All glory, laud, and honor to thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring!
Thou art the King of Israel, thou David's royal Son,
Who in the Lord's name comest, the King and blessed One!
The people of the Hebrews with palms before thee went,
Our praise and prayer and anthems before thee we present.
To thee, before thy passion, they sang their hymns of praise,
To thee, now high exalted, our melody we raise.
Thou didst accept their praises, accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest, thou good and gracious King!
All glory, laud, and honor to thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring!
Author: Theodolph of Orleans, 760-821
English Translation: John M. Neale, 1818-1866
Composer: Melchior Teschner, 1584-1635
Tune Name: "St. Theodolph"
Meter: 76.76 Doubled
Scripture References: Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:10; Luke 28:37,38
This is a traditional Palm Sunday hymn, likely written about 820 AD by Bishop Theodolph of Orleans, France, while he was imprisoned at the monestary of Angers. He was well-known in his day as a poet, pastor and a beloved bishop.
Bishop Theodolph was born in Spain and was a close friend of Charlemagne, the emperor who tried to revive the Roman Empire in the eighth century. When Charlemagne died, Theodolph was imprisoned by his son, Louis I the Pious, for allegedly plotting against him. A well-known legend has long been associated with this hymn. It is believed by many that a short time before the bishop's death in 821 AD, Louis I was visiting in the area where the bishop was imprisoned and by chance passed under his cell. The bishop is said to have been singing as worshiping by himself; and when the emperor heard this particular hymn being sung, he was so moved by the incident that he immediately ordered the bishop's release. Shortly after, the bishop died, with some accounts alleging that he was poisoned before leaving the cloister.
The composer of the tune was born in Fraustadt, Silesia, in 1584. He later became a cantor in the German Lutheran Church. The tune was composed in 1613 for another text, and was considered by J.S. Bach to be so good that he in turn borrowed it for use in his St. John Passion.
This translation is a good example of how the Oxford Movement progressed from simply revitalizing the Anglican Church to breaking the mold of Psalmody imposed by the Calvinists and Puritans.
Most noteworthy of Neale the translator is this quote: "A hymn, whether, original or translated, ought, the moment it is published, to become the common property of Christendom, the author retaining no private right in it whatsoever."
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