Manfred Siebald


Manfred Siebald is a German singer-songwriter and lecturer in American studies in Mainz.
Siebald is best known as a Christian singer-songwriter, who writes and speaks on contemporary worship music. His songs of the genre Neues Geistliches Lied have gained a firm place in the songbooks of many different Christian denominations and are sung in fellowships and youth groups throughout Germany.
WWW siebald.org

Artistic and musical career

As a child Manfred Siebald learned to play several musical instruments, including the violin, the viola and the piano. Along with his studies at the University of Marburg he took instruction in harmonisation and singing. As early as 1970 he was conducting the Youth for Christ Choir and singing in the Christ Singers. He also brought out his first single – "Meinst du wirklich, es genügt?" – at that time. In 1972 he published his first solo album, entitled Da steh ich nun. Siebald gained an international following with his performances at Eurofest '75, the international youth conference and evangelistic crusade which was organized by the Billy Graham organisation in Brussels. Siebald has often been compared with the singer-songwriter Reinhard Mey for his style, and sometimes with Graham Kendrick for his influence on Christian music in his country.
Over time he has become the most well-known German Christian singer songwriter, and has influenced many others. This is demonstrated, among other things, by the release of the album In deinem Haus – A Tribute to Manfred Siebald in 2003, consisting of reinterpretations of some of Siebald's best-loved songs by other well-known Christian musicians. The album was arranged by Florian Sitzmannde and produced by Arne Kopfermannde.
Siebald also translates English songs and writes lyrics for other singers. For example, he wrote all the lyrics for Cae Gauntt'sde album Welt von 1000 Wegen. He is frequently asked to write a theme song for special meetings or conferences. This was the case when he wrote "Von deinen Worten können wir leben" for The Year of the Bible in 1992. To date Siebald has penned about 350 songs, produced 19 albums and published seven poetry books.
Manfred Siebald performs about thirty concerts annually, accompanying himself on various acoustic guitars. For this he travels all over Germany and abroad. For his concerts abroad, including the US, South Africa, and Sri Lanka, he has produced English versions of his songs.

Academic career

In 1967, Siebald graduated from secondary school in Kassel. While on tour in America with the German Youth for Christ Choir, he studied at Manchester College, North Manchester, Indiana, in 1969. He then read German and English philology at Philipps University of Marburg. He trained to be a secondary school teacher of English and German, taking his first state diploma examination in 1972. After his marriage in 1973, he paused his studies for three years, completing his teacher training by taking the second state examination in 1976.
In 1977, he did a PhD in American studies at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz. His dissertation dealt with the topic Auflehnung im Werk Herman Melvilles – Rebellion in Herman Melville's Novels. In 1983, he was made assistant professor for American studies at Johannes Gutenberg University and continued his academic work after completion of his PhD. He interrupted his work at Mainz by taking sabbaticals at Wheaton College (Illinois) and guest professor at Georgia State University in Atlanta. In the first year, Siebald produced the monograph Der verlorene Sohn in der amerikanischen Literatur – The Prodigal Son in American Literature – which was published in 2003. He was made associate professor in American studies in Mainz in 2002 and has remained there to the present.

Other activities

Manfred Siebald is curator of the Faith and Science Institute of the Studentenmission in Deutschland, the German equivalent of the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship. In 1979, the nationwide television special "Whether My Songs Are Loud or Soft" was broadcast about his work. The same year, he co-founded the Christian arts group Das Rad in Wetzlar, together with about 50 other Christians also working in the arts.
He is married to a doctor, Christine Siebald, and they have a son, Benjamin, born in 1984.
In 2008, President Horst Köhler awarded him and his wife the Federal Cross of Merit for their tireless charity work both at home and abroad.

Music

Popular songs

  • "Ins Wasser fällt ein Stein" – "A Stone Drops in the Pond", original text and music: Kurt Kaiser, his best-known song in the current German Protestant hymnal Evangelisches Gesangbuch
  • "Geh unter der Gnade", in EG
  • "Es geht ohne Gott in die Dunkelheit" – "It's dark without God"
  • "In Deinem Haus" – "In your house, Lord"
  • "Jesus, zu dir kann ich so kommen wie ich bin" – "I can come to you, Jesus, just as I am"
  • "Gut, dass wir einander haben" – "It's good that we've got each other"
  • "Friede sei mit dir" – "Peace be with thee"
  • "Du bist mein Rabe" – "You are my raven"
  • "Über Nacht" – "Over night"
  • "Mit federleichter Hand" – "With a Soft Touch"
  • "Wenn der Mund stumm ist" – "If I hold my tongue"
  • "Die Weihnachtsfreude" – "Christmas joy"
  • "Wenn wir Gott in der Höhe ehren" – "If we glorify God in the Highest"

Discography

Single

  • "Meinst du wirklich, es genügt?"
Do you really mean, it's enough?"

Vinyl albums

Da steh ich nun
Here I standIch gehe weiter
I'll press onDas ungedüngte Feld
A Field of organic food
see: discussionZeitpunkte
Points in TimeÜberall hat Gott seine Leute
God has his people everywhere
The title comes from Manfred's translation of Andrae Crouch's song "Through it all".Kreuzschnabel
CrossbillAlles auf seine Weise – Liebeslieder
Everything in its own way – Love songs

Compact discs

Gib mir die richtigen Worte
Words that are wise and yet simple
see: discussionSpuren
TracesVon Wegen
No WayAmasement
Du bist mein Rabe – Lieder von der Liebe
You are my raven – Love songsWorte wie Brot – Lieder für den Gottesdienst
Words like bread – Worship songsLass uns Freunde sein
Let's Be FriendsNicht vergessen
Not ForgottenWeltbewegende Winzigkeiten
Little Things That Make the World Go RoundWas die Engel uns sagen – Songs for Christmas
What the angels tell usVielleicht kommst du mit
Maybe you'll come alongMorgenmantelmorgen
Dressing Gown MorningSingen Sie bald mit? Manfred Siebald's congregational songs
Will you sing along?Ich lass dich nicht fallen
I won't let you fallAber Sicher But SurelyDas Beste kommt noch The Best Is Yet to Come
  • Manfred Siebald - Live Höchste Zeit High TimeZur Feier des Tages Celebrating the Day
  • The first four vinyl albums have been re-released on compact disc as a 4-CD pack.

Publications

For an extensive list of the academic publications see

Poetry books

  • Ist schon alles gesagt Poetry collection Has Everything Been Said?
  • Worauf noch warten Poetry collection Why Wait
  • Kreuzschnabel Poetry collection Crossbill
  • Wir brauchen Mut Poetry collection We Need Courage
  • Lehn dich zurück Poetry collection Lean Back
  • Von den Augen abgelesen Book of poetry Read My Eyes
  • Du bist mein Rabe Book of poetry ''You Are my Raven''

Other books

  • Auflehnung im Werk Herman Melvilles — Rebellion in Herman Melville's Novels
  • Eine Handvoll schöner Gedanken Collection of aphorisms – A handful of beautiful thoughts
  • Das Leben ist eine Boulebahn – Life is a bowling alley


  • Die ganze Weite: Ein Amerika-Lesebuch. – The big picture: An American primer

  • Gib mir den richtigen Ton. Lauter Liedergeschichten – Give me the right sound. Stories of famous songs


  • Pitti lächelt und andere Geschichten – Pitti smiled and other stories

Articles

  • Amerikanisierung des Dramas und Dramatisierung Amerikas – Americanisation of Drama and Dramatisation of America
Marriage Studies by Hans Helmcke, contributions by Horst Immel and Manfred Siebald.
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