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Vater unsrer Väter, Unsre Macht und Wehr, Auf die Schaar der Beter Schau vom Himmel her! Alle Herzen wallen Dir entgegen heiß, Laß dir wohlgefallen Unsern Dank und Preis! Hast dir ausersehen Gnädig unser Land, Drin die Berge stehen Bis zum Wolkenrand; Wolltest drin bewahren Uns der Freiheit Hort, Uns mit deinen Schaaren Schirmen fort und fort[.] Vater, schirm' und hüte Ferner Berg' und Aun; Deiner Treu' und Güte Laß' allein uns traun! Mögen Feinde dräuen, Du bist unsre Wehr, Hilfst den Sieg erneuen, Wie von Alters her!
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 279-280.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Gebet für das Vaterland", appears in Liederbuch, in 4. Vaterlandslieder, no. 311 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Franz Wilhelm Abt (1819 - 1885) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Johann (or Hans) Wilhelm Bueß (b. 1812) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Theodor Gaugler (1840 - 1892), "Gebet für das Vaterland", op. 10 no. 1, published 1873 [ ttbb chorus ], Leipzig: Kahnt [sung text not yet checked]
- by Heinrich Grieder (1821 - 1913), "Gebet für's Vaterland" [ men's chorus ], Leipzig: Gebrüder Hug & Co. [sung text not yet checked]
- by Christoph Schnyder (1826 - 1909), "Gebet für's Vaterland", published [1906] [ mixed chorus or men's chorus ], from Drei Lieder für gemischten Chor nach eigenen Männerchören, no. 2, Leipzig: Gebr. Hug & Co. [sung text not yet checked]
- by Johann Georg Störl [sung text not yet checked]
- by Wilhelm Sturm (1842 - 1922), "Bittgesang für's Vaterland", op. 100, published 1898 [ men's chorus with piano or brass or orchestra ], St. Gallen: Zweifel & Weber [sung text not yet checked]
- by Philipp Tietz (1816 - 1878) [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2026-02-15
Line count: 24
Word count: 89
Father of our fathers, Our might and our defense, Look down from Heaven Upon the throng of those who pray! All hearts surge fervently Toward Thee, Let our gratitude and praise Be pleasing to Thee! [Thou] hast graciously chosen Our country for Thyself, In which the mountains reach Up to the border of the clouds; May Thou for us protect therein The stronghold of freedom, Shield us with Thy hosts [Of angels] on and on[.] Father, shield and keep, Moreover, the mountains and meadows; Let us all trust only In Thy faithfulness and goodness! Though enemies may threaten, Thou art our defense, Thou helpest renew victory As from time immemorial!
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of titles:
"Bittgesang für's Vaterland" = "Song of prayer for my homeland"
"Gebet für das Vaterland" = "Prayer for my homeland"
"Gebet für's Vaterland" = "Prayer for my homeland"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Gebet für das Vaterland", appears in Liederbuch, in 4. Vaterlandslieder, no. 311
This text was added to the website: 2026-07-01
Line count: 24
Word count: 111