Zwickau celebrates 500 years of hymnals – a piece of the city’s history is alive!

Zwickau celebrates 500 years of hymnals – a piece of the city’s history is alive!

A milestone in the history of church music is being celebrated in Zwickau: To mark the 500th anniversary of the oldest printed Protestant church hymnal, which was published by Jörg Gastel in 1525, the hymnal “Eyn gesang Buchleyn” is being published for the first time as a colored facsimile. This unique specimen is the only one in the world that has been preserved to this day. The presentation will take place on Sunday, September 28th, at 5 p.m. in the Zwickau City Library.

The facsimile not only brings the historical work back into the public eye, but also includes a detailed commentary on the history of printing as well as the texts and songs it contains. The keynote speech by Dr. Gregor Hermann will also shed light on the important role of the hymn book in Zwickau's city history. The event will be accompanied musically by a vocal ensemble under the direction of Karl Joseph Eckel, which will present songs from the hymn book.

Cultural heritage and Reformation

Zwickau was the second city where the Reformation gained a foothold, after Wittenberg. Important reformers such as Thomas Müntzer from 1520 and Martin Luther from 1522 preached in this city. The first sermon in German took place in St. Mary's Church in 1524 and paved the way for the wide spread of Protestant ideas. Ferdinand von Zwickau, who founded the first printing press in 1523, published a collection that included 24 songs - 13 of which come directly from Martin Luther, who had a decisive influence on the music and lyrics.

Interestingly, the first edition of the hymn book sold so well at the time that an almost identical second edition was published a short time later. Many of these songs are still popular in Protestant communities today and are sung regularly. In addition, this facsimile also contains the melodies of the 24 songs, which were produced using a skillful woodcut process.

The future of the hymn book

While the anniversary draws attention to the roots of Protestant church music, the future is also being considered. A commission from the Evangelical Church in Germany has been working since the beginning of 2020 on publishing a new hymn book that is intended to offer a representative variety of songs. A digital database with up to 2,500 official songs is planned, which may also be available as an app.

The new hymnal is expected to be completed by 2030 and will contain both traditional and modern texts, with the aim of carefully modernizing the Luther Bible texts. At a time when many people are looking for points of contact with their spirituality, music remains a central element in church life.

The event on September 28th in the Zwickau City Library will certainly be a milestone in looking back at 500 years of Zwickau singing history and at the same time provide a look into the future. Admission is free, but pre-registration is recommended by calling 0375 834222 to secure a place in this exciting event.

An exciting look back at the important role of the hymn book not only offers a festive setting, but also the opportunity to appreciate and rediscover the deeply rooted tradition of Protestant church music. Visit the Zwickau City Library at Katharinenstrasse 44A and be part of this unique cultural heritage!