"O Come, My Soul With Singing" | Faith Matters | Deutsche Welle | 10.02.2004:
400 Years of Hymns by Paul Gerhardt
Paul Gerhardt's life was dominated by thirty years of, religious conflict, plagues and pervasive death. 400 years ago, the greatest poet of the Baroque era was born. He celebrated the rose, the tulip and the joy God can bestow. Paul Gerhardt's work continues to be performed to this day. Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676) was a pastor in a time ravaged by war. The poet experienced the death of his wife and four children, and was removed from his position at Berlin’s St. Nikolai church by the prince-elect, due to a dispute regarding confessions between the Lutherans and Reformists. Exactly 139 traditional hymns from Paul Gerhardt remain today, many of them are regarded German classics. They are still sung and are as emotionally moving today as they were 400 years ago.
The film reveals the life of the 17th century poet and pastor and celebrates the beauty of his magical and uplifting lyrical works.
Deutsche Welle had an excellent program on Paul Gerhardt. Click the above link for a high quality MPEG4 version or watch the YouTube version below:
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