litany = from the greek litaneuein = to supplicate, to beg.
- Litanies, as a repetitive sequence of supplications, generally combined with processions (times of distress: plague, war, famine…) are not a liturgical invention of christianity as such.
- In christianity the litany was a sequence of supplicational prayers as a part of the Introit. In a procession petititons were prayed, every petition being answered by ‘kyrie eleison‘… In the seventh century the petitions disappeared and only the ‘kyrie eleison’ was left.
- Pope Gelasius had already added ‘Christe eleison’ to the kyrie. The litany survived as a processional prayer for special occasions, c.q. situations (esp. distress, as in its original form)
- The cry: ‘eleison’ was also generally used in the Middle-East before christendom christianized it.
- From the twelfth century onwards the name ‘litany’ can also be found to mean the procession in which the litany was prayed.
- The increasing popularity of Mary and the saints leads to the litany of all saints. Very long (almost never ending) lists of petitions appear. This causes the negative association: litany = never ending complaint.
- Martin Luther first drops the litany, but when in 1529 the Turks re-appear in central Europe, he re-makes and re-mixes the litany of all saints (of course without saints) to the Lutheran litany: latina litania correcta. Published both in German and Latin. In my hymnbook I find it as hymn 138 ( Litanei oder Das Fürbittegebet). BWV 18, mvt 3, uses this litany, the explicit prayer against the Pope and the Turks however is an additoin of the librettist Erdmann Neumeister.
- Remnants of or allusions to litany-praying can be found in some hymns: Luther’s ‘Mitten wir im Leben sind’ (Media vita in morte sumus) has a very impressive litany at the end (Heiliger Herre Gott..) and the same goes for ‘O wir armen Sunder’ (kyrie elesion at the end of each verse)
- Heinrich Schütz has put to music Luthers litany twice: Zwölf geistliche Gesänge (SWV 428, 1657, Opus 13): Die teutsche gemeine Litaney.
The Twelve Sacred Songs (SWV 420 – 431)1 were published in 1657 by the Electoral Saxon organist Christoph Kittel with the composer’s consent. Schütz composed the chants, all of which are for four voices, not as ‘court composer’, but nebenambtlich, kind of personal contribution for church/home/school services (‘Andachten‘ in German). Despite their differences, the texts of the twelve hymns are liturgical pieces which have their fixed place either at mass, vespers and prayer services, or as prayers at the table and before school lessons. The texts and their melodies (insofar as they were used as cantus firmus) correspond to the ‘Agende’ (liturgical order) and the hymnal. Because the litany was often performed (prayed) rather slowly and thus boring (dixit Schütz), the composer presents it in a very simple ‘mensural’ version (in eine gewisse Mensur einzurichten).2). It goes without saying that it has to be performed responsorial. Either the choir split, or the community…
There also exists a more elaborate version of the Deutsche Litanei, ascribed to Schütz, but this attribution is not verified, althoug it has got a SVW number: SWV 458. Also beautiful
German text and English translation (from the Bach-cantatas website) (English by Francis Browne)
| Litanei (Deutsch) – Luther | Litany (English) |
|---|---|
| Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison, Christe erhöre uns. | Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy,Lord have mercy, Christ hear us |
| Herr Gott Vater im Himmel, erbarm dich über uns, | Lord God the Father in heaven, have pity on us, |
| Herr Gott Sohn, der Welt Heiland, erbarm dich über uns. | Lord God the Son, the saviour of the world, have pity on us. |
| Herr Gott Heiliger Geist, erbarm dich über uns. | Lord God the Holy Spirit, have pity on us. |
| Sei uns gnädig! Verschon uns, lieber Herre Gott! | Be gracious to us! Pardon us, dear Lord God! |
| Sei uns gnädig! Hilf uns, lieber Herre Gott! | Be gracious to us! Help us dear Lord God! |
| Vor allen Sünden behüt uns, lieber Herre Gott! | From all sins protect us, dear Lord God! |
| Vor allem Irrsal behüt uns, lieber Herre Gott! | From all errors protect us, dear Lord God! |
| Vor allem Übel behüt uns, lieber Herre Gott! | From all evil protect us, dear Lord God! |
| Vor des Teufels Trug und List behüt uns, lieber Herre Gott! | From the devil’s deceit and trickery protect us, dear Lord God! |
| Vor bösem schnellem Tod behüt uns, lieber Herre Gott! | From swift evil death protect us, dear Lord God! |
| Vor Pestilenz und teurer Zeit behüt uns, lieber Herre Gott! | From pestilence and costly times, protect us , dear Lord God! |
| Vor Krieg und Blut behüt uns, lieber Herre Gott! | From war and blood protect us, dear Lord God! |
| Vor Aufruhr und Zwietracht behüt uns, lieber Herre Gott! | From disturbance and discord protect us, dear Lord God! |
| Vor Hagel und Ungewitter behüt uns, lieber Herre Gott! | From hail and storm protect us, dear Lord God! |
| Vor dem ewigen Tod behüt uns, lieber Herre Gott! | From everlasting death protect us, dear Lord God! |
| Durch deine heilige Geburt hilf uns, lieber Herre Gott! | Through your holy birth help us, dear Lord God! |
| Durch deinen Todkampf und blutigen Schweiß hilf uns, lieber Herre Gott! | Through your death agony and bloody sweat, help us, dear Lord God! |
| Durch dein Kreuz und Tod hilf uns, lieber Herre Gott! | Through your cross and death help us, dear Lord God! |
| Durch dein heiliges Auferstehn und Himmelfahrt hilf uns, lieber Herre Gott! | Through your holy Resurrection and Ascension to heaven, help us dear Lord God |
| In unsrer letzten Not hilf uns, lieber Herre Gott! | in our last agony help us, dear Lord God |
| Am Jüngsten Gericht hilf uns, lieber Herre Gott! | at the last judgement help us, dear Lord God ! |
| Wir armen Sünder bitten, du wollst uns erhören, lieber Herre Gott, | We poor sinners pray that you may be willing to hear us, dear Lord God |
| und deine heilige christliche Kirche regieren und führen, erhör uns, lieber Herre Gott, | and to govern and to lead your holy Christian church, hear us, dear Lord God, |
| alle Bischöfe, Pfarrherrn und Kirchendiener im heilsamen Wort und heiligen Leben erhalten, erhör uns, lieber Herre Gott, | maintain all bishops, ministers and church servants in your saving word and holy life, hear us, dear Lord God, |
| allen Rotten und Ärgernissen wehren, erhör uns, lieber Herre Gott, | restrain all mobs and outrages, hear us, dear Lord God |
| alle Irrigen und Verführten wiederbringen, erhör uns, lieber Herre Gott, | bring back those who err and are misled,hear us, dear Lord God, |
| den Satan unter unsere Füße treten, erhör uns, lieber Herre Gott, | tread Satan under our feet, hear us, dear Lord God |
| treue Arbeiter in deine Ernte senden, erhör uns lieber Herre Gott! | send loyal workers for your harvest, hear us, dear Lord God expression Mark |
| deinen Geist und Kraft zum Worte geben, erhör uns, lieber Herre Gott!arts us must | give your spirit and strength in your word,hear us, dear Lord God |
| allen Betrübten und Blöden helfen und sie trösten, erhör uns, lieber Herre Gott, | help and console all who are dismal and dull-witted, hear us, dear Lord God |
| unserm Kaiser, allen Königen und Fürsten Fried und Eintracht geben, | give peace and harmony to our emperor,to all kings and princes, |
| erhör uns lieber Herre Gott, | hear us, dear Lord God, |
| unsern Fürsten mit allen seinen Gewaltigen leiten und schützen, | lead and guide our Princes with all their mighty ones |
| erhör uns, lieber Herre Gott, | hear us, dear Lord God’ |
| unsern Rat und Gemeinde segenen und behüten, erhör uns, lieber Herre Gott, | bless and protect our council and congregation,hear us, dear Lord God |
| allen, so in Not und Gefahr sind, mit Hilf erscheinen, erhör uns, lieber Herre Gott, | to all those who are in distress in danger appear with your help, hear us dear Lord God is us |
| allen Schwangern und Säugern fröhliche Frucht und Gedeihen geben, | to those who bear and suckle children give joyful fertility and prosperity, |
| erhör uns, lieber Herre Gott, | hear us, dear Lord God, |
| aller Kinder und Kranken pflegen und warten, erhör uns, lieber Herre Gott, | tend and care for all children and sick people, hear us, dear Lord God |
| alle unschuldigen Gefangenen los und ledig lassen, erhör uns, lieber Herre Gott, | lett all innocent prisoners be free and at liberty, hear us, dear Lord God, |
| alle Witwen und Waisen verteidigen und versorgen, erhör uns lieber Herre Gott, | defend and care for all widows and orphans, hear us, dear Lord God |
| aller Menschen dich erbarmen, erhör uns, lieber Herre Gott, | have mercy on all men, hear us, dear Lord God, |
| unsern Feinden, Verfolgern und Lästerern vergeben und sie bekehren, | forgive and convert our enemies, persecutors and blasphemers, |
| erhör uns, lieber Herre Gott, | hear us, dear Lord God, |
| die Früchte auf dem Lande geben und bewahren, erhör uns, lieber Herre Gott, | give and guard the harvest from the land, hear us, dear Lord God, |
| und uns gnädiglich erhören, erhör uns, lieber Herre Gott! | and hear us mercifully, hear us dear Lord God! |
| O Jesu Christ, Gottes Sohn, erhör uns, lieber Herre Gott! | O Jesus Christ, God’s son, hear us, dear Lord God! |
| O du Gotteslamm, das der Welt Sünde trägt, erbarm dich über uns! | O you lamb of God, who bears the sins of the world, have mercy on us |
| O du Gotteslamm, das der Welt Sünde trägt, erbarm dich über uns! | O you lamb of God, who bears the sins of the world, have mercy on us |
| O du Gottes Lamm, das der Welt Sünde trägt, verleih uns steten Fried! | O you lamb of God, who bears the sins of the world, grant us everlasting peace! |
| Christe erhöre uns! | Christ hear us! |
| Kyrie eleison. | Lord have mercy. |
| Christe eleison. | Christ have mercy |
| Kyrie eleison. | Lord have mercy |
| Amen. | Amen. |
- Full title: Zwölf Geistliche Gesänge. Mit vier Stimmen Für kleine Cantoreyen zum Chor Benebenst dem Basso Continuo nach beliebung hierbey zugebrauchen).
- Memorandum (in the Basso Continuo partbook: “The author in no way objects to the manner of singing the Litany practiced in our Evangelical churches up to the present, and neither does he desire to introduce change to it. Nevertheless, he has repeatedly heard with annoyance how the same [Litany] in some places, contrary to all comeliness, has been slowly and even tediously lengthened to such an extent that, in his opinion, one also loses all joy and devotion from it. Thus has he been induced to set his hand to it and to arrange it after the manner of litanies in a fixed meter [ = Mensur], which in this belief and hope will be issued here for publication so that they can be sung now and then, if not by the congregation, then
indeed by the choir and with the organ in alternation, and without great loss of time. The congregation too will be able to follow, if not with its voice, nevertheless in spirit with its devotion. [German original]: Es thadelt zwar der Author die bißher in unsern Evangelischen Kirchen gebrauchte Manier des Absingens der Litaney keines weges / begehret auch hierinnen keine Enderung einzufüren / Alleine weil ihm mehrmals verdrüßlich vorgekommen / anzuhören / wie dieselbige an etlichen Orthen wieder alle Anmuth / derogestalt langsam und so gar langweilig außgedehnet worden / daß man seiner Meinung nach / auch alle Lust und Andacht darunter verlieren müssen / So ist Er hierdurch veranlasset worden / an dieselbe die Hand anzulegen / und nach arth der Litaneyen in eine gewisse Mensur einzurichten / welche in dieser Meynung und Hoffnung hierbey an des Tages Liecht mit heraus gegeben wird / daß Sie / wo nicht mit der Gemeine / doch von dem Musicalischen Chor und in die Orgel unterweilen zu einer Abwechselung / ohne grosse Zeitverseumung abgesungen / die Gemeine auch wo nicht mit der Stimme / jedoch im Sinne mit ihrer Andacht werde nachfolgen können.