Lyra Davidica Explained
The Lyra Davidica ("the harp of David"; expanded title: Lyra Davidica, or a Collection of Divine Songs and Hymns, Partly New[ly] Composed, Partly Translated from the High-German and Latin Hymns)[1] is a collection of hymns and tunes first published in 1708.[2] The volume was published by John Walsh (printer). The collection was one of many containing hymns translated (mostly) from German, at a time when Anglicanism was heavily influenced by German evangelical pietism.[3]
Only surviving melody
One well-known hymn from the collection is the Easter hymn "Jesus Christ Is Risen Today", whose melody is the only one which has survived since the original publication in 1708.[4]
Impact
Philip Pullman named Lyra Belacqua, the heroine of his trilogy His Dark Materials, after the Lyra Davidica.[5]
External links
Notes and References
- Book: Walsh . J. . Hare . J. . Randal . P. . 1708 . Lyra Davidica, or a Collection of Divine Songs and Hymns, Partly New Composed, Partly Translated from the High-German and Latin Hymns; and set to easy and pleasant Tunes, for more General Use. The Musick Engrav'd on Copper Plates. . London, Printed for J. Walsh, J. Hare, and P. Randal . 2020-04-25.
- Encyclopedia: Davison . Archibald T. . Archibald Thompson Davison . E. . L. . 1969 . Hymn, English . Apel . Willi . Willi Apel . . 2nd . Cambridge, Massachusetts . Belknap Press . 398–399 . 2000 . 978-0-674-37501-7.
- Book: Davis, John R. . 2007 . The Victorians and Germany . Bern . Peter Lang . 43 . 978-3-03-911065-0.
- Web site: Jesus Christ Is Risen Today . Swansea, Wales . Parish of Oystermouth . 28 March 2016 . 7 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200607155025/https://www.oystermouthparish.com/jesus-christ-is-risen-today . dead .
- Schwartz. Alexandra. 29 September 2019. The Fallen Worlds of Philip Pullman. The New Yorker. 14 February 2021.
