GROSSER GOTT, WIR LOBEN DICH
Abstract
The birth of Ignaz Franz (1719-1790) three hundred
years ago, was commemorated in 2019. He was
the writer of the German text of the hymn, Grosser
Gott, wir loben dich. Two Afrikaans texts, based
on this text, were published for the first time in an
official hymnal of the Dutch Reformed churches
in South Africa in 1978. It gained immediate
popularity. The background to the German text of
the hymn, its publication in various hymnals, a short
discussion of the texts in the Afrikaans language,
the background to the melody, different notations
and the communicative role of the tune, are various
aspects discussed in this article. The ongoing
working of the hymn (Wirkungsgeschichte) in various
contexts is then discussed and related to historic
assumptions regarding ‘protestant’ and ‘catholic’,
some of which still prevail in the thought of people,
but which often go unnoticed. Showing how this
particular hymn has crossed divides and functions
as an ecumenical hymn par excellence, a plea is
made that one-sided and dividing views should be
reflected upon, set aside and that the ecumenical
treasure of song should be promoted.