quiet chamber kept for Thee.
8.
   [14] My heart for very joy doth leap,
   My lips no more can silence keep;
   I, too, must sing with joyful tongue
   That sweetest ancient cradle-song:
9.
   [15] Glory to God in highest heaven,
   Who unto us His Son hath given!
   While angels sing with pious mirth
   A glad new year to all the earth.
10.
   [5] “These are the tokens ye shall mark:
   The swaddling-clothes and manger dark;
   There ye shall find the Infant laid
   By whom the heavens and earth were made.”
11.
   [6] Now let us all with gladsome cheer
   Go with the shepherds and draw near
   To see the precious gift of God,
   Who hath His own dear Son bestowed.
12.
   [7] Give heed, my heart, lift up thine eyes!
   What is it in yon manger lies?
   Who is this child, so young and fair?
   The blessed Christ-child lieth there.
13.
   [8] Welcome to earth, Thou noble Guest,
   Through whom the sinful world is blest!
   Thou com’st to share my misery;
   What thanks shall I return to Thee?
14.
   [9] Ah, Lord, who hast created all,
   How weak art Thou, how poor and small,
   That Thou dost choose Thine infant bed
   Where humble cattle lately fed!
15.
   [10] Were earth a thousand times as fair,
   Beset with gold and jewels rare,
   It yet were far too poor to be
   A narrow cradle, Lord, for Thee.

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