O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf

O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf. Friedrich Spee von Langenfeld* (1591-1635), verse 7 by David Gregor Corner* (1585-1648). The first six stanzas were published in Psalm XIV… Das Allerschönste Kind in der Welt (Würzburg, 1622); with the doxology of stanza 7 added it appeared in Corner’s Groß Catolisch Gesangbüch (Nürnberg), 1631, entitled ‘Altvätter verlangen nach dem Messia’ (‘ancient longings for the Messiah’). It is an Advent hymn, based on Isaiah 64: 1 (‘Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down’) and the ‘Rorate coeli desuper’ of Isaiah 45: 8 (‘Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness’). It is one of the best known and most...