Erfurt Enchiridion

The Erfurt Enchiridion (enchiridion, from Ancient Greek: ἐγχειρίδιον, hand book) is the second Lutheran hymnal. It appeared in 1524 in Erfurt in two competing editions. One of them contains 26 songs, the other 25, 18 of them by Martin Luther, others by Elisabeth Cruciger, Erhard Hegenwald, Justus Jonas and Paul Speratus. While the songs of the Enchiridion could be used in churches, they were intended primarily for singing elsewhere, such as at home, at court, and in guild meetings.

Title page of the Loersfeld edition
The song "Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, der den Tod überwand" (Jesus Christ, our saviour, who overcame death) by Martin Luther, titled "Ein Lobgesang auf dem Osterfest" (A song of praise on the Easter feast)

History

The songs of the reformer Luther and others were first sold as broadsheets, and contributed to the spreading of Protestant ideas. They were printed in collections, beginning with the First Lutheran hymnal, called the Achtliederbuch, and with the Wittenberg song book, both published in 1524. The Erfurt Enchiridion appeared the same year, in two almost equal editions by two different printers, Johannes Loersfeld and Matthes Maler.[1] Both books are identical except for one song. The double appearance suggests that there was a great demand. Probably the edition printed by Loersfeld came first, to be copied by Maler.[2]

Description

The version of Loersfeld was printed in octavo, and includes 48 pages, 47 of them printed. It contains 25 songs, the German version of the creed and a two-page anonymous preface. The version of Maler contains one song more. Sixteen different choral melodies are used, and eighteen of the songs are by Luther, but his name is attached to only one of them. Three of the hymns were written by Paul Speratus, one or two by Justus Jonas, one by Elisabeth Cruciger, and one is attributed to Jan Hus.[2] The arrangement of the songs is not systematic, and only seven paraphrases of psalms form a cohesive group. Five songs are German rhymed versions of Latin liturgical chants. The song "Ein neues Lied wir heben an" (A new song we begin) describes the execution in Brussels of two monks who were martyrs of the Reformation, Hendrik Vos and Johannes van Esschen.

"Ein neues Lied wir heben an" (A new song we begin) in the Enchiridion.

The title describes: "Eyn Enchiridion oder Handbüchlein. eynem ytzlichen Christen fast nutzlich bey sich zuhaben / zur stetter vbung vnd trachtung geystlicher gesenge vnd Psalmen / Rechtschaffen vnd kunstlich verteutscht." (An Enchiridion or little handbook; for every Christian very useful to keep at hand / for continuous practice and contemplation of spiritual songs and psalms / honestly and artfully translated to German.)[2]

The author of the preface describes the former ecclesiastical chant as "shouting like the priests of Baal in unintelligable cries" and "cry like the forest-donkeys to a deaf God".[2] The songs included in the collection are described as founded on scripture, serving improvement, doctrine, and the education of youth, and the preface suggests that a Christian should always carry the book with him, for constant practise.[2] While the songs of the Enchiridion could be used in churches, they were intended primarily for singing elsewhere, such as at home, at court, and in guild meetings.[3]

Many of the songs of the Erfurt Enchiridion were widely disseminated, and seventeen are still in the current German Protestant hymnal Evangelisches Gesangbuch, some of them now with different melodies. Five of the hymns are part of the Catholic hymnal Gotteslob.[2]

Translations began with Goostly psalms and spiritual songes drawen out of the holy Scripture by Myles Coverdale, the so-called "first English hymn book", which was printed in London in 1555 and contained 16 of the songs from the Enchiridion (1–5, 8, 10, 12–19, 22).[2]

Hymns
NumberTitleAuthorNote
1Dies sind die heilgen Zehn GebotMartin Luther
2Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g'meinMartin Lutherin Achtliederbuch
3Es ist das Heil uns kommen herPaul Speratusin Achtliederbuch
4Mitten wir im Leben sindMartin Lutherafter Media vita in morte sumus
5In Gott gelaub ich, daß er hatPaul Speratusin Achtliederbuch
6Hilf Gott, wie ist der Menschen NotPaul Speratusin Achtliederbuch
7Gott sei gelobet und gebenedeietMartin Luthernot in the Maler edition
8Gelobet seist du, Jesu ChristMartin Luther
9Ich glaube an einen GottApostles' Creed
10Herr Christ, der einig Gotts SohnElisabeth Cruciger
11Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, der von uns den Gotteszorn wandtMartin Lutherafter Jan Hus
12Wohl dem, der in Gottes Furcht stehtMartin Lutherafter Psalm 127
13Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh dareinMartin Lutherafter Psalm 11, in Achtliederbuch
14Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hältJustus Jonasafter Psalm 124
15Es spricht der Unweisen Mund wohlMartin Lutherafter Psalm 13, in Achtliederbuch
16Es woll uns Gott genädig seinMartin Lutherafter Psalm 67
17Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dirMartin Lutherafter Psalm 130, "De profundis", in Achtliederbuch
18Erbarm dich mein, o Herre GottErhard Hegenwaldafter Psalm 51 "Miserere"
19Christ lag in TodesbandenMartin Luther
20Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, der den Tod überwandMartin Luther
21Nun komm, der Heiden HeilandMartin Lutherafter Veni redemptor gentium by Ambrose
22Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre GottMartin Lutherafter "Veni Sancte Spiritus, reple tuorum corda fidelium"
23Christum wir sollen loben schonMartin Lutherafter A solis ortus cardine
24Komm, Gott Schöpfer, Heiliger GeistMartin Lutherafter Veni Creator Spiritus
25Ein neues Lied wir heben anMartin Luther
26In Jesu Nam'n heben wir anunknownin Achtliederbuch, possibly by Jonas
Music of the 1500s
Hymnals
  • Whole Book of Psalms
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References
  1. Herbst 2001, p. 86.
  2. Brodersen & Brodersen 2008.
  3. Doukhan 2010.

Bibliography
  • Full digital facsimile and diplomatic transcription of the hymnbook in the Deutsches Text Archiv
  • Brodersen, Christiane; Brodersen, Kai (2008). Ein Enchiridion oder Handbüchlein geistlicher Gesänge und Psalmen (Erfurt 1524) (in German). Kartoffeldruck-Verlag, Speyer. ISBN 978-3-939526-03-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Doukhan, Lilianne (2010). In Tune With God. mn House Publishing. pp. 163, 164 & footnote 15 on p. 191.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Herbst, Wolfgang (2001). Wer ist wer im Gesangbuch? (in German). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen. pp. 86–87 Erfurter Enchiridion (Handbüchlein). ISBN 3525503237.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Liersch, Helmut (2013). Ein Unikat in der Marktkirchen-Bibliothek Goslar: Das Erfurter Färbefaß-Enchiridion von 1524. Goslar: Goslarsches Forum 6, ed. Otmar Hesse. pp. 40–44, 81–83.
  • Henrike Lähnemann (2017): Das Erfurter ‘Enchiridion’ in der Goslarer Marktkirchen-Bibliothek, in: Marktkirchen-Bibliothek Goslar. Beiträge zur Erforschung der reformationszeitlichen Sammlung, Regensburg: Schell und Steiner, ed. Helmut Liersch, pp. 232–243.

Further reading
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