My Starred Hymns
My FlexScores
My Hymnals
My Purchased Files
Planning worship?
Check out our sister site, ZeteoSearch.org,
for 20+ additional resources related to your search.
- |
User Links
Person Results
Catherine Winkworth
1827 - 1878 Person Name: Catherine Winkworth, 1827-1878 Author of "Who are those before God's throne" in Lyra Germanica Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used in many modern hymnals. Her work was published in two series of Lyra Germanica (1855, 1858) and in The Chorale Book for England (1863), which included the appropriate German tune with each text as provided by Sterndale Bennett and Otto Goldschmidt. Winkworth also translated biographies of German Christians who promoted ministries to the poor and sick and compiled a handbook of biographies of German hymn authors, Christian Singers of Germany (1869).
Bert Polman
========================
Winkworth, Catherine, daughter of Henry Winkworth, of Alderley Edge, Cheshire, was born in London, Sep. 13, 1829. Most of her early life was spent in the neighbourhood of Manchester. Subsequently she removed with the family to Clifton, near Bristol. She died suddenly of heart disease, at Monnetier, in Savoy, in July, 1878. Miss Winkworth published:—
Translations from the German of the Life of Pastor Fliedner, the Founder of the Sisterhood of Protestant Deaconesses at Kaiserworth, 1861; and of the Life of Amelia Sieveking, 1863.
Her sympathy with practical efforts for the benefit of women, and with a pure devotional life, as seen in these translations, received from her the most practical illustration possible in the deep and active interest which she took in educational work in connection with the Clifton Association for the Higher Education of Women, and kindred societies there and elsewhere. Our interest, however, is mainly centred in her hymnological work as embodied in her:—
(1) Lyra Germanica, 1st Ser., 1855. (2) Lyra Germanica, 2nd Ser., 1858. (3) The Chorale Book for England (containing translations from the German, together with music), 1863; and (4) her charming biographical work, the Christian Singers of Germany, 1869.
In a sympathetic article on Miss Winkworth in the Inquirer of July 20, 1878, Dr. Martineau says:—
"The translations contained in these volumes are invariably faithful, and for the most part both terse and delicate; and an admirable art is applied to the management of complex and difficult versification. They have not quite the fire of John Wesley's versions of Moravian hymns, or the wonderful fusion and reproduction of thought which may be found in Coleridge. But if less flowing they are more conscientious than either, and attain a result as poetical as severe exactitude admits, being only a little short of ‘native music'"
Dr. Percival, then Principal of Clifton College, also wrote concerning her (in the Bristol Times and Mirror), in July, 1878:—
"She was a person of remarkable intellectual and social gifts, and very unusual attainments; but what specially distinguished her was her combination of rare ability and great knowledge with a certain tender and sympathetic refinement which constitutes the special charm of the true womanly character."
Dr. Martineau (as above) says her religious life afforded "a happy example of the piety which the Church of England discipline may implant.....The fast hold she retained of her discipleship of Christ was no example of ‘feminine simplicity,' carrying on the childish mind into maturer years, but the clear allegiance of a firm mind, familiar with the pretensions of non-Christian schools, well able to test them, and undiverted by them from her first love."
Miss Winkworth, although not the earliest of modern translators from the German into English, is certainly the foremost in rank and popularity. Her translations are the most widely used of any from that language, and have had more to do with the modern revival of the English use of German hymns than the versions of any other writer.
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
============================
See also in:
Hymn Writers of the Church
Catherine Winkworth
Heinrich Theobald Schenk
1656 - 1727 Person Name: Schenk, d. 1727 Author of "Who are those that, fare before me" in Chorale Book for England, The Schenk, Heinrich Theobald, son of Simon Schenk, pastor at Heidelbach, on the Schwalm, near Alsfeld, Hesse, was born at Heidelbach, April 10, 1656. He entered the Padagogium at Giessen, in 1670, and then pursued his studies at the University (M.A. 1676). In 1676 he returned to the Padagogium, as one of the masters; and was, from 1677 to 1689, "præceptor classicus." On Dec. 27, 1689, he was ordained as Town preacher and "definitor," at the Stadtkirche in Giessen. He died at Giessen, April 11, and was buried there April 15, 1727…The registers at Giessen give the date of his funeral, but not of his death; but say, that at his death he was aged 71 years less 10 days, which would rather suggest April 21 as the date of his birth.) Only one hymn is known by him, but it is a hymn which is found in almost all recent German hymn-books; and, through translations, in many recent English collections. It is:—
Wer sind die vor Gottes Throne. Eternal Life. This is found in the Neuvennehrtes Gesangbilchlein, Frankfurt-am-Main, 1719, No. 362, p. 341… It is a beautiful hymn on the Church Triumphant (i.-xiii.), and on the aspirations of the Church Militant to attain the same victorious glory. Translated as:—
1. Who are these like stars appearing. By Miss Cox, in her Sacred Hymns from the German, 1841, p. 89, being a very good translation of st. i.—vi., ix.-xi., xiv.-xvii., xx. This has come into extensive use in the cento adopted in Alford's Psalms & Hymns, 1844; and repeated in Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1861; being the trs. of st. i., iii.-v., ix. Other centos are found in Rorison's Hymns & Anthems, 1851, &c. Other forms may also be noted:—
(1) "Lo! a multitude appearing." This, in T. Darling's Hymns for Ch. of England, 1874, is based on Miss Cox's st. i., iv., v., with two additional stanzas.
(2) "Who are these in dazzling brightness. Bearing the victorious palm."
2. Who are these in light adoring. By A. T. Russell, as No. 145 in his Psalms & Hymns, 1851 ; being a tr. of st. i., iv., xi., xv.
3. Who are those before God's throne, What the crowned host I see. This is a good tr. of st. i.-vi., ix., x., xiv., xvii., xx., by Miss Winkworth in herLyra Germanica, 1st Ser., 1855, p. 207
Other translations are:—
(1) "Who are those before God's throne, What the countless." By J. D. Burns, in the Family Treasury, 1859, pt. i., p. 307; and his Memoir & Remains, 1869, p. 267. (2) " Who are those round God's throne stand-ing." By Miss Manington, 1863, p. 90. (3) "What is this host that round the throne." By Miss Warner, 1869, p. 20. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
--Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Heinrich Theobald Schenk
Hartmann Schenk
1634 - 1681 Person Name: Schenck Author of "Who are those before God's throne" in Church Harmonies Hartmann Schenk; b. 1634, Ruhla, near Eisenach; d. 1681, Voelkershausen. Pastor at Bibra and Ostheim
Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal, 1908
Hartmann Schenk
