WIE LIEBLICH IST DER MAIEN

Composer: Johann Steuerlein

Johann Steuerlein (b. Schmalkalden, Thuringia, Germany, 1546; d. Meiningen, Germany, 1613) studied law at the University of Wittenberg. From 1569 to 1589 he lived in Wasungen near Meiningen, where he served as town clerk as well as cantor and organist in the Lutheran church. From 1589 until his death he lived in Meiningen, where at various times he served as notary public, mayor, and secretary to the Elector of Saxony. A gifted poet and musician, Steurlein rhymed both the Old and New Testaments in German. A number of his hymn tunes and harmonizations were published in Geistliche Lieder (1575) and Sieben und Zwantzig Neue Geistliche Gesenge (1588). Bert Polman Go to person page >

Tune Information

Title: WIE LIEBLICH IST DER MAIEN
Composer: Johann Steuerlein (1575)
Meter: 7.6.7.6 D
Incipit: 51232 17666 51171
Key: G Major or modal
Source: Himmlische Harpffe Davids
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

This tune was originally a love song composed in 1575 by Johann Steurlein (b. Schmalkalden, Thuringia, Germany, 1546; d. Meiningen, Germany, 1613) as a setting of "Mit Lieb bin ich umfangen." Steurlein studied law at the University of Wittenberg. From 1569 to 1589 he lived in Wasungen near Meiningen, where he served as town clerk as well as cantor and organist in the Lutheran church. From 1589 until his death he lived in Meiningen, where at various times he served as notary public, mayor, and secretary to the Elector of Saxony. A gifted poet and musician, Steurlein rhymed both the Old and New Testaments in German. A number of his hymn tunes and harmonizations were published in Geistliche Lieder (1575) and Sieben und Zwantzig Neue Geistliche Gesenge (l588).

His tune WIE LIEBLICH IST DER MAIEN gets its name from its original use as a setting for Martin Behm's hymn text that began with those words in 1581; text and tune were published together in Gregor Gunderreitter's David's Himlische Harpffen. The Steurlein tune was later set to Monsell's text in W. Garrett Horder's Worship Song in 1905 and popularized through the 1954 anthem by Healey Willan (PHH 258). The harmonization is by Willan, simplified from his anthem.

The tune is a rounded bar form (AABA) whose melodic variation in the fourth line sometimes confuses congregations. Use bright organ tone on that line to support the tune, but use a lighter touch on other lines. The tune can be sung in harmony by agile voices, but congregations may prefer to sing in unison.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1988

Timeline

Arrangements

Harmonizations, Introductions, Descants, Intonations

  • The Art of Hymn Playing Volume 2: 250 Preludes Introductions Free Accompaniments & Alternate Harmonizations
    Composer/Editor Charles Callahan
    Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (2009) pp. 174
  • Introductions and Alternate Accompaniments for Organ Volume 7: Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Hymns 640 - 704
    Composer/Editors Norma Aamodt-Nelson; Mark Weiler; Benjamin M. Culli
    Published By: Augsburg Fortress (2007) pp. 694
  • Introductions and Alternate Accompaniments for Piano Volume 7: Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Hymns 640 - 704
    Composer/Editors Norma Aamodt-Nelson; Mark Weiler; Lynette Maynard
    Published By: Augsburg Fortress (2007) pp. 694
  • The Last Verse for Thanksgiving and Patriotic Celebrations: Sixteen Free Hymn Accompaniments for Organ
    Composer/Editor Janet Linker
    Published By: Beckenhorst Press, Inc. (2004) pp. 37
  • Easy Hymn Settings Set 3 General
    Composer/Editor Michael A. Burkhardt
    Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (2001) pp. 25
  • Introductions, Interludes, and Codas On Traditional Hymn Tunes: Set 3 Fall Festivals and Accents of the Christian Life
    Composer/Editor Donald Rotermund
    Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (2001) pp. 16
  • Hymn Preludes and Free Accompaniments 17
    Composer/Editor John Ferguson
    Published By: Augsburg Publishing House (1989) pp. LL
  • The Concordia Hymn Prelude Series Volume 42: General: Were - Z
    Composer/Editors Richard Hillert; Walter Hennig
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1986) pp. 15
  • Intonations on Selected Hymns
    Composer/Editor Theodore Beck
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1976) pp. 18
  • Carols for the Seasons
    Composer/Editor Healey Willan
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1959) pp. 6

Organ Solo

  • Hymn Prelude Library Volume Twelve Tunes WXYZ: Lutheran Service Book
    Composer/Editors Kevin J. Hildebrand; Nancy M. Raabe
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (2017) pp. 68
  • The Sacred Organ Journal Volume 52 Number 1 September October 2017: The Organist's Companion for the Church Year
    Composer/Editors Carson P. Cooman; Richard W. Williamson
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2017) pp. 23
  • Easy Organ Library Volume 55
    Composer/Editor Gilbert M. Martin
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2014) pp. 85
  • The Organist Volume 117 Number 3 July August 2013: The Service Music Companion for Church Organists
    Composer/Editors Douglas E. Wagner; Gilbert M. Martin
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2013) pp. 17
  • Glory Fills the Skies: Five Chorale preludes
    Composer/Editor Benjamin M. Culli
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (2009) pp. 16
  • Power and Praise: Festive Organ Music for the Service
    Composer/Editor Dennis Eliot
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2009) pp. 36
  • Power and Praise: Festive Organ Music for the Service
    Composer/Editors Dennis Eliot; Dennis Elliott
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2009) pp. 36
  • Organ Music for the Trinity Season
    Composer/Editor Gerhard Krapf
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2007) pp. 22
  • Americana Volume 2: Organ Settings of Early American Hymns
    Composer/Editor Gilbert M. Martin
    Published By: The Sacred Music Press (2005) pp. 14
  • Easy Organ Library Volume 39: A Collection of Organ Voluntaries for Church Use
    Composer/Editor Franklin Ritter
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2005) pp. 80
  • The Master Organ Works of Jan Bender Volume 1: Chorale Preludes for Organ or Piano
    Composer/Editors Jan Bender; David Fienen
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (2005) pp. 76
  • A Treasury of Festive Music: Featuring Fred Bock, Christopher Boodle, Emma Lou Diemer, Robert Hebble, Dale Wood, Gordon Young
    Composer/Editors Gilbert M. Martin; Emma Lou Diemer
    Published By: The Sacred Music Press (2003) pp. 16
  • Easy Hymn Settings Set 3 General
    Composer/Editor Michael A. Burkhardt
    Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (2001) pp. 25
  • The Organist's Library Volume 27
    Composer/Editor Todd Kendall
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2000) pp. 3
  • An Eternity of Praise 30 Chorale Preludes from Present-Day Germany: 30 Chorale Preludes From Present-day Germany
    Composer/Editors John A. Behnke; Klaus Uwe Ludwig
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1999) pp. 52
  • An Eternity of Praise 30 Chorale Preludes from Present-Day Germany: European Connection Volume 1
    Composer/Editor John A. Behnke
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1999) pp. 52
  • PedalPoint Volume 18 Number 2 January February March 1999: Church Music and Study Helps for Pianists and Organists
    Composer/Editors Sharron Lyon; Dennis R. Johnson
    Published By: The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention (1999) pp. 23
  • PedalPoint Volume 18 Number 2 January February March 1999: Church Music and Study Helps for Pianists and Organists
    Composer/Editors Sharron Lyon; Dennis R. Johnson
    Published By: The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention (1999) pp. 23
  • The Organ Portfolio Volume 62 Number 6 July August 1999: A Bi-monthly Anthology for the Church Organist
    Composer/Editors Dorothy Wells; Todd Kendall
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1999) pp. 3
  • Twelve Toccatas for Organ
    Composer/Editor Gordon Young
    Published By: Hope Publishing Company (1997) pp. 23
  • Communion Hymns for Organ: Music of Celebration and Introspection
    Composer/Editor Emma Lou Diemer
    Published By: The Sacred Music Press (1996) pp. 8
  • Pipe Dusters Volume Three: A "pull-out-all-the-stops" Collection for the Church Organist
    Composer/Editors Larry F. Pugh; Dennis Elliott
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1995) pp. 16
  • The Organ Portfolio Volume 58 Number 1 September 1994: A Bi-Monthly Anthology for the Church Organist
    Composer/Editors Dorothy Wells; Dennis Elliott
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1994) pp. 44
  • The Organist's Library Volume 18
    Composer/Editor Dennis Eliot
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1994) pp. 44
  • Improvisations on General Hymns
    Composer/Editor Paul O. Manz
    Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (1992) pp. 23
  • The Sacred Organ Folio No. 40
    Composer/Editor Olive Nelson Russell
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1989) pp. 22
  • The Sacred Organ Journal Volume 24 Number 1 September 1989: A Bi-Monthly Anthology for Church Organists
    Composer/Editors Howard Wells; Olive Nelson Russell
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1989) pp. 22
  • The Concordia Hymn Prelude Series Volume 42: General: Were - Z
    Composer/Editors Richard Hillert; Walter Hennig
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1986) pp. 14
  • 7 Settings of American Folk Hymns
    Composer/Editor Wilbur C. Held
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1984) pp. 21
  • Lorenz's Organ Album No. 94: Three-Staff Voluntaries for the Church Organ
    Composer/Editor Robert J. Hughes
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1984) pp. 38
  • The Organ Portfolio Volume 47 Number 6 August 1984: A Bi-monthly Anthology for Church Organists
    Composer/Editor Dorothy Wells
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1984) pp. 38
  • The Sacred Organ Folio No. 21
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1980) pp. 72
  • The Sacred Organ Journal Volume 14 Number 6 July 1980: A Bi-monthly Anthology For Church Organists
    Composer/Editors Howard Wells; Gilbert M. Martin
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1980) pp. 72
  • Preludes for the Hymns in Worship Supplement Volume IV: General Nos. 767 - 793
    Composer/Editor Paul Thomas
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1973) pp. 35
  • One Hundred and One Hymns for Every Day: Hymns You'll Love to Sing and Play
    Composer/Editor Anonymous
    Published By: Hansen Publications, Inc. (1962) pp. 46

Piano Solo

  • Two-stanza, Hymn-based Voluntaries: For the Church Pianist
    Composer/Editor J. Bruce Ashton
    Published By: J. Bruce Ashton (2015) pp. 22
  • The Church Pianist Volume 28 Number 2 November December 2011: The Pianist's Companion for the Church Year
    Composer/Editors Larry F. Pugh; Ruth Elaine Schram
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2011) pp. 42
  • Shall We Gather at the River
    Composer/Editor John Leavitt
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (2004) pp. 33
  • A Month of Sundays: Thanksgiving and Praise: Preludes, Offertories and Postludes for Four Services
    Composer/Editor Jan Sanborn
    Published By: Alfred Music Publishing Company, Inc. (2003) pp. 46
  • The Church Pianist Volume 19 Number 2 November December 2002: The Pianist's Companion for the Church Year
    Composer/Editors David Sarandon; Terry Osman
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2002) pp. 10
  • I Know that My Redeemer lives: Piano Preludes
    Composer/Editor Barry Braman
    Published By: Broadman Press (1980) pp. 37
  • Don Hustad at the Piano
    Composer/Editor Donald P. Hustad
    Published By: Hope Publishing Company (1976) pp. 6

Voices: Organ and Voice

  • Cavalcade of Hymns and Sacred Songs: All Organ Deluxe Album Over 100 Selected Titles
    Composer/Editor Anonymous
    Published By: California Music Press (1963) pp. 154

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