Ihr Kinderlein kommet (Oh, come, little children) is another popular German Christmas song that is actually older than Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht. The text was written by Christoph von Schmid, probably around 1808/10, and the melody was composed by Johann Abraham Peter Schulz in 1794.
Schmid was a Catholic priest and author who wrote and published children’s stories to teach them about God. The poem Ihr Kinderlein, kommet was originally called Die Kinder bey der Krippe (The children near the manger) and had 8 verses.
The poem has many different settings or musical versions, but the one that most people know and that you can hear in the video above and in my youtube playlist was written by Johann Schulz in 1794. Schulz at the time was the court music director at the royal court in Kopenhagen, Denmark and wrote many folkloristic songs.
He composed music for the poem Wie reizend, wie wonnig ist alles umher (How lovely, how delightful is everything around) by Wilhelm Gottlieb Becker. Music and poem were published in 1795. But now we know this music as the melody of Ihr Kinderlein, kommet.
German Lyrics and the English Version
Ihr Kinderlein, kommet, o kommet doch all!
Zur Krippe her kommet in Bethlehems Stall
und seht, was in dieser hochheiligen Nacht
der Vater im Himmel für Freude uns macht!
O seht in der Krippe im nächtlichen Stall,
seht hier bei des Lichtleins hell glänzendem Strahl
den reinliche Windeln, das himmlische Kind,
viel schöner und holder als Engel es sind!
Da liegt es, das Kindlein, auf Heu und auf Stroh,
Maria und Josef betrachten es froh.
Die redlichen Hirten knien betend davor,
hoch oben schwebt jubelnd der Engelein Chor.
O beugt wie die Hirten anbetend die Knie,
erhebet die Hände und danket wie sie!
Stimmt freudig, ihr Kinder, wer wollt sich nicht freun,
stimmt freudig zum Jubel der Engel mit ein!
O betet: Du liebes, du göttliches Kind,
was leidest du alles für unsere Sünd!
Ach hier in der Krippe schon Armut und Not,
am Kreuze dort gar noch den bitteren Tod.
So nimm unsre Herzen zum Opfer denn hin;
wir geben sie gerne mit fröhlichem Sinn.
Ach mache sie heilig und selig wie Deins
und mach sie auf ewig mit Deinem nur eins.
Oh, come, little children, oh, come, one and all,
To Bethlehem’s stable, in Bethlehem’s stall.
And see with rejoicing this glorious sight,
Our Father in heaven has sent us this night.
Oh, see in the manger, in hallowèd light
A star throws its beam on this holiest sight.
In clean swaddling clothes lies the heavenly Child,
More lovely than angels, this Baby so mild.
Oh, there lies the Christ Child, on hay and on straw;
The shepherds are kneeling before Him with awe.
And Mary and Joseph smile on Him with love,
While angels are singing sweet songs from above.
Translated by Melanie Schulte (1885–1922)
Instrumental Version for singing along
German Christmas Music on CD
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