Klopstock considered hymn writing to be his second vocation. In his hymns he abandoned the exalted tone of his odes, choosing a simpler, more appropriate mode of expression for the liturgy of the divine service. This volume presents the first critical edition of the hymns and prefaces published in 1757 and 1769, the first versions of the “Altered Hymns” (rewritten chorale texts) contained in the first part and two hymns from Klopstock's unpublished works. As hymn writer Klopstock is rooted in the Lutheran tradition, but his powerful mastery of the language, his enthusiastic adoration of God and the eschatological hope he expresses make the style of Klopstock’ s hymns unique.

Laura Bolognesi, Hamburg.