Comments on: My Loving Saviour, How Have I Offended You CWB I 749

By: Gio

Gio — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 12:44:28 +0000

In reply to maddg.

There is no doubt people have scanned it and have digital copies. The full Music edition is on certain archive websites.

It’s a copyright nightmare and the legislation has still not caught up.

Godsongs has a less illegal record of it:
https://www.godsongs.net/2017/12/new-catholic-hymnal-faber-music-ltd-england.html

By: maddg

maddg — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 23:28:21 +0000

In reply to Gio.

Gio

You make me curious about the New Catholic Hymnal.
Unfortunately even the melody line versions I can find to be online are too expensive for mere curiosity.

Geoff

By: Gio

Gio — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 07:34:19 +0000

Anthony G. Petti was the editor of the New Catholic Hymnal from England in 1971. He was the main butcherer of hymns in that book. Every time I see A.G.P in a hymn attribution, it leads me back to that particular hymn book.
And behold:
Herzliebster Jesu by Johann Heermann, 1585-1647, translated by A.G.P.
Based on the translation of Robert Bridges, 1844-1930

Since the original translation still would have been in copyright in 1971, it was ‘re-translated’ instead of copy/paste modernised as was the norm. I also note there was the switch from I and Me to Us and We, which was all the rage back then. And people today argue about pronouns.

Caswall and Neale were Anglican ministers who translated a whole bunch of Latin hymns into English in the 19th century.
Some people take the the best verses from translations and stick them together.
Considering that it uses yous instead of the language of the mid 19th century, I am inclined to believe that it is misattributed to the more famous hymn writers.

For the tune: it’s all up to the editors. Re-harmonise to dodge copyright, shuffle some notes around, and nobody actually knows the hymn so it dies out and confuses historians down the line.