It is needless to say that the materials of this Birth-
day Edition of Luther's Hymns and Tunes have been prepared in
profusion by the diligence of German scholars. But very
thankful acknowledgments are also due to English translators,
who have made this work possible within the very scanty time
allotted to it. Full credit is given in the table of contents
for the help derived from these various translators. But the
exigencies of this volume were peculiarly sever, inasmuch as
the translation was to be printed over against the original,
and also under the music. Not even Mr. Richard Massie's
careful work would always bear this double test; so that I
have found myself compelled, in most cases, to give up the
attempt to follow any translation exactly; and in some
instances have reluctantly attempted a wholly new version.
The whole credit of the musical editorship belongs to my
accomplished associate, Mr. Nathan H. Allen, without whose
ready resource and earnest labor the work would have been
impossible within the limits of time necessarily prescribed.
In the choice of harmonies for these ancient tunes, he has
wisely preferred, in general, the arrangements of the older
masters.
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