Hymn to the holy spirit
(Poet's title: Hymnus an den heiligen Geist)
Set by Schubert:
D 948
first version for TTBB soloists and TTBB choir (former D 941)
second version for TTBB soloists and TTBB choir with wind instruments (former D 964)[1828]
Komm’ heil’ger Geist! erhöre unser Flehen,
Die sehnend auf zu dir, zu dir Verheißnem sehen.
Herab auf uns komm, Tröster du!
In unser Herz leg Himmelsruh.
O komm zu stärken unsern Glaubensmut,
Verlass auf unserm Pfad uns nicht,
Du Bote aus des Himmels Licht,
Und leite uns zu dem, was recht und gut!
Come, holy spirit! listen to our prayers
Which rise with longing to you, to you in accordance with your promise.
Come down to us, you comforter,
Instil the peace of heaven in our hearts.
Oh come to strengthen the courage of our faith,
Do not abandon us on our path,
You ambassador from the light of heaven,
And lead us to what is right and good!
All translations into English that appear on this website, unless otherwise stated, are by Malcolm Wren. You are free to use them on condition that you acknowledge Malcolm Wren as the translator and schubertsong.uk as the source. Unless otherwise stated, the comments and essays that appear after the texts and translations are by Malcolm Wren and are © Copyright.
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Themes and images in this text:
Note by Peter Rastl: This is the text from Schubert’s manuscript. The first edition of Schubert’s Hymnus an den heiligen Geist, published as op. posth. 154 by Anton Diabelli in 1849, conveys a rather different text:
Herr, unser Gott! erhöre unser Flehen,
Die sehnend auf zu dir, zu dir, Allgüt’ger, sehen;
Herab auf uns sieh’, Tröster du,
In unser Herz leg’ Himmelsruh’!
Erfülle uns mit Kraft und Glaubensmuth,
Verlass’ auf unserm Pfad uns nicht!
Es leite uns zu dem, was recht und gut.
O Herr, verlass’ uns nicht!
Oh Lord our God! listen to our prayers
Which rise with longing to you, to you fount of all goodness.
Look down on us, you comforter,
Instil the peace of heaven in our hearts.
Fill us with power and the courage of our faith,
Do not abandon us on our path!
May we be led to what is right and good,
Oh Lord, do not abandon us!
The text of this prayer has never been published independently of Schubert’s musical setting of it. Its attribution to Anton Schmidl (1802 – 1863), a geographer and topologist not otherwise noted for theological or liturgical work, remains uncertain. Even Leo Black (Franz Schubert: Music and Belief 2003 page 159) was not able to determine why Schubert chose (or was given) the text or why he prepared his setting, but he speculates that it may be part of his preparation for the E flat Mass (D 950).
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Original Spelling Hymnus an den heiligen Geist Komm' heil'ger Geist! erhöre unser Flehen, Die sehnend auf zu dir, zu dir Verheißnem sehen. Herab auf uns komm, Tröster du, In unser Herz leg' Himmelsruh'. O komm zu stärken unsern Glaubensmuth, Verlaß auf unserm Pfad uns nicht, Du Bote aus des Himmels Licht, Und leite uns zu dem, was recht und gut!