"In dir ist Freude" (In you is joy) is a German hymn with text by Johannes Lindemann but often attributed to Cyriacus Schneegaß, written to a 1591 dance song melody by Giovanni Giacomo Gastoldi. Text and tune first appeared together in 1594. It is part of the common Protestant hymnal Evangelisches Gesangbuch, and of many hymnals and songbooks, including ecumenical collections.
History
The text of "In dir ist Freude" is written to a secular melody.[1][2] The tune by Giovanni Giacomo Gastoldi was first published in 1591, for an Italian dancing song, "A lieta vita amor ci invita" (Amor invites to a merry life) that has elements of song for entertainment.[1][3] Text and tune of "In dir ist Freude" first appeared in Erfurt in 1594 in Johannes Lindemann's collection of 20 Christmas carols.[4][5] They appeared in Erfurt in 1598, and therefore the text has also been attributed to Cyriacus Schneegaß.[1]
It is contained in the modern Protestant hymnal Evangelisches Gesangbuch as EG 389, and is part of many hymnals and songbooks, including ecumenical collections.[1]
Text and tune
The text, in two stanzas of ten lines, addresses Jesus as the source of joy in all distress.[3][2] The tune has been described as a perfect match to express the joy of the first line, and the consolation that trust in Jesus provides in difficult situations.[3]
References
^ abcdAndreas, Marti (2021). "In dir ist Freude". evangeliums.net (in German). Retrieved 24 December 2021.
