As an appendix to the Oromo translation of Barth’s Bible Stories (1881), Johann Jacob Greiner published 2 hymns:
Transcription and Translation
Hymn 1:
Hymn 2:
Source: Sadirak Tasissa
Melodies
The melody of the first hymn, which is based on Psalm 23, was taken from the German song “Ich singe dir mit Herz und Mund” [I sing to you with heart and mouth]. The Oromo hymn therefore sounded like this:
The melody for the second song was taken from the German hymn “Meinen Jesum lass ich nicht.” Greiner’s hymn therefore most likely sounded like this:
based on the most popular hymnal at St. Chrischona, the Pilgerharfe.
Creation and use of the hymns
In a letter dated June 1875, Greiner reports that singing is a regular subject in his school for Oromo children in Ankober, which he run from 1874 to 1879. Both German and Oromo hymns were sung.
Since his knowledge of Oromo was not yet very advanced in 1875, it can be assumed that Yooseef Gaaluu, Greiner’s co-translator of Barth’s Bible Stories, also helped him with the translation of the hymns.
Greiner concludes his letter,
I now hold morning and evening devotions and try to give them an insight into biblical truths. On Sundays, I hold a kind of church service in the morning. As a lover of song, I unfortunately have little poetic spirit, but I have tried to put the 23rd Psalm into rhyme, which is now sung on Sundays to the [German] tune of “I sing to you with heart and mouth.”
Manuscript
Following is the manuscript Greiner submitted to the printer:
Cross-references
» Greiner, Letters published in St. Chrischona (1874‒75)
Greiner and Yooseef Gaaluu (tr.), Barth’s Bible Stories in Oromo (1881)