Event: Cantata for the 3^rd Day of Christmas [St John's Day]
Readings: Epistle: Hebrews 1: 1-14 / Ecclesiastical Letters 15: 1-8; Gospel: John 1: 1-14
Text: Christian Friedrich Henrici (Picander); Martin Luther (Mvt. 5); Paul Gerhardt (Mvt. 10); Christoph Runge (Mvt. 12)
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

Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen,
Laß dir die matten Gesänge gefallen,
Wenn dich dein Zion mit Psalmen erhöht!
Höre der Herzen frohlockendes Preisen,
Wenn wir dir itzo die Ehrfurcht erweisen,
Weil unsre Wohlfahrt befestiget steht!

Ruler of heaven, hear our inarticulate speech,
let our faint songs please you,
when your Zion exalts you with psalms!
Hear the exultant praise of our hearts,
as we show our reverence for you
since our welfare is made sure!

2

Recitativo T

2

Recitative [Tenor]

Continuo

Evangelist:
Und da die Engel von ihnen gen Himmel fuhren,
sprachen die Hirten untereinander:

Evangelist:
And as the angels went from them to heaven
the shepherds said to one another:

3

Coro

3

Chorus

Flauto traverso I/II, Violino I, Oboe d'amore I e Violino II col Soprano, Oboe d'amore II coll'Alto, Viola col Tenore, Continuo

Die Hirten:
Lasset uns nun gehen gen Bethlehem
und die Geschichte sehen, die da geschehen ist,
die uns der Herr kundgetan hat.

Shepherds:
Let us now go to Bethlehem
and see the event that has happened there,
which the Lord has made known to us.

4

Recitativo B

4

Recitative [Bass]

Flauto traverso I/II, Continuo

Er hat sein Volk getröst',
Er hat sein Israel erlöst,
Die Hülf aus Zion hergesendet
Und unser Leid geendet.
Seht, Hirten, dies hat er getan;
Geht, dieses trefft ihr an!

He has consoled his people,
He has redeemed his Israel,
sent help out of Zion
and ended our suffering.
See, shepherds, this is what he has done;
Go, this is what you will find!

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, Continuo

Dies hat er alles uns getan,
Sein groß Lieb zu zeigen an;
Des freu sich alle Christenheit
Und dank ihm des in Ewigkeit.
Kyrieleis!

All this he has done for us
to show his great love;
for this reason let all the Christian world rejoice
and thank him for this in eternity.
Lord have mercy!

6

Aria (Duetto) S B

6

Aria (Duet) [Soprano, Bass]

Oboe d'amore I/II

Herr, dein Mitleid, dein Erbarmen
Tröstet uns und macht uns frei.
Deine holde Gunst und Liebe,
Deine wundersamen Triebe
Machen deine Vatertreu
Wieder neu.

Lord, your compassion, your mercy
console us and make us free.
Your gracious favour and love,
your wondrous desires
make the love you have for us as a father
again new.

7

Recitativo T

7

Recitative [Tenor]

Continuo

Evangelist:
Und sie kamen eilend und funden beide, Mariam und Joseph,
dazu das Kind in der Krippe liegen.
Da sie es aber gesehen hatten,
breiteten sie das Wort aus,
welches zu ihnen von diesem Kind gesaget war.
Und alle, für die es kam, wunderten sich der Rede,
die ihnen die Hirten gesaget hatten.
Maria aber behielt alle diese Worte
und bewegte sie in ihrem Herzen.

Evangelist:
And they came in haste and found both, Mary and Joseph
and with them the child lying in the manger
But when they had seen this
they spread the word
that had been spoken to them about this child
and all those to whom it came wondered at the speech
which the shepherds had told to them.
Mary however kept all these words
and thought over them in her heart.

8

Aria A

8

Aria [Alto]

Violino solo, Continuo

Schließe, mein Herze, dies selige Wunder
Fest in deinem Glauben ein!
Lasse dies Wunder, die göttlichen Werke,
Immer zur Stärke
Deines schwachen Glaubens sein!

Enclose, my heart, this blessed wonder
firmly in your faith!
Let this wonder, this work of God,
always serve to strengthen
your weak faith!

9

Recitativo A

9

Recitative [Alto]

Flauto traverso I/II, Continuo

Ja, ja, mein Herz soll es bewahren,
Was es an dieser holden Zeit
Zu seiner Seligkeit
Für sicheren Beweis erfahren.

Yes, yes, my heart will keep
what at this gracious time
for its blessedness
it has learned as certain proof.

10

Choral

10

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, Continuo

Ich will dich mit Fleiß bewahren,
Ich will dir
Leben hier,
Dir will ich abfahren,
Mit dir will ich endlich schweben
Voller Freud
Ohne Zeit
Dort im andern Leben.

I shall diligently keep you in mind,
I shall for you
live here,
to you I shall depart
with you I shall one day soar aloft
full of joy
beyond time
there in the other life.

11

Recitativo T

11

Recitative [Tenor]

Continuo

Evangelist:
Und die Hirten kehrten wieder um,
preiseten und lobten Gott um alles,
das sie gesehen und gehöret hatten,
wie denn zu ihnen gesaget war.

Evangelist:
And the shepherds went back again,
glorified and praised God for everything
they had seen and heard,
as it had been said to them.

12

Choral

12

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, Continuo

Seid froh dieweil,
Dass euer Heil
Ist hie ein Gott und auch ein Mensch geboren,
Der, welcher ist
Der Herr und Christ
In Davids Stadt, von vielen auserkoren.

Meanwhile be joyful
that your salvation
has been born here as both God and man,
He who is
the Lord and Christ
In David's city, chosen from many.

13

Coro

13

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

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

Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen,
Laß dir die matten Gesänge gefallen,
Wenn dich dein Zion mit Psalmen erhöht!
Höre der Herzen frohlockendes Preisen,
Wenn wir dir itzo die Ehrfurcht erweisen,
Weil unsre Wohlfahrt befestiget steht!

Ruler of heaven, hear our inarticulate speech,
let our faint songs please you,
when your Zion exalts you with psalms!
Hear the exultant praise of our hearts,
as we show our reverence for you
since our welfare is made sure!

This Translation in Interlinear Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (November 2008)

Contributed by Francis Browne (November 2008)

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