A German Christmas Carol in German and English
Music: from a Czech carol (ca. 1700)
Lyrics: Carl Riedel (1870)
“Kommet, ihr Hirten” (Come, ye shepherds) is a German Christmas carol that was derived from the Czech carol, “Nesem vám noviny” (We bring you news). The German words reflect elements from the nativity story, the Annunciation to the shepherds, their trek to the manger and their Adoration, inviting the faithful to follow their example. The song’s first line, “Kommet, ihr Hirten, ihr Männer und Fraun,” addresses shepherds, men, and women.
The German composer and conductor Carl Riedel (1827-1888), who spent most of his musical career in Leipzig (where he died at the age of 60), wrote German verses in a loose translation of the original Czech carol. Riedel’s version was first published under the title Die Engel und die Hirten (The Angels and the Shepherds) in 1870 as part of his collection Altböhmische Gesänge für gemischten Chor (Old-Bohemian chants for mixed choir).
Two-CD set: DIE SCHÖNSTEN DEUTSCHEN WEIHNACHTSLIEDER collection includes “Kommet, ihr Hirten.” IMAGE: Amazon.com
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See more about this carol below. You can also enjoy a video version.
“Kommet, ihr Hirten”“Come, ye shepherds” |
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| Deutsch (German) | English |
|---|---|
| Text: Carl Riedel, 1870 | Literal English translation – HF |
| Kommet, ihr Hirten, ihr Männer und Fraun, Kommet, das liebliche Kindlein zu schaun, Christus, der Herr, ist heute geboren, Den Gott zum Heiland euch hat erkoren. Fürchtet euch nicht! |
Come, ye shepherds, ye men and women, Come see the dear baby child, Christ the Lord is born today, Whom God has chosen as your Savior. Fear ye not! |
| Lasset uns sehen in Bethlehems Stall, Was uns verheißen der himmlische Schall! Was wir dort finden, lasset uns künden, Lasset uns preisen in frommen Weisen! Halleluja! |
Let us see in Bethlehem’s stall, What the heavenly sound is promising us, What we find there, let us proclaim! Let us piously praise! Hallelujah! |
| Wahrlich, die Engel verkündigen heut’ Bethlehems Hirtenvolk gar große Freud’, Nun soll es werden Friede auf Erden, Den Menschen allen ein Wohlgefallen. Ehre sei Gott! |
Verily, the angels proclaim today To Bethelehem’s shepherds only great joy. Now there should be peace on earth, Good tidings to all of mankind. Glory to God! |
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About This Carol
From “Nesem vám noviny” to “Kommet, ihr Hirten
The original Bohemian song may date from around 1700. The first known publication of the melody, in 1847, appeared in the collection Katolicky kancionál in Olomouc (Olmütz in German), Moravia, in the eastern part of today’s Czech Republic (Czechia). The manuscripts are not dated, but seem to stem from the first half of the 19th century. The music is a “drone” or “burdon” melody that uses a sustained sound or repetition of a note, an effect often found in musical chants and folk music melodies.
The original Czech song “Nesem vám noviny” (We bring you news) has five stanzas. Carl Riedel wrote a German version with three stanzas of five lines each, rhyming in pairs with a concluding short last line. The beginning line is “Kommet, ihr Hirten, ihr Männer und Fraun [Frauen]” (Come, ye shepherds, ye men and women). A 1912 English version of the song by Mari Ruef Hofer is known as “Come, All Ye Shepherds.”
The song is still popular in Germany. It is included in the Protestant hymnal Evangelisches Gesangbuch as EG 48, the Mennonitischen Gesangbuch (MG 260), and in some versions of the Catholic hymnal Gotteslob (1975) and its 2013 second edition.
VIDEO: “Kommet, ihr Hirten” – Landesjugendchor Vorarlberg (Austria)
More | German Christmas Carol Lyrics in German and English
Related Pages
AT THE GERMAN WAY
- German Christmas Carol Lyrics in German and English
- Silent Night (Stille Nacht) – Our “Silent Night” page has the true story and related links.
- Lyrics: “Stille Nacht” (“Silent Night”) – Lyrics in German and English
- Christmas from A to Z – German Christmas traditions and terms
- Advent Calendar with Christmas Facts – Starting Dec. 1, in season
- Christmas Markets in Germany and Europe – An overview of the top Weihnachtsmärkte in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
- Photo Gallery: Christmas in Germany – Berlin – A visual tour of Christmas markets and other December sights in Berlin
- Advent and Christmas – The “arrival”
- Christmas in the USA and Germany– A comparison chart
- Holidays and Celebrations in Austria, Germany and Switzerland
ON THE WEB
- Kommet, ihr Hirten – The German Wikipedia entry for this carol includes a side-by-side comparison of the Czech original (5 stanzas), a poetic German translation, and the Riedel text (3 stanzas). It also links to music for guitar and other instruments.
- Kommet, ihr Hirten: Sheet Music – from the Lieder-Projekt
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