List of hymns for Pentecost

First verse of Veni Creator Spiritus, on which many later hymns are based

Hymns for Pentecost are hymns dedicated to the Christian feast of Pentecost, or Whitsun. Along with Christmas and Easter, it is a high holiday, dedicated to the Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghost. Hymns have been written from the 9th century to contemporary.

History

First hymns were sung in Latin, and in plainchant. An early hymn was Veni Creator Spiritus (Come, Creator Spirit), attributed to Rabanus Maurus who lived in the 9th century.[1][2] It was used in the liturgy not only for Pentecost, but also for vespers between Ascension Day and Pentecost, and for occasions such as ordination and profession.[1] Many later hymns in different languages are based on it.[1] An early sequence for Pentecost was Veni Sancte Spiritus (Come, Holy Spirit).[1]

With the Reformation, hymns were often written in the native language. Martin Luther wrote several hymns dedicated to Pentecost specifically, based on earlier models. His first published hymn was "Komm, Gott Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist", a paraphrase of Veni Creator Spiritus, which appeared in the Erfurt Enchiridion in 1524.[3]

Hymns in English include "Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire", a paraphrase of Veni Creator Spiritus by Bishop John Cosin, published in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer[4][5] and used also for coronations of English royals,[6] and "Breathe on Me, Breath of God", written by Edwin Hatch in 1876.[7]

Table

In the following sortable table, the entries appear first chronologically based on writing or publishing of the text. The following columns feature the language, a translation of the beginning, the author of the text, a year of writing when known or assumed, the source of the melody, its year, a publication date followed by a hymnal name, and notes. The notes may contain a reference, a number in a current hymnal, such as the 2013 German Catholic hymnal Gotteslob or its previous edition of 1975 (GL), and the German Protestant hymnal Evangelisches Gesangbuch (EG), also notes about a model.

Hymns for Pentecost
Hymn Language Translation Text Written Tune Composed Published Notes
Veni Creator Spiritus Latin Come, Creator Spirit Rabanus Maurus (attr.) 809 c. plainchant from Kempten 1000 c. GL 341[2][8]
Veni Sancte Spiritus Latin Come, Holy Spirit Stephen Langton (attr.) 1200 c. plainchant 1200 c. 1570, Roman Missal GL 343[2]
Discendi amor santo Italian Come Down, O Love Divine Bianco da Siena 1390 c. "Down Ampney" 1906 1867, The People's Hymnal Best known after The English Hymnal (1906)[9]
Komm, Gott Schöpfer,
Heiliger Geist 		German Come, God Creator, Holy Spirit Martin Luther 1524 based on chant 1524 1524, Erfurt Enchiridion EG 126, translation of Veni Creator Spiritus[10]
Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott German Come, Holy Spirit, Lord God Martin Luther 1524 Martin Luther and Johann Walter 1524 1524, Erfurt Enchiridion EG 125, after "Veni Sancte Spiritus, reple tuorum corda fidelium*
Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist German Now we implore the Holy Spirit Martin Luther 1524 based on chant 1524 1524, Gesangbüchlein EG 124, 1st stanza medieval[3]
Come holy ghost eternall god English Thomas Cranmer 1550 1550, Prayer Book Ordinal after "Veni Creator Spiritus"[8]
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire English John Cosin 1625 1662, Book of Common Prayer after Veni Creator Spiritus[4][5]
Komm, Schöpfer Geist, kehr bei uns ein German Come, Creator Spirit, visit us Heinrich Bone 1845 from Cologne 1741 1975, Gotteslob GL 351, translation of Veni Creator Spiritus[2]
Breathe on Me, Breath of God English Edwin Hatch 1876 "Aylesbury" and others 1781 1886 [7]
Der Geist des Herrn erfüllt das All German The Spirit of the Lord fills the universe Maria Luise Thurmair 1941 Melchior Vulpius 1609 1975, Gotteslob GL 347[2]
Tui amoris ignem (Veni Sancte Spiritus) Latin Fire of your love liturgical 1970s Jacques Berthier 1970s 1970s, Taizé Community GL 345[2]
Komm, Heilger Geist, der Leben schafft German Come, Holy Spirit, creating life Friedrich Dörr 1972 after plainchant 1524 1975, Gotteslob GL 342, translation of Veni Creator Spiritus[2]
Atme in uns, Heiliger Geist German Breathe in us, Holy Spirit Jean-Marc Morin 1985 Pierre and Viviane Mugnier 1982 2013, Gotteslob GL 346, based on "Esprit de Dieu, souffle de vie"[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Jeggle-Merz 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Gotteslob 2013.
  3. ^ a b Hahn 2000.
  4. ^ a b Hymnary Cosin 2020.
  5. ^ a b Luff 2002.
  6. ^ Bradley 2012.
  7. ^ a b Hymnary Hatch 2020.
  8. ^ a b Armentrout 2000.
  9. ^ McKim, LindaJo H. (1993). The Presbyterian Hymnal Companion. Westminster John Knox Press. p. 314. ISBN 978-0-664-25180-2.
  10. ^ Luther 126.

Cited sources

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