Christum wir sollen loben schon

"Christum wir sollen loben schon" (We should praise Christ beautifully^[a]) is a Lutheran Christmas hymn with a text by Martin Luther, first published in 1524 in the Erfurt Enchiridion. He wrote it based on the Latin A solis ortus cardine and kept its melody (Zahn No. 297a–b).^[1][2]

"Christum wir sollen loben schon"
Hymn by Martin Luther
The hymn in the Erfurt Enchyridion, 1524
Catalogue	Zahn 297a–c
Text	by Martin Luther
Language	German
Published	1524 (1524)

A variant of the hymn tune, Zahn No. 297c, was published in 1535.^[2] The hymn was used in several musical settings, including the chorale cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach, Christum wir sollen loben schon, BWV 121.^[3][4] Bach wrote an organ chorale prelude BWV 611 for his Orgelbüchlein.^[5]

The tune is also used for "From East to West, from Shore to Shore."^[6]

Notes

1. "schon" is an old form of "schön" (beautiful)