Theodore Baker - Translated Lyrics
from
1851-1934 SPACER German
to English
Born: June 3, 1851, New York, New York.
Died: October 13, 1934, Dresden, Germany.
Edward Kremser - Arranged & translated
Lyrics
1838-1914 SPACER from
Dutch to Latin
Born: April 10, 1838, Vienna, Austria.
Died: November 27, 1914, Vienna, Austria.
Buried: Zentralfriedhof, Vienna, Austria.
HYMN HISTORY:
No Thanksgiving Day service would be complete without
the singing of this traditional Dutch Hymn. Today, we sing this hymn as an expression of thanks to
God as our defender and guide throughout the past year. The text was originally written by an
anonymous author, at the end of the sixteenth century, to celebrate the Dutch freedom from the
Spanish overlords, who had been driven from their land, and the freedom that was theirs, both
politically from Spain and religiously from the Catholic Church. A number of Dutch
nationalistic songs developed as a result of this patriotic emphasis. �We Gather together� is
generally considered to be the finest of these musical expressions.
It was first published in Adrian Valerius� Nederlandtsche Gedenckclanck, in 1626, in Haarleem.
For the next two centuries, the singing of this hymn was limited to the Dutch people. In
1877, it was discovered by Edward Kremser, a Viennese musician, who published it in his collection
entitled Sechs Altniederlanddische Volkslieder. The English translation of this text was made by
Theodore Baker, in 1894, and it appeared in Dutch Folk Songs (1917) compiled by Coenraad V.
Bos.
�We Gather Together� must be understood and appreciated from its historical setting. For many
years, Holland had been under the scourge of Spain, and in 1576, Antwerp was captured and sacked by
the Spanish armies. Again, 1585, it was captured by the Spanish and all of the Protestant
citizens were exiled. Many other Dutch cities suffered similar fates. One of the revered
leaders of this struggle against Spain was William the Silent, who eventually was murdered by a
Catholic assassin. In 1625, his youngest son, Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, assumed the
leadership of the Union of Dutch Provinces. Under his able leadership for more than a quarter
century, a great golden age of prosperity and rich post-reformation culture developed throughout
Holland.
Commerce was expanded around the world, and this was the period of great Dutch art, with such
well-known painters as Rembrandt and Vermeer. In 1648, the Spanish endeavors to control
Holland were finally destroyed beyond recovery.
One can readily see the references to these historical events throughout the hymn�s text: �The
wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,� �so from the beginning the fight we were winning,� as
well as the concern, in the final stanza, that God will continue to defend��and we pray that Thou
still our defender will be.�
The tune, �Kremser,� was named after the Viennese musician, who discovered and published this hymn
after two centuries of neglect. The original melody is thought to be a folk song from the
Netherlands. Edward Kremser was born on April 10, 1838, in Vienna, Austria, and died there on
November 27, 1914. He was a noted choral director as well as the composer and publisher of
numerous vocal and instrumental works.
The English translator of this text, Theodore Baker, was born in New York City on June 3, 1851.
He was highly respected as a noted music researcher. His famous Biographical Dictionary
of Musicians, first published in 1900, became an authoritative, reference book for all serious
students of music. From 1892 to 1926, Baker served as literary editor for the G. Schirmer
Music Company. Upon his retirement in 1926, Theodore Baker returned to Germany, where he had
relieved his earlier musical training, and died in Dresden, Germany, on October 13, 1934.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in
Christ,
This Hymn "We Gather Together" gives Myra and myself an opportunity to personally say
thank you to those who have written us with words of encouragement and also to those who have given
financially. Many of you tell us how much this Ministry means to you and the different ways in
which your are blessed by it. We give God all the glory. For those who have not yet written we
encourage you to do so. You're email's are so uplifting to us. As a couple we covet your
prayers foremost and also your financial support which enables us to continue to spread the Gospel
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
