The old German hymn of thanksgiving called 'Nun danket alle Gott' written long ago by a Lutheran
minister in Eilenburg, Saxony named Martin Rinkart, the son of a poor coppersmith. The hymn was
originally titled "Tisch-Gebetlein," or a "little prayer before the meal" and this humble prayer has an
astonishing history and has been sung on many powerfull occasions.
minister in Eilenburg, Saxony named Martin Rinkart, the son of a poor coppersmith. The hymn was
originally titled "Tisch-Gebetlein," or a "little prayer before the meal" and this humble prayer has an
astonishing history and has been sung on many powerfull occasions.
It was famous in the 18th century as 'The Hymn
of Leuthen', in reference to the Seven Years' War,
when on December 5, 1757, the Prussian army
under Friedrich the Great defeated the Austrians in
the Battle of Leuthen. The losses at Leuthen were
high on all sides: 3,000 killed and 7,000 wounded
on the Austrian side, and more than 1,000 deaths
with more than 6,000 wounded on Prussian side.
Following the heated battle, a lone Prussian soldier
began to sing 'Nun danket alle Gott' and suddenly
the entire Prussian army of up to 25,000 men
spontaneously took up the hymn of thanks.
of Leuthen', in reference to the Seven Years' War,
when on December 5, 1757, the Prussian army
under Friedrich the Great defeated the Austrians in
the Battle of Leuthen. The losses at Leuthen were
high on all sides: 3,000 killed and 7,000 wounded
on the Austrian side, and more than 1,000 deaths
with more than 6,000 wounded on Prussian side.
Following the heated battle, a lone Prussian soldier
began to sing 'Nun danket alle Gott' and suddenly
the entire Prussian army of up to 25,000 men
spontaneously took up the hymn of thanks.
During the Thirty Years’ War, the walled city of Eilenburg witnessed
sorrowful crowds of refugees pouring through its gates seeking refuge from
the carnage. The Swedish army surrounded the city and famine and plague
ensued, taking a terrible toll. In the first year, thousands perished. All but
three town councilmen died along with scores of school children. Burying
upwards of fifty people a day, the town pastors succumbed one by one until
Rinkart was the only one left. The town was unable to pay the huge ransom
the Swedes demanded as protection money, and the famine which followed
the pestilence was so dire that people fought in the streets over a dead animal
or bird. Rinkart, still grieving over the death of his wife and with no regard
for his personal safety, left the security of the walls to beg for mercy.
sorrowful crowds of refugees pouring through its gates seeking refuge from
the carnage. The Swedish army surrounded the city and famine and plague
ensued, taking a terrible toll. In the first year, thousands perished. All but
three town councilmen died along with scores of school children. Burying
upwards of fifty people a day, the town pastors succumbed one by one until
Rinkart was the only one left. The town was unable to pay the huge ransom
the Swedes demanded as protection money, and the famine which followed
the pestilence was so dire that people fought in the streets over a dead animal
or bird. Rinkart, still grieving over the death of his wife and with no regard
for his personal safety, left the security of the walls to beg for mercy.
The hymn was later immortalized in 1955 in West
Germany at Friedland camp. The last (official)
surviving German prisoners of war were finally
released from the Soviet Union after 10 long, hard
years of slavery, and they arrived singing the
hymn, left. The hymn is today sung in countless
churches world wide and in many languages.
Germany at Friedland camp. The last (official)
surviving German prisoners of war were finally
released from the Soviet Union after 10 long, hard
years of slavery, and they arrived singing the
hymn, left. The hymn is today sung in countless
churches world wide and in many languages.
| Now Thank We.... |
| Nun danket alle Gott mit Herzen, Mund und Händen. Der große Dinge tut an uns und allen Enden, Der uns von Mutterleib und Kindesbeinen an Unzählig viel zu gut und noch jetzund getan. Der ewig reiche Gott woll uns bei unsrem Leben Ein immer fröhlich Herz und edlen Frieden geben Und uns in seiner Gnad erhalten fort und fort Und uns aus aller Not erlösen hier und dort. Lob, Ehr und Preis sei Gott, dem Vater und dem Sohne Und dem, der beiden gleich im höchsten Himmelsthrone, Dem dreimal einen Gott, als er ursprünglich war Und ist und bleiben wird jetzund und immerdar. |
| Nun danket alle Gott |
The Swedish commander was so impressed by his courage that he altered his demands. Even though
Rinckart's own losses were so great that he could barely feed his children and had to mortgage his
future income for several years, he wrote this hymn for a thanksgiving service as the war was ending.
Towards the end of the 17th Century, the song had been inserted in many Protestant church song
books in Germany.
Rinckart's own losses were so great that he could barely feed his children and had to mortgage his
future income for several years, he wrote this hymn for a thanksgiving service as the war was ending.
Towards the end of the 17th Century, the song had been inserted in many Protestant church song
books in Germany.
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The song took countless musical adaptations,
including those of Pachelbel, Telemann, Bach,
Liszt, Reger and others. This hymn was also sung
by the Dissenters in Leiden before embarking on
the Mayflower to Massachusetts.
including those of Pachelbel, Telemann, Bach,
Liszt, Reger and others. This hymn was also sung
by the Dissenters in Leiden before embarking on
the Mayflower to Massachusetts.
Later, it was the "theme song" of the Mennonites
fleeing persecution in Russia in the 1920s.
fleeing persecution in Russia in the 1920s.