"O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" is a

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

Passion

hymn A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' d ...

based on a

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

text written during the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

. Paul Gerhardt wrote a German version which is known by its

incipit The incipit ( ) of a text is the first few words of the text, employed as an identifying label. In a musical composition, an incipit is an initial sequence of Musical note, notes, having the same purpose. The word ''incipit'' comes from Latin an ...

, "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden".

Text

Original Latin

The hymn is based on a long

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...

poem, ''Salve mundi salutare'', with stanzas addressing the various parts of

Christ Jesus ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Christianity, central figure of Christianity, the M ...

's body hanging on the

Cross A cross is a religious symbol consisting of two Intersection (set theory), intersecting Line (geometry), lines, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of t ...

. The last part of the poem, from which the hymn is taken, is addressed to Christ's head, and begins "Salve caput cruentatum". The poem is often attributed to

Bernard of Clairvaux Bernard of Clairvaux, Cistercians, O.Cist. (; 109020 August 1153), venerated as Saint Bernard, was an abbot, Mysticism, mystic, co-founder of the Knights Templar, and a major leader in the reform of the Benedictines through the nascent Cistercia ...

(1091–1153), but is now attributed to the medieval poet

Arnulf of Leuven Arnulf of Leuven (c. 1200–1250) was the abbot of the Cistercian abbey in Villers-la-Ville. After serving in this office for ten years, he abdicated, hoping to pursue a life devoted to study and asceticism. He died within a year. Little else ...

(died 1250). A selection of stanzas from the seven cantos were used for the text of

Dieterich Buxtehude Dieterich Buxtehude (; born Diderich Hansen Buxtehude, ; – 9 May 1707) was a Danish composer and organist of the Baroque music, Baroque period, whose works are typical of the North German organ school. As a composer who worked in various vocal ...

's '' Membra Jesu Nostri'' addressing the various members of the crucified body

German translation

The poem was translated into German by the

Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

hymnist Paul Gerhardt (1607–1676). He reworked the Latin version to suggest a more personal contemplation of the events of Christ's death on the cross. It first appeared in Johann Crüger's hymnal ' in 1656. Although Gerhardt translated the whole poem, it is the closing section which has become best known, and is sung as a hymn in its own right. The German hymn begins with "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden".

English translation

The hymn was first translated into English in 1752 by John Gambold (1711–1771), an

Anglican Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...

vicar in

Oxfordshire Oxfordshire ( ; abbreviated ''Oxon'') is a ceremonial county in South East England. The county is bordered by Northamptonshire and Warwickshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the east, Berkshire to the south, and Wiltshire and Glouceste ...

. His translation begins, "O Head so full of bruises". In 1830 a new translation of the hymn was made by an American

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...

minister, James Waddel Alexander (1804–1859). Alexander's translation, beginning "O sacred head, now wounded", became one of the most widely used in 19th and 20th century hymnals. Another English translation, based on the German, was made in 1861 by Sir Henry Williams Baker. Published in '' Hymns Ancient and Modern'', it begins, "O sacred head surrounded by crown of piercing thorn". Catherine Winkworth also translated the text and published it in her collection of German hymns, ''Lyra Germanica'', giving it the title ''Ah wounded Head! Must Thou''. In 1899 the English poet

Robert Bridges Robert Seymour Bridges (23 October 1844 – 21 April 1930) was a British poet who was Poet Laureate from 1913 to 1930. A doctor by training, he achieved literary fame only late in life. His poems reflect a deep Christian faith, and he is ...

(1844–1930) made a fresh translation from the original Latin, beginning "O sacred Head, sore wounded, defiled and put to scorn". This is the version used in the 1940 Hymnal (Episcopal), the 1982 Hymnal (Episcopal; stanzas 1–3 and 5), and the '' New English Hymnal'' (1986) and several other late 20th-century hymn books. The '' English Hymnal'' (1906) has a translation attributed to "Y.H.", referring to Bridges' translations for the '' Yattendon Hymnal'', of which he was the editor. Karen Lynn Davidson (born 1943) wrote another English translation, titled "O savior, thou who wearest a crown", which is published in '' Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints''. This is an edited version, including parts based on 2 Nephi from the

Book of Mormon The Book of Mormon is a religious text of the Latter Day Saint movement, first published in 1830 by Joseph Smith as ''The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi''. The book is one of ...

Melody and use

''The melody as it appears in movement 54 of the ''

St Matthew Passion The ''St Matthew Passion'' (), BWV 244, is a '' Passion'', a sacred oratorio written by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1727 for solo voices, double choir and double orchestra, with libretto by Picander. It sets the 26th and 27th chapters of th ...

'' by Bach'': \header \layout global = verse = \lyricmode verseR = \lyricmode soprano = \relative c'' alto = \relative c' tenor = \relative c' bass = \relative c' \score \score The music for the German and English versions of the hymn is by

Hans Leo Hassler Hans Leo Hassler (in German, Hans Leo Haßler) (baptised 26 October 1564 – 8 June 1612) was a German composer and organist of the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras, elder brother of lesser known composer Jakob Hassler. He was born in N ...

, written around 1600 for a secular love song, "", which first appeared in print in the 1601 Lustgarten Neuer Teutscher Gesäng. The tune was appropriated and rhythmically simplified for Gerhardt's German hymn in 1656 by Johann Crüger.

Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (German: Help:IPA/Standard German, �joːhan zeˈbasti̯an baχ ( – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque music, Baroque period. He is known for his prolific output across a variety ...

arranged the melody and used five stanzas of the hymn in four different settings in his ''

''. He also used the hymn's text and melody in the second movement of the

cantata A cantata (; ; literally "sung", past participle feminine singular of the Italian language, Italian verb ''cantare'', "to sing") is a vocal music, vocal Musical composition, composition with an musical instrument, instrumental accompaniment, ty ...

''Sehet, wir gehn hinauf gen Jerusalem'', BWV 159. Bach used the melody on different words in his ''Christmas Oratorio'', in the first part ( no. 5). Bach also craftily employed the melody as a counterpoint in half-time in the opening aria of the cantata ''Komm, du süße Todesstunde'', BWV 161, and set it for four parts to close that cantata.

Franz Liszt Franz Liszt (22 October 1811 – 31 July 1886) was a Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor and teacher of the Romantic music, Romantic period. With a diverse List of compositions by Franz Liszt, body of work spanning more than six ...

included an arrangement of this hymn in the sixth station, ''Saint Veronica'', of his '' Via crucis'' (Stations of the Cross), S. 504a. The Danish composer Rued Langgaard composed a set of variations for string quartet on this tune. It is also employed in the final chorus of "Sinfonia Sacra", the Ninth Symphony of the English composer Edmund Rubbra. Mauricio Kagel quoted the hymn at the end of his oratorio '' Sankt-Bach-Passion'' telling Bach's life, composed for the tricentenary of Bach's birth in 1985.

Other uses

Other hymns have also been written to the tune. These include: * "We come as guests invited" by

Timothy Dudley-Smith Timothy Dudley-Smith (26 December 1926 – 12 August 2024) was a bishop of the Church of England and a noted hymnwriter. He wrote around 400 hymns, including "Tell Out, My Soul". Early life and education Dudley-Smith was born on 26 December 19 ...

The tune has also been used for secular texts and songs, including: * "Because All Men Are Brothers", a protest song written in 1947 by Tom Glazer * " American Tune" by

Paul Simon Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter known for his solo work and his collaborations with Art Garfunkel. He and Garfunkel, whom he met in elementary school in 1953, came to prominence in the 1960s as Sim ...

* "Stop Error" by John K. Samson But the classic choral versions with the world-famous text and melody are better known, for example: Most popular: The version for mixed choir with organ accompaniment . Currently available for large mixed choir: . Somewhat older, but also very audible, for mixed choir: . For polyphonic school choir: . For women's choir a cappella: . For women's choir and string orchestra: . In the classical setting for male choir: . More modern solo performances: Widely heard: The pop music version by , with piano accompaniment and violin solo. As a pop solo, accompanied by piano, violin, strings, and a large choir: Pop version with piano, without rhythm section: . As a pop solo, accompanied only by piano, but with a final choir: . As a pop solo with a female voice, piano, cello, and strings: . With a female voice, accompanied by piano and cello: . Currently also for a female voice, accompanied by piano, cello, and strings: . Current variations in jazz and pop music: Completely adapted in melody and chords: . Currently as jazzy art rock with a band in the style of "Coldplay": . Accompanied by an experimental band, but strictly adhering to the world-famous classical melody: .

German and English lyrics

The text by Gerhardt consists of 10 verses, of which the first and final one are transcribed below, with the same verses in the 1830 version by J. W. Alexander. O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden, voll Schmerz und voller Hohn, o Haupt, zum Spott gebunden mit einer Dornenkron; o Haupt, sonst schön gezieret mit höchster Ehr und Zier, jetzt aber höchst schimpfieret: gegrüßet sei'st du mir! Erscheine mir zum Schilde, zum Trost in meinem Tod, und laß mich sehn dein Bilde in deiner Kreuzesnot. Da will ich nach dir blicken, da will ich glaubensvoll dich fest an mein Herz drücken. Wer so stirbt, der stirbt wohl. O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down, now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown; O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine! Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine. Be Thou my consolation, my shield when I must die; remind me of Thy passion when my last hour draws nigh. Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, upon Thy cross shall dwell, my heart by faith enfolds Thee. Who dieth thus dies well.

References

External links

* - Additional information about Hassler's melody * , from Bach's ''St. Matthew Passion'', sung at the

Brixen Brixen (; , ; or , ) is a town and communes of Italy, commune in South Tyrol, northern Italy, located about north of Bolzano. Geography Brixen is the third-largest city and oldest town in the province, with a population of nearly twenty-three t ...

Cathedral by the Tölzer Knabenchor and , conducted by * , from adaptation project "restored'hymns", recorded at the

Magdeburg Magdeburg (; ) is the Capital city, capital of the Germany, German States of Germany, state Saxony-Anhalt. The city is on the Elbe river. Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, Otto I, the first Holy Roman Emperor and founder of the Archbishopric of Mag ...

Cathedral "St. Sebastian" by the musicians of "ConTakt Music e.V." Germany, in January 2025 {{Authority control Christian hymns in Latin Christian hymns in German Lutheran hymns Passion hymns Hymns by Paul Gerhardt Songs about Jesus Songs based on poems