Wie soll ich dich empfangen

Paul Gerhardt wrote the lyrics == Text ==

The song is structured in ten stanzas of eight lines each, in bar form. The singer, speaking in the first person, addresses Jesus, establishing a relationship. The first question is "How shall I receive you?". The first five stanzas, using the verbs "empfangen" (receive) and "umfangen" (surround") expand God's love for humans. The image of a "Fackel" (torch) in the first stanza relates to the parable of the ten virgins, () the image of palm branches offered for the reception is reminiscent of the entry into Jerusalem (). The later five stanzas describe the condition of the congregation as stressful and threatened by enemies, pointing out especially fear of a day of wrath which is expected in a near future (stanza 6: "steht vor der Tür" (stands at the door, as in ). The term Advent (arrival) appears in four meanings in the following stanzas: in mercy, as redeemer, as king, and as judge. Catherine Winkworth translated six of its ten stanzas freely, beginning "Ah! Lord, how shall I meet Thee". == Melodies and settings ==

\header { tagline = ##f composer = "Johann Crüger" } \paper { #(set-paper-size "a4") } \layout { indent = 0 \context { \Score \remove "Bar_number_engraver" } \context { \Voice \remove "Dynamic_engraver" } } global = { \key f \major \time 4/4 \partial 4 } soprano = \relative c' { \global \set midiInstrument = "oboe" \repeat volta 2 { f4\f | a bes c c | bes2 a4 \breathe bes | a f g g | f2 r4 } c'4 | f2 e | d4 c c (b!) | c2 r4 a | c c bes a | g2 r4 a | f f g a | bes2 a4 \breathe c | bes a g g | f2. \bar "|." } alto = \relative c' { \global \set midiInstrument = "english horn" \repeat volta 2 { f4\p | f2 e4 f | d e f f | c d d e f2 r4 } a4 | a b c2 | b4 e, a g e2 r4 f | g a8 g f e f4~ | f e8 d e4 e | f e d c | d e f f~ | f8 e f2 e4 | f2. \bar "|." } tenor = \relative c { \global \set midiInstrument = "bassoon" \repeat volta 2 { f4\f | f d c a | g2 f'4 d | a d bes c | f2 r4 } f8 e | d2 c4 e | g a f g | c,2 r4 f4 | e f g a8 bes | c2. c4 d c bes a | g2 f4 a | g a8 bes c4 c, | f2. \bar "|." } verse = \lyricmode { > O Je -- su, Je -- su, set -- ze mir selbst die Fa -- ckel bei, da -- mit, was dich er -- göt -- ze, mir kund und wis -- send sei. } \score { \new ChoirStaff > \new Lyrics \with { alignAboveContext = "right" } \lyricsto "soprano" \verse \new Staff > >> \layout { } } \score { \unfoldRepeats > \midi { \tempo 4=108 \context { \Score midiChannelMapping = #'instrument } \context { \Staff \remove "Staff_performer" } \context { \Voice \consists "Staff_performer" } } } Johann Crüger first published the hymn in 1653 in the fifth edition of the hymnal Praxis pietatis melica by Johann Crüger, with a melody he composed himself. but set to Hans Leo Hassler's "Befiehl du deine Wege" melody (Zahn 5385a)—the same melody as "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden", which returns in the work's final movement. In the current Protestant hymnal Evangelisches Gesangbuch, the song is EG 11. It is also part of several other hymnals and songbooks. == References ==