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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
Nun ruhen alle Wälder
Text and Translation of Chorale

Ref. in hymnals/hymn books: EKG 361
Author: Paul Gerhardt (1648)
Chorale Melody: O Welt, ich muß dich lassen | Composer: Heinrich Isaac (1490)

Description:

Hymn, by Paul Gerhardt, in 9 6-line stanzas (1647). Melody (1539), to O Welt, ich muß dich lassen, of secular origin.

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Ver

Work

Mvt.

Year

Br

RE

KE

Di

BC

Type

 

-

BWV 392

-

?

288

398

289

-

F166.1

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1. Nun ruhen alle Wälder,
Vieh, Menschen, Städt' und Felder,
Es schläft die ganze Welt;
Ihr aber, meine Sinnen,
Auf, auf, ihr sollt beginnen,
Was eurem Schöpfer wohlgefällt!

1. Now all the woods are sleeping,
And night and stillness creeping
O'er city, man, and beast;
But thou, my heart, awake thee,
To pray'r awhile betake thee,
And praise thy Maker ere thou rest.

2. Wo bist du, Sonne, blieben?
Die Nacht hat dich vertrieben,
Die Nacht, des Tages Feind.
Fahr hin! Ein' andre Sonne,
Mein Jesus, meine Wonne,
Gar hell in meinem Herzen scheint.

2. O Sun, where art thou vanish'd?
The Night thy reign hath banish'd,
Thy ancient foe, the Night.
Farewell, a brighter glory
My Jesus sheddeth o'er me,
All clear within me shines His light.

3. Der Tag ist nun vergangen,
Die güldnen Sternlein prangen
Am blauen Himmelssaal;
So, so werd' ich auch stehen,
Wenn mich wird heißen gehen
Mein Gott aus diesem Jammertal.

3. The last faint beam is going,
The golden stars are glowing
In yonder dark-blue deep;
And such the glory given
When called of God to heaven,
On earth no more we pine and weep.

4. Der Leib eilt nun zur Ruhe,
Legt ab das Kleid und Schuhe,
Das Bild der Sterblichkeit;
Die zieh' ich aus, dagegen
Wird Christus mir anlegen
Den Rock der Ehr' und Herrlichkeit.

4. The body hastes to slumber,
These garments now but cumber,
And as I lay them by
I ponder how the spirit
Puts off the flesh t' inherit
A shining robe with Christ on high.

5. Das Haupt, die Füß und Hände
Sind froh, daß nun zum Ende
Die Arbeit kommen sei.
Herz, freu dich, du sollst werden
Vom Elend dieser Erden
Und von der Sündenarbeit frei.

5. Now thought and labour ceases,
For Night the tired releases
And bids sweet rest begin:
My heart, there comes a morrow
Shall set thee free from sorrow,
And all the dreary toil of sin.

6. Nun geht, ihr matten Glieder,
Geht hin, und legt euch nieder,
Der Betten ihr begehrt.
Es kommen Stund und Zeiten,
Da man euch wird hereiten
Zur Ruh ein Bettlein in der Erd.

6. Ye aching limbs! now rest you,
For toil hath sore oppress'd you,
Lie down, my weary head:
A sleep shall once o'ertake you
From which earth ne'er shall wake you,
Within a narrower, colder bed.

7. Mein Augen stehn verdrossen,
Im hui sind sie geschlossen,
Wo bleibt denn Leib und Seel?
Nimm sie zu deinen Gnaden,
Sei gut für allen Schaden,
Du Aug und Wächter Israel.

7. My heavy eyes are closing;
When I lie deep reposing,
Soul, body, where are ye?
To helpless sleep I yield them,
Oh let Thy mercy shield them,
Thou sleepless Eye, their guardian be!

8. Breit aus die Flügel beide,
O Jesu, meine Freude,
Und nimm dein Küchlein ein!
Will Satan mich verschlingen,
So laß die Englein singen:
Dies Kind soll unverletzet sein!

8. My Jesus, stay Thou by me,
And let no foe come nigh me,
Safe shelter'd by Thy wing;
But would the foe alarm me,
Oh let him never harm me,
But still Thine angels round me sing!

9. Auch euch, ihr meine Lieben,
Soll heute nicht betrüben
Kein Unfall noch Gefahr.
Gott laß' euch ruhig schlafen,
Stell' euch die güldnen Waffen
Ums Bett und seiner Helden Schar.

9. My loved ones, rest securely,
From every peril surely
Our God will guard your heads;
And happy slumbers send you,
And bid His hosts attend you,
And golden-arm'd watch o'er your beds.

   

English Translation: Catherine Winkworth (1863) | Source of English Translation: Catherine Winkworth: Chorale Book for England (London: Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts and Green, 1865), No. 169, on Hymnary.org
Contributed by Francis Browne (February 2010), 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: Wednesday, March 22, 2023 04:13