Presbyterian Historical Society of the Southwest
James S. Currie, Executive Secretary
In this season of Advent and Christmas this column is taking temporary leave of historical matters having to do with the Southwest, but perhaps not entirely since most of us enjoy singing, especially Advent and Christmas hymns.
English-speaking hymn writers such as Isaac Watts (“Joy to the World”), Charles Wesley (“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” and “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing”), William Chatterton Dix (“As with Gladness men of Old” and “What Child Is This”), Christian Rossetti (“In the Bleak Midwinter”), Cecil Frances Alexander (“Once in Royal David’s City”), and Phillips Brooks (“O Little Town of Bethlehem”) have contributed mightily to the joyful expression of the gospel in the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ. Of course, they and others have written other important and meaningful hymns that have become part of our musical canon.
Of interest here, however, is the work of those who translated hymns from other languages into English and have done so with such faithfulness to the original and poetic beauty that we have become accustomed to thinking the hymns were written in English. Interestingly, two of the most prolific translators were 19th century women – Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878) from England and Jane Laurie Borthwick (1813-1897) from Scotland. Two hymns for this season translated by Winkworth are “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates” and Luther’s “Ah, Dearest Jesus, Holy Child”. In addition, she also translated such familiar hymns as “Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty”, “Now Thank We All Our God”, and the baptismal hymn “O Jesus Christ, Our Lord Most Dear.” While translation of Advent or Christmas hymns by Borthwick could not be found, she is credited with translating Katharina von Schlegel’s “Be Still, My Soul.” She herself also wrote “Come, Labor On.” John Freeman Young (1820-1885), an American Episcopalian is credited with translating Joseph Mohr’s “Silent Night, Holy Night!”
Theodore Baker (1851-1934) specialized inn writing about North American Native American music. However, he also translated the lovely German hymn “Lo, How a Rose Ever Blooming.”
Going beyond Advent and Christmas hymns to important hymns in our tradition, we should mention Frederic Henry Hedge (1805-1890) who translated Luther’s hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” and Elizabeth Lee Smith (1817-1898) who translated from the French John Calvin’s “I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art.” Both Hedge and Smith were Americans.
There’s an Italian proverb that reads “traduttore, traditore” which is literally translated “translator, traitor.” More colloquially, it is rendered “all translations are a betrayal” which suggests that the original meaning of a text in one language cannot be adequately or accurately translated into another language. While in one sense that may be true, translations are important, if not essential, if we are to learn from those in other countries and cultures. When done with care, patience, and faithfulness to the original language, translations can be as powerful as the original. That is certainly for the hymns we sing this season as well as the rest of the year.
With gratitude for your support, the Presbyterian Historical Society of the Southwest wishes you and yours a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.
The Presbyterian Historical Society of the Southwest exists to “stimulate and encourage interest in the collection, preservation, and presentation of the Presbyterian and Reformed heritage” in the Southwest. If you are not a participating member of the Society and would like to become one, the annual dues are $20 per individual and $25 per couple. Annual institutional and church membership dues are $100. Checks may be made out to PHSSW and sent to:
PHSSW – 5525 Traviston Ct., Austin, TX 78738.
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