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Chorale Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works
Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele
Text and Translation of Chorale |
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Ref. in hymnals/hymn books: EKG 157; EG 218; KGUG 40
Author: Johann Franck (1649)
Chorale Melody: Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele (Zahn 6923) | Composer: Johann Crüger (1649)
Theme: |
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Description: |
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“Schmücke dich, O liebe Seele” (Adorn yourself, O dear soul) is the Johann Franck (1618-1677) eucharistic hymn of consolation in nine 8-line stanza BAR form text (EKG 157) set to the associated melody (Zahn 6923) and published in Johann Crüger's Geistliche Kirchen-Melodien (Berlin 1649). It is not found in the NLGB but is listed in the Orgelbüchlein as No. 164 but not set. J.S. Bach set it as a Great Leipzig chorale prelude, BWV 654 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yeuy5IT2u_M), and as chorale Cantata BWV 180 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nZjYDfxvNQ) for the 20th Sunday after Trinity 1724 (http://www.bach-cantatas.com/BWV180-D4.htm). A Miscellaneous Chorale prelude, BWV 759 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ltKxEv36xc), is now attributed to the J.S. Bach student and gallant composer Gottfried August Homilius.
"The hymn has vivid imagery of the bride-bridegroom theme found in the Song of Songs, showing a strong relationship to the 20th Sunday after Trinity," says Anne Leahy. The unification of the soul (bride) with Christ (bridegroom), known as the unico mystica, plays a major role in the hymn text and was particularly appealing to Lutherans, says Leahy. Lutheran theologian Heinrich Muller "compares human love with the love between Christ and the soul, showing how Christ's blood is part of the cleansing process," she says. Besides the important themes of mystic union, bride and bridegroom, and the Eucharistic meal, Leahy notes (p. 66) the adornment (Schmück) or dressing of the soul as it prepares for the eternal union or marriage feast with Christ, especially in J.S. Bach's Weimar organ chorale setting of "Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele," BWV 654, revised a quarter century later in Leipzig in 1739/42.
There is a close relationship between the opening movement of the chorale Cantata BWV 180, firmly rooted in F and B-Flat Major, and the extended (127 measures), ornamental Great Organ Chorale in E-Flat Major on the hymn "Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele," says Leahy (p. 69). There are striking similarities, particularly based on J.S. Bach's musical treatment of the text of Stanza 1 of J. Franck's hymn, emphasizing the text-music relationships. "The idea of heavenly matters and salvation is not far from the surface in (Cantata) BWV 180," she observes. The dance-like 12/8 meter in four beats to a measure relates to the theme of eternal salvation. The sarabande in ¾ triple-time rhythm in the organ chorale prelude also contains numerous parallel harmonic intervals of thirds and sixths in the florid passages similar to the heavenly unity of the pairs of pastoral recorders and oboes in consonant third and sixths descriptive of love as mystical union, Leahy finds.
"So, sustained and strengthened, the Soul wings its flight Heavenward," says Terry (Ibid.: 62), citing the first stanz (Francis Browne English translation): "Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele, / Laß die dunkle Sündenhöhle, / Komm ans helle Lieht gegangen, / Fange herrlich an zu prangen; / Denn der Herr voll Heil und Gnaden / Läßt dich itzt zu Gaste laden. / Der den Himmel kann verwalten, / Will selbst Herberg in dir halten." (Adorn yourself, O dear soul, / leave the dark den of sins, / come into the clear light, / begin to shine with glory, / for the Lord, full of salvation and mercy / has now invited you as a guest. / He who can reign in heaven / wants himself to make his dwelling in you.
Concludes Terry: "It is impossible to follow the unfolding plan of the Orgelbüchlein without discerning in its author a man whose personality exhibits the sure fabric of moral grandeur. It reveals in the young man of thirty the simple, confiding trust in God that was his thirty-five years later, when the call of Death came to him almost as his failing breath dictated the words: Before Thy throne, my God, I stand, / Myself, my all are in Thy hand."
Source: Eschatological Chorales, Coming in Judgement (December 24, 2017) |
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Vocal Works by J.S. Bach: |
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Ver |
Work |
Mvt. |
Year |
Br |
RE |
KE |
Di |
BC |
Type |
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1 |
BWV 180 |
Mvt. 1 |
1724 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
A149:1 |
Chorus (Chorale) [S, A, T, B] |
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2~ |
BWV 180 |
Mvt. 2 |
1724 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
A149:2 |
Aria [T] |
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3~, 4 |
BWV 180 |
Mvt. 3 |
1724 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
A149:3 |
Recitative & Chorale [S] |
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7~ |
BWV 180 |
Mvt. 5 |
1724 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
A149:5 |
Aria [S] |
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8~ |
BWV 180 |
Mvt. 6 |
1724 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
A149:6 |
Recitative [B] |
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9 |
BWV 180 |
Mvt. 7 |
1724 |
22 |
204 |
22 |
25 |
F171:1
A149:7 |
Chorale [S, A, T, B] |
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German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach) |
English Translation |
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1. Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele,
laß die dunkle Sündenhöhle,|
komm ans helle Licht gegangen,
fange herrlich an zu prangen!
Denn der Herr, voll Heil und Gnaden,
will dich jetzt zu Gaste laden;
der den Himmel kann verwalten,
will jetzt Herberg' in dir halten. |
1. Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness,
Leave the gloomy haunts of sadness;
Come into the daylight’s splendor,
There with joy thy praises render
Unto Christ whose grace unbounded
Hath this wondrous banquet founded.
Higher o’er all the heav’ns He reigneth,
Yet to dwell with thee He deigneth. |
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2. Eile, wie Verlobte pflegen,
deinem Bräutigam entgegen,
der da mit dem Gnadenhammer
klopft an deine Herzenskammer!
Öffn' ihm bald des Geistes Pforten,
red' ihn an mit schönen Worten:
Komm, mein Liebster, laß dich küssen,
laß mcih deiner nicht mehr missen! |
2. Hasten as a bride to meet Him
And with loving reverence greet Him;
For with words of life immortal
Now He knocketh at thy portal.
Haste to ope the gates before Him,
Saying, while thou dost adore Him,
Suffer, Lord, that I receive Thee,
And I nevermore will leave Thee. |
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3. Zwar in Kaufung teurer Waren
pflegt man sonst kein Geld zu sparen;
aber du willst für die Gaben
deiner Huld dein Geld nicht haben,
weil in allen Bergwerksgründen
kein solch Kleinod ist zu finden,
das die blutgefüllten Schalen,
und dies Manna kann bezahlen. |
3. He who craves a precious treasure
Neither cost nor pain will measure;
But the priceless gifts of heaven
God to us hath freely given.
Though the wealth of earth were offered,
Naught would buy the gifts here offered:
Christ’s true body, for thee riven,
And His blood, for thee once given. |
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4. Ach, wie wünschet mein Gemüte,
Menschenfreund, nach deiner Güte!
Ach, wie pfleg' ich oft mit Tränen
mich nach deiner Kost zu sehnen!
Ach, wie pfleget mich zu dürsten
nach dem Trank des Lebensfürsten!
Wünsche stets, daß mein Gebeine
sich durch Gott mit Gott vereine. |
4. Ah, how hungers all myspirit
For the love I do not merit!
Oft have I, with sighs fast thronging,
Thought upon this food with longing,
In the battle well nigh worsted,
For this cup of life have thirsted,
For the Friend who here invites us
And to God Himself unites us. |
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5. Beides, Lachen und auch Zittern,
lässet sich in mir jetzt wittern;
das Geheimniß dieser Speise
und die unerforschte Weise
machet, daß ich früh vermerke,
Herr, die Größe deiner Werke.
Ist auch wohl ein Mensch zu finden,
der dein' Allmacht sollt' ergründen? |
5. In my heart I find ascending
Holy awe, with rapture blending,
As this mystery I ponder,
Filling all my soul with wonder,
Bearing witness at this hour
Of the greatness of God’s power;
Far beyond all human telling
Is the power within Him dwelling. |
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6. Nein, Vernunft die muß hier weichen,
kann dies Wunder nicht erreichen,
daß dies Brot nie wird verzehret,
ob es gleich viel Tausend' nähret,
und daß mit dem Saft der Reben
uns wird Christi Blut gegeben.
O der großen Heimlichkeiten,
die nur Gottes Geist kann deuten! |
6. Human reason, though it ponder,
Cannot fathom this great wonder
That Christ’s body e’er remaineth
Though it countless souls sustaineth
And that He His blood is giving
With the wine we are receiving.
These great mysteries unsounded
Are by God alone expounded. |
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7. Jesu, meines Lebens Sonne,
Jesu, meine Freud' und Wonne,
Jesu, du mein ganz Beginnen,
Lebensquell und Licht der Sinnen,
hier fall' ich zu deinen Füßen;
laß mich würdiglich genießen
dieser deiner Himmelsspeise,
mir zum Heil und dir zum Preise! |
7. Sun, who all my life dost brighten,
Light, who dost my soul enlighten;
Joy the best that any knoweth;
Fount, whence all my being floweth;
At Thy feet I cry, my Maker,
Let me be a fit partaker
Of this blessèd food from heaven,
For our good, Thy glory, given. |
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8. Herr, es hat dein treues Lieben
dich vom Himmel abgetrieben,
daß du willig hast dein Leben
in den Tod für mich gegeben,
und dazu[3] ganz unverdrossen,
Herr, dein Blut für uns vergossen,
das uns jetzt kann kräftig tränken,
deiner Liebe zu gedenken! |
8. Lord, by love and mercy driven
Thou hast left Thy throne in heaven
On the cross for me to languish
And to die in bitter anguish,
To forego all joy and gladness
And to shed Thy blood in sadness.
By this blood redeemed and living,
Lord, I praise Thee with thanksgiving. |
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9. Jesu, wahres Brot des Lebens,
hilf, daß ich doch nicht vergebens,
oder mir vielleicht zum Schaden,
sei zu deinem Tisch geladen!
Laß mich durch dies Seelenessen
deine Liebe recht ermessen,
daß ich auch, wie jetzt auf Erden,
mög' dein Gast im Himmel werden! |
9. Jesus, Bread of Life, I pray Thee,
Let me gladly here obey Thee.
By Thy love I am invited,
Be Thy love with love requited;
From this supper let me measure,
Lord, how vast and deep love’s treasure.
Through the gifts Thou here dost give me
As Thy guest in Heaven receive me. |
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Source of German Text: Hymnary.org (8 verses) | Wikipedia (6 verses) | Monarchieliga (9 verses)
English Translation: Catherine Winkworth (1863) | Source of English Translation: Catherine Winkworth: Lyra Germanica, 2nd Series: The Christian Life (London: Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts and Green, 1858), pp 94-96 & Catherine Winkworth: Chorale Book for England (London: Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts and Green, 1865), No. 93, on Hymn Time | Hymnary.org
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (November 2018) |
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