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Chorales BWV 250-438: Details and Recordings
Individual Recordings: Hilliard - Morimur | Chorales - N. Matt | Chorales - H. Rilling | Preludi ai Corali - Quartetto Italiani di Viola Da Gamba
Discussions: Motets & Chorales for Events in the LCY / Chorales by Theme | General Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Chorales in Bach Cantatas: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Passion Chorale
References: Chorales BWV 250-300 | Chorales BWV 301-350 | Chorales BWV 351-400 | Chorales BWV 401-438 | 371 4-Part Chorales sorted by Breitkopf Number | Texts & Translations of Chorales BWV 250-438
Chorale Texts: Sorted by Title | Chorale Melodies: Sorted by Title | Explanation
MIDI files of the Chorales: Cantatas BWV 1-197 | Other Vocal Works BWV 225-248 | Chorales BWV 250-438
Articles: The Origin of the Texts of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Origin of the Melodies of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Chorale in the Church Service [A. Schweitzer] | Choral / Chorale [C.S. Terry] | Hidden Chorale Melody Allusions [T. Braatz] | The History of the Breitkopf Collection of J. S. Bach’s Four-Part Chorales [T. Braatz] | The World of the Bach Chorale Settings [W.L. Hoffman]
Hymnals: Hymnals used by Bach | Wagner Hymnal 1697 | Evangelisches Gesangbuch 1995 | Dietel Chorale List c1734
Abbreviations used for the Chorales | Links to other Sites about the Chorales


Chorale Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works
O Jesu, du mein Bräutigam
Text and Translation of Chorale

Ref. in hymnals/hymn books:
Author: Anon (1608) or Johannes Heermann (1630)
Chorale Melody: Herr Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht (I) (Zahn 314) | Composer: Anon (before the Reformation?)
Theme: Sacrament hymn,

Description:

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1786) associates the melody Herr Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht (I) with Johannes Heermann's "O Jesu, du mein Bräutigam", a hymn in 12 4-line stanzas (1630).

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Chorale O Jesu, du mein Bräutigam, BWV 335
Ref: Br 294, 236; Di 83; BC F170.1; CST 295
BWV 335: Breitkopf 294 with the title: Herr Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht; Breitkopf 236 with the title: O Jesu, du mein Bräutigam; probably from a lost cantata.

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1. O Jesu, du mein Bräutigam.
der du aus lieb ans Kreuzesstamm
für mich den Tod erlitten hast,
genommen weg der Sünden Last.

1. O Jesu! Bridegroom of my Soul,
Make me, a broken Vessel, whole,
By that sweet Blood which on the Tree
Thou pourest out for Sin and me.

2. Ich komm zu deinem Abendmahl;
verderbt durch manchen Sündenfall,
ich bin krank, unrein, nacht und bloß,
blind und arm; ach, mich nicht verstoß!

2. Full of Reproach, and full of Fear,
To thy blest Table I draw near.
Oh, tho' I'm naked, sick and blind,
In Mercy, cast me not behind.

3. Du bist der Arzt, du bist das Licht,
du bist der Herr, dem nichts gebricht,
du bist der Brunn der Heiligkeit,
du bist das rechte Hochzeitkleid.

3. O Thou great Master of the Feast,
My King and Spouse, my Rock and Rest,
Who hast o'e Sin the Vict'ry won,
Put me the Wedding Garment on.

4. Drum, oHerr Jesu, bitt ich dich,
in meiner Schwachheit heile mich;
was unrein ist, das mache rein
durch deinen hellen Gnadenschein.

4. O Great Physician, ope my Eyes;
And heal my great Infirmities.
Wash ev'ry sinful Stain away;
And let me taste thy Grace To-day.

5. Erleuchte mein verfinstert Herz,
zünd an die schöne Glaubenskerz;
mein Armuth in Reichthum verkehr,
auch meinem Fleische steur und wehr.

5. Drive me from Darkness, Sin and Wrath
Endow me with a Living Fatih;
And mortifie my proud Self-Love:
And let thy Grace my Glory prove.

6. Daß ich das rechte Himmelsbrod,
dich, Jesu, wahrer Mensch und Gott,
mit höchster Ehrerbietung eß
und deiner gnade nicht vergeß.

6. Thy Body is of Life the Bread
To Man in Sin and Sorrows dead.
Thy Blood's the sparkling Wine of Love;
The richest in the Stores above.

7. Lösch alle Laster aus in mir,
mein Herz mit Lieb und Glauben zier,
und was sonst ist von Tugendmehr,
das pflanz in mir zu deiner Ehr.

7. Hung'ring and thirsting, lo! I come.
Oh, find me at thy Table, Room.
To me of this blest Banquet give:
And let me eat and drink, and live.

8. Gieb was ist nütz zu Seel und Leib,
was schädlich ist, fern von mir treib;
komm in mein Herz, laß mich mit dir
vereinigt bleiben für und für.

8. Tear from my Heart the Root of Sin:
And there let Grace and Goodness shine;
Grace to fear God, and Sin eschew;
And Goodness to give all their Due.

9. Hilf, daß durch dieser Mahlzeit Kraft
das Bös in mir werd abgeschafft;
erlassen alle Sünd und Schuld,
erlangt des Vaters Lieb und Huld.

9. What Soul or Body want, supply;
Remove what's irksome to thine Eye;
Dwell in my Heart; and let me be
In strictest Union with Thee.

10. Vertriebe alle meine Feind,
die sichtbar und unsichtbar seind;
den guten Vorsatz, den ich spür
durch deinen Geist fest mach in mir.

10. Against my Soul when Earth and Hell
Shall band; or my own Heart rebel;
Subdue the Foes: My Heart subdue;
And keep me to thy Service true.

11. Mein Leben, Sitten, Sinn und Pflicht,
nach deinem heilgen Willen richt;
ach, laß mich meine Tag in Ruh
und Friede christlich bringen zu.

11. Adorn my Conversation, Lord,
With all the Graces of thy Word;
And, oh, prepare me all my Days,
To keep thy law, and sing thy Praise.

12. Bis du mich, o du Lebensfürst,
zu dir in Himmel nehmen wirst,
daß ich bei dir dort ewiglich
an deiner Tafel freue mich.

12. That when, O Gracious Prince of Life,
Thou call'st me from this World of Strive,
I may to thy blest Presence rise
And sup with Thee above the Skies.

   

Source of German Text: Hymnary.org | Christliche Gedichte & Lieder
English Translation: Johann Christian Jacobi | Source of English Translation: Johann Christian Jacobi: Psalmodia Germanica Source: Psalmodia Germanica: or, The German Psalmody: translated from the high Dutch together with their proper tunes and thorough bass (2nd edition, corrected and enlarged), No. 73 (London: J. Young, 1722), on Hymnary.org
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (November 2018)


Chorales BWV 250-438: Details and Recordings
Individual Recordings: Hilliard - Morimur | Chorales - N. Matt | Chorales - H. Rilling | Preludi ai Corali - Quartetto Italiani di Viola Da Gamba
Discussions: Motets & Chorales for Events in the LCY / Chorales by Theme | General Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Chorales in Bach Cantatas: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Passion Chorale
References: Chorales BWV 250-300 | Chorales BWV 301-350 | Chorales BWV 351-400 | Chorales BWV 401-438 | 371 4-Part Chorales sorted by Breitkopf Number | Texts & Translations of Chorales BWV 250-438
Chorale Texts: Sorted by Title | Chorale Melodies: Sorted by Title | Explanation
MIDI files of the Chorales: Cantatas BWV 1-197 | Other Vocal Works BWV 225-248 | Chorales BWV 250-438
Articles: The Origin of the Texts of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Origin of the Melodies of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Chorale in the Church Service [A. Schweitzer] | Choral / Chorale [C.S. Terry] | Hidden Chorale Melody Allusions [T. Braatz] | The History of the Breitkopf Collection of J. S. Bach’s Four-Part Chorales [T. Braatz] | The World of the Bach Chorale Settings [W.L. Hoffman]
Hymnals: Hymnals used by Bach | Wagner Hymnal 1697 | Evangelisches Gesangbuch 1995 | Dietel Chorale List c1734
Abbreviations used for the Chorales | Links to other Sites about the Chorales




 

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Last update: Monday, November 05, 2018 13:28