Gott sei gelobet und gebenedeiet

Gott sei gelobet und gebenedeiet. Martin Luther* (1483-1546). The first stanza dates from pre-Reformation times. It is a ‘Doppel-Leise’ (Jenny, Luthers geistliche Lieder, no. 4, pp. 163-4), with ‘Kyrieleyson’ occurring twice in each stanza (lines 5 and 10). It is ascribed to ‘Medingen, ca. 1350’ in EG. Luther added two further stanzas to make a hymn first published in Ein Enchiridion oder Handbuchleyn (Erfurt, 1524), now EG 214. The title was simply ‘Der gesang Got sey gelobet’ (Wackernagel, Das Deutsche Kirchenlied III. 10). As in his treatment of other Leisen, Luther used the melody of the original (Jenny, p. 163). A translation of this hymn, ‘Gud vare lovad! Han som i sin godhet’,...