Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele

Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele. Johann Franck* (1618-1677). Stanza 1 of this text appeared in Johann Crüger*’s Geistliche Kirchen Melodien (Leipzig, 1649). The complete hymn of nine 8-line stanzas appeared in the book published by Christoph Runge/Johann Crüger (‘the Crüger-Runge Gesangbuch’), entitled D.M. Luthers und anderer vornehmen geistreichen und gelehrten Männer Geistliche Lieder und Psalmen (Berlin, 1653). The hymn was entitled ‘Preparation for Holy Communion’. It had nine 8-line stanzas. In EG, where it is found in the ‘Abendmahl’ (‘Holy Communion’) section (EG 218), it is shortened to six, omitting stanzas 2, 3, and 8: FranckThe Lutheran Hymnal, 1940 2. Eile, wie Verlobte...