Chorale Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works
Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
Text and Translation of Chorale

Ref. in hymnals/hymn books: NLGB 313; GH 479; EKG 48; EG 70; Feiern & Loben 288; Gemeindelieder 262; Glaubenslieder 321; Jesus unsere Freude! 85
Author: Philipp Nicolai (1597; published 1599), based on Psalm 45
Melody: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern (Zahn 8359) | Composer: Philipp Nicolai (1599), after Straßburg 1538
Theme: Epiphany; Pentecost

Description:

"Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" (How lovely shines the morning star) is a hymn by Philipp Nicolai, a German Lutheran Pastor, who is the author of two monumental hymns: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme and this one. Supposedly he made this poem after a period of great torment, because of an epidemy of pestilence which had struck the village where he was pastor. P. Nicolai wrote the words in response to a pestilence in 1597. Hae first published it in 1599 in his book Frewdenspiegel deß ewigen Lebens ("Mirror of Joy of the Life Everlasting") in Frankfurt, together with "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme". He introduced it: "Ein Geistlich Brautlied der Gläubigen Seelen / von Jesu Christo irem himlischen Bräutgam: Gestellt ober den 45. Psalm deß Propheten Dauids" (A spiritual wedding song of the faithful soul about Jesus Christ, her heavenly groom, made over the 45th psalm of the Prophet David). With this title the hymn is placed in a long tradition of a mystical spirituality, in which the allegorical interpretation of the Song of Songs is always present. The hymn is also a piece of craftmanship. The 7 verses of the hymn Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern are built on an acrostichon: Wilhelm Ernst Graf Und Herr Zu Waldeck, being a former student of Nicolai, who died 1598. Some people also see typographical art in it: When you align the text of the poem centered then the form of a cup appears, referring to the last supper. Si non e vero… The words are based on Psalms 45, a mystical wedding song. Jesus is identified with the morning star, according to Revelation 22:16, and with the bridegroom of the psalm. Nicolai This hymn is often referred to as "The Queen of Chorales".
The chorale theme "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" was codified then. The melody is generally attributed to P. Nicolai too. However, in a brief 1917 article, Charles Sanford Terry has shown the close relationship of P. Nicolai’s melody to an earlier melody found in Wolff Köphel’s 1538 Psalter hymnal. The tune is used for a setting of Psalm 100, Jauchzet dem Herren, Alle Land. Terry states: "[The Psalter melody] consists of five lines or phrases, the first, second, and fifth of which, it will be observed, are practically identical with the first half of Nicolai’s tune." (The Musical Times, Vol.58, No.893 (July 1, 1917), pp. 302-303).
The chorale appeared as a hymn in German hymnals and in several translations in English hymnals, starting with How bright appears the Morning Star! by John Christian Jacobi, in his Psalmodica Germanica, 1722, p. 90. Additional hymns were written on the same tune such the hymn for Pentecost "O Heilger Geist, kehr bei uns ein" (1640) (not used by J.S. Bach in his vocal works) by Michael Schirmer (1640).
In modern hymnals, the hymn is often assigned to Epiphany, though it is also suitable for Pentecost, or for general use.
The first verse (in an anonymous English translation beginning "How splendid shines the morning star") appeared in the Southern Harmony, an 1835 shape-note tunebook compiled by William Walker, where it is set to a tune called Morning Star by composer J. C. Lowry. This arrangement is repeated in the current An American Christmas Harp, with the addition of two more stanzas in a translation by William Mercer (1811-1873).
Source: Wikipedia (September 16, 2018); CPDL (April 9, 2018); bach-chorales (Luke Dahn, 2018)

J.S. Bach based his chorale cantata Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 1 on it and used single verses for other cantatas, verse 4 to close Erschallet, ihr Lieder, erklinget, ihr Saiten! BWV 172, verse 5 in Wer da gläubet und getauft wird, BWV 37, verse 6 in Schwingt freudig euch empor, BWV 36, verse 7 to close Ich geh und suche mit Verlangen, BWV 49. The final lines of verse 7 form the closing chorale of Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 61. J.S. Bach wrote several organ preludes on the chorale.
J.S. Bach’s text is invariable for the first part of the melody and follows the original, except for the substitution of A for C as the first note of the third phrase, as in Witt (No. 479). For the second part of the tune J.S. Bach either keeps to the original, as in Witt (No. 479), Cantata BWV 172 (1724-1725), and the Organ movement (BWV 739); or follows Johann Crüger (1640) in substituting A and B flat for G and A as the sixth and seventh notes of line 3, as in Cantatas BWV 1 and BWV 36 (c1730-1740); or adopts Vopelius’ (1682) text there, as in Choralgesange, No. 375 (BWV 436).

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Chorus Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern (Mvt. 1) from Cantata BWV 1 (1725) (verse 1)

Chorale Wie bin ich doch so herzlich froh (Mvt. 6) from Cantata BWV 1 (1725) (verse 7),

Chorale Zwingt die Saiten in Cythara (Mvt. 4) from Cantatas BWV 36 (1731) (verse 6)
Ref: RE 86=195=305; Br 85=195=304; Birnstiel 91; Di 33; AmB 46II p.89 & 126; Fasch p.145; Penzel 165

Chorale for Soprano & Alto Herr Gott Vater, mein starker Held! (Mvt. 3) from Cantata BWV 37 (1724) (verse 5)

Aria for Bass with Chorale for Soprano Dich Hab’ Ich Je Und Je Geliebet (Mvt. 6) from Cantata BWV 49 (1726) (verse 7)

Chorale Amen, amen! Komm, du schöne Freudenkrone, bleib nicht lange! (Mvt. 6) from Cantata BWV 61 (1714) (last 4 lines of verse 7)

Chorale Von Gott kömmt mir ein Freudenschein (Mvt. 6) from Cantata BWV 172 (1714) (verse 4)
Ref: RE 323; Br 322; AmB 46II p.73

Chorale Ey! meine Perle, du werthe Cron, wahr Gottes (Mvt. 3) from cantata BWV Anh 199 (1724) (verse 2) [music lost]

Chorale Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 436
Ref: RE 278; Br 278; KE 375; Di 59; AmB 46II p.271; BGA 183; BC F109.1; CST 390-394

Organ-chorale: BWV 739

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1. Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
Voll Gnad' und Wahrheit von dem Herrn,
Die süße Wurzel Jesse!
Du Sohn David zus Jakobs Stamm,
Mein König und mein Bräutigam,
Hast mir mein Herz besessen,
Lieblich, freundli,
Schön und herrlich, groß und ehrlich,
Reich von Gaben,
Hoch und sehr prächtig erhaben!

1. How beautifully shines the morning star
full of grace and truth from the Lord,
the sweet root of Jesse!
You son of David from the line of Jacob,
my king and my bridegroom,
have taken posession of my heart,
[you who are] lovely,friendly,
beautiful and glorious, great and honourable,
rich in gifts,
lofty and exalted in splendour!

2. Ei meine Perl', du werte Kron',
Wahr'r Gottes- und Mariensohn,
Ein hochgeborner König!
Mein Herz heißt dich ein Lilium,
Dein süßes Evangelium
Ist lauter Milch und Honig.
Ei mein Blümlein,
Hosianna, himmlisch Manna,
Das wir essen,
Deiner kann ich nicht vergessen!

2. Ah my pearl, my precious crown,
true son of God and Mary,
a king of most noble birth!
My heart calls you a lily,
your sweet gospel
is pure milk and honey.
Ah my dear flower,
hosanna, heavenly manna,
that we eat,
I cannot forget you!

3. Geuss sehr tief in mein Herz hinein,
Du heller Jaspis und Rubin,
Die Flamme deiner Liebe
Und erfreu' mich, daß ich doch bleib'
An deinem auserwählten Leib
Ein' lebendige Rippe!
Nach dir ist mir,
Gratiosa coeli rosa,
Krank und glimmet
Mein Herz, durch Liebe verwundet.

3. Pour most deeply within my heart,
you clear jasper and ruby,
the flames of your love,
and make me rejoice, so that I may remain
in your chosen body
a living rib!
Because of you,
gracious rose of heaven,
my heart is sick and smouldering,
wounded with love.

4. Von Gott kommt mir ein Freudenschein,
Wenn du mit deinen Äugelein
Mich freundlich tust anblicken.
O Herr Jesu, mein trautes Gut,
Dein Wort, dein Geist, dein Leib und Blut
Mich innerlich erquicken!
Nimm mich freundlich
In dein' Arme, daß ich warme
Werd' von Gnaden!
Auf dein Wort komm' ich geladen.

4. A joyful light from God comes to me
when with your dear eyes
you look on me as a friend.
Oh Lord Jesus, my beloved good,
your word, your spirit, your body and blood
refresh me within.
Take me like a friend
in your arms, so that I may become warm
with your grace
To your word I come invited.

5. Herr Gott Vater, mein starker Held,
Du hast mich ewig vor der Welt
In deinem Sohn geliebet.
Dein Sohn hat mich ihm selbst vertraut,
Er ist mein Schatz, ich bin sein' Braut,
Sehr hoch in ihm erfreuet.
Eia, eia,
Himmlisch Leben wird er geben
Mir dort oben!
Ewig soll mein Herz ihn loben.

5. Lord, God,Father, my mighty hero,
before the world you have
loved me in your son.
Your son has betrothed me to himself,
he is my treasure, I am his bride,
most greatly I rejoice in him.
Yes, yes.
Heavenly life he will give me
in the the world above!
My heart shall praise him for ever.

6. Zwingt die Saiten in Zithara
Und laßt die süße Musika
Ganz freudenreich erschallen,
Daß ich möge mit Jesulein,
Dem wunderschönen Bräut'gam mein,
In steter Liebe wallen!
Singet, springet,
Jubilieret, triumphieret,
Dankt dem Herren!
Groß ist der König der Ehren!

6. Pluck the strings on the harp
and let the sweet music
resound full of joy,
so that with dear Jesus,
my most beautiful bridegroom,
in constant love I may make my pilgrimage!
Sing, leap,
rejoice, triumph,
thank the Lord!
Great is the king of honour!

7. Wie bin ich doch so herzlich froh,
Daß mein Schatz ist das A und O.
Der Anfang und das Ende!
Er wird mich doch zu seinem Preis
Aufnehmen in das Paradeis,
Des klopf' ich in die Hände.
Amen! Amen!
Komm, du schöne Freudenkrone,
Bleib nicht lange,
Deiner wart' ich mit Verlangen!

7. How full I am therefore of heartfelt joy
that my treasure is the alpha and the omega,
the beginning and the end;
To his reward he will
take me up to paradise,
and so I clap my hands
Amen! Amen!
Come, you sweet crown of joy,
do not long delay,
I wait for you with longing.

English Translation by Francis Browne (March 2005)
Contributed by Francis Browne (March 2005), Aryeh Oron (October 2018)