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Cantata BWV 248/1
Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage
(Weihnachts-Oratorium I)
English Translation in Parallel Format
Cantata BWV 248/1 - Shout for joy, exult, rise up, glorify the day
Christmas Oratorio I

Event: Cantata for Christmas Day
Readings: Epistle: Titus 2: 11-14 / Isaiah 9: 2-7; Gospel: Luke 2: 1-14
Text:
Christian Friedrich Henrici (Picander); Paul Gerhardt (Mvt. 5); Martin Luther (Mvts. 7, 9)
Chorale Text:

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

 

Original German Text

 

English Translation

1

Coro

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

 

Tromba I-III, Timpani, Flauto traverso I/II, Oboe I/II, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

 

Jauchzet, frohlocket! auf, preiset die Tage,
Rühmet, was heute der Höchste getan!
Lasset das Zagen, verbannet die Klage,
Stimmet voll Jauchzen und Fröhlichkeit an!
Dienet dem Höchsten mit herrlichen Chören,
Laßt uns den Namen des Herrschers verehren!

 

Shout for joy, exult, rise up, glorify the day,
praise what today the highest has done!
Abandon hesitation, banish lamentation,
begin to sing with rejoicing and exaltation!
Serve the highest with glorious choirs,
let us honour the name of our ruler!

       

2

Recitativo T

2

Recitative [Tenor]

 

Violoncello, Fagotto, Continuo, Organo

   
 

Evangelist:
Es begab sich aber zu der Zeit,
dass ein Gebot von dem Kaiser Augusto ausging,
dass alle Welt geschätzet würde.
Und jedermann ging, dass er sich schätzen ließe,
ein jeglicher in seine Stadt.
Da machte sich auch auf Joseph aus Galiläa,
aus der Stadt Nazareth, in das jüdische Land zur Stadt David,
die da heißet Bethlehem;
darum, dass er von dem Hause und Geschlechte David war:
auf dass er sich schätzen ließe mit Maria,
seinem vertrauten Weibe, die war schwanger.
Und als sie daselbst waren, kam die Zeit, dass sie gebären sollte.

 

Evangelist:
It happened at that time
that an order went out from Caesar Augustus
that all the world should be assessed.
And everyone went, so that he might be assessed,
each to his own city.
Joseph went up out of Galilee
from the city of Nazareth, into the land of Judah to the city of David
which is called Bethlehem;
for he was of the house and race of David:
so that he might be assessed with Mary,
his betrothed wife, who was pregnant.
And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

       

3

Recitativo A

3

Recitative [Alto]

 

Oboe d'amore I/II, Violoncello, Fagotto, Continuo, Organo

   
 

Nun wird mein liebster Bräutigam,
Nun wird der Held aus Davids Stamm
Zum Trost, zum Heil der Erden
Einmal geboren werden.
Nun wird der Stern aus Jakob scheinen,
Sein Strahl bricht schon hervor.
Auf, Zion, und verlasse nun das Weinen,
Dein Wohl steigt hoch empor!

 

Now my dearest bridegroom,
now the hero from the race of David
for the consolation and salvation of the Earth
shall at last be born.
Now the star that comes from Jacob shall shine,
its rays already burst forth.
Rise up, Zion, and abandon your weeping,
your well-being climbs aloft!

       

4

Aria A

4

Aria [Alto]

 

Oboe d'amore I, Violino I, Violoncello, Fagotto, Continuo, Organo

 

Bereite dich, Zion, mit zärtlichen Trieben,
Den Schönsten, den Liebsten bald bei dir zu sehn!
Deine Wangen
Müssen heut viel schöner prangen,
Eile, den Bräutigam sehnlichst zu lieben!

 

Make yourself ready, Zion,with tender desires
to see with you soon him who is most beautiful, most dear!
Your cheeks
must today befar more beautifully resplendent,
hasten, to love your bridegroom with the greatest longing!

       

5

Choral

5

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 

Flauto traverso I/II in octava e Oboe I/II e Violino I col Soprano, Violino II coll'Alto, Viola col Tenore, Violoncello col Basso, Fagotto, Continuo, Organo

 

Wie soll ich dich empfangen
Und wie begegn' ich dir?
O aller Welt Verlangen,
O meiner Seelen Zier!
O Jesu, Jesu, setze
Mir selbst die Fackel bei,
Damit, was dich ergötze,
Mir kund und wissend sei!

 

How should I receive you
and how should I meet you?
O longing of the whole world
O adornment of my soul!
O Jesus, Jesus, place
yourself your lamp by me
so that what gives you delight
I may know and understand!

       

6

Recitativo T

6

Recitative [Tenor]

 

Violoncello, Fagotto, Continuo, Organo

 

Evangelist:
Und sie gebar ihren ersten Sohn
und wickelte ihn in Windeln und legte ihn in eine Krippen,
denn sie hatten sonst keinen Raum in der Herberge.

 

Evangelist:
And she gave birth to her first son
and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger

for they had otherwise no room in the inn.

       

7

Choral S e Recitativo B

7

Chorale [Soprano] and Recitative [Bass]

 

Oboe d'amore I/II, Violoncello, Fagotto, Continuo, Organo

 

Er ist auf Erden kommen arm,
Wer will die Liebe recht erhöhn,
Die unser Heiland vor uns hegt?
Dass er unser sich erbarm,
Ja, wer vermag es einzusehen,
Wie ihn der Menschen Leid bewegt?
Und in dem Himmel mache reich,
Des Höchsten Sohn kömmt in die Welt,
Weil ihm ihr Heil so wohl gefällt,
Und seinen lieben Engeln gleich.
So will er selbst als Mensch geboren werden.
Kyrieleis!

 

He has come on Earth in poverty
Who will rightly extol the love
that our Saviour cherishes for us?
so that he may have mercy on us,

Indeed, who is able to realise
and make us rich in heaven
how he is moved by human suffering?
and like his beloved angels.

The highest's son came into the world
because its salvation pleases him so well
that he himself is willing to be born as a man.
Lord, have mercy!

       

8

Aria B

8

Aria [Bass]

 

Tromba I, Flauto traverso I, Violino I/II, Viola, Violoncello, Fagotto, Continuo, Organo

 

Großer Herr, o starker König,
Liebster Heiland, o wie wenig
Achtest du der Erden Pracht!
Der die ganze Welt erhält,
Ihre Pracht und Zier erschaffen,
Muss in harten Krippen schlafen.

 

Great Lord, O mighty king,
dearest saviour, O how little
you regard earthly splendour
He who maintains the whole world
and created its glory and adornment
must sleep in a hard crib.

       

9

Choral

9

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 

Tromba I-III, Timpani, Flauto traverso I/II in octava e Oboe I/II e Violino I col Soprano, Violino II col Tenore, Viola col Tenore, Violoncello, Fagotto, Continuo, Organo

 

Ach mein herzliebes Jesulein,
Mach dir ein rein sanft Bettelein,
Zu ruhn in meines Herzens Schrein,
Dass ich nimmer vergesse dein!

 

Ah little Jesus dear to my heart,
make for yourself a clean, soft bed,
to rest in the shrine of my heart
so that I may never forget you!

       

This Translation in Interlinear Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (November 2008)

Contributed by Francis Browne (November 2008)

Weihnachts-Oratorium BWV 248 (1734-1735): Details
Complete Recordings: 1900-1949 | 1950-1959 | 1960-1969 | 1970-1979 | 1980-1989 | 1990-1999 | 2000-2009 | 2010-2019 | 2020-2029 | Recordings of Individual Movements
General Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8
Systematic Discussions: Cantata 1 | Cantata 2 | Cantata 3 | Cantata 4 | Cantata 5 | Cantata 6 | Part 7: Summary
Individual Recordings: BWV 248 – Collegium Aureum | BWV 248 - H. Christophers | BWV 248 - J.E. Gardiner | BWV 248 - N. Harnoncourt | BWV 248 - P. Herreweghe | BWV 248 - R. Jacobs | BWV 248 - N. McGegan | BWV 248 - R. Otto | BWV 248 - K. Richter | BWV 248 - H. Rilling | BWV 248 - P. Schreier | BWV 248 - M. Suzuki | BWV 248 - K. Thomas | BWV 248 - J.v. Veldhoven
Articles: A Bottomless Bucket of Bach - Christmas Oratorio [D. Satz] | BWV 248/19 “Schlafe, mein Liebster” - A Background Study with Focus on the Colla Parte Flauto Traverso Part [T. Braatz]

BWV 248/1 Text: German-1 | NBA
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-10 | English-14
Chinese-2 | Danish-2 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-3 | French-4 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Hebrew-2 | Hungarian-1 | Indonesian-1 | Russian-1 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Texts: Wie soll ich dich empfangen [BWV 248/5] | Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ [BWV 248/7] | Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her [BWV 248/9]

English Translations in Interlinear/Parallel Format (English-3): Sorted by BWV Number | Sorted by Title | Sorted by Event | Note on English Translations


Texts & Translations: Main Page | Cantatas BWV 1-50 | Cantatas BWV 51-100 | Cantatas BWV 101-150 | Cantatas BWV 151-200 | Cantatas BWV 201-224 | Other Vocal BWV 225-249 | Chorales BWV 250-438 | Geistliche Lieder BWV 439-507 | AMN BWV 508-524 | Other Vocal 1081-1164 | BWV Anh | Chorale Texts | Emblemata | Sources | Poets & Composers
Discussions: Texts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Translations: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4




 

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Last update: Thursday, October 19, 2023 06:25