»O Haupt, sonst schön gezieret …«

Zusammenfassung

[On the Work and Impact of Paul Gerhardt. New Contributions from the Paul Gerhardt Society, Vol. 1] The volume contains major studies and smaller miscellanea on the work and impact of the great songwriter Paul Gerhardt. It examines comprehensively the picture in the altar retable of St. Moritz church in Mittenwalde, presumably the inspiration for »O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden«, as well as his handling of mourning, dying and death on the basis of a preserved funeral sermon. Two contributions are devoted to the reception of the prominent Lutheran in Reformed hymnals. Other topics include anagrams in »Befiehl du deine Wege«, the discovery of a Gerhardt forgery, and the significance of »Geh aus mein Herz« and other songs in the work of Helga Schubert, winner of the Bachmann Prize.