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Chorale Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works
Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist
Text and Translation of Chorale |
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Ref. in hymnals/hymn books: NLGB 130; EG 124
Author: Author: verse 1: Berthold von Regensburg (13th century); verses 2-4: Martin Luther (Johann Walter Gesangbuch, 1524)
Chorale Melody: Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist (Zahn 2029) | Composer: Johann Walter (Wittenberg, 1524), based on 13th century melody
Theme: Pentecost |
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Description: |
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"Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist" (We now implore the Holy Ghost) is a German Christian hymn. The first stanza dates from the 13th century and alludes to the Latin sequence Veni Sancte Spiritus. The most prominent form of the hymn has three more stanzas written by the Protestant reformer Martin Luther. His version appeared first in 1524 in Wittenberg as part of the choral hymnal Eyn geystlich Gesangk Buchleyn. The Holy Spirit is addressed, which makes the song suitable for Pentecost. General themes of faith, love and hope make it appropriate for general occasions and funerals as well.
The chorale is part of many hymnals, sung in several Christian denominations and in translations. It inspired vocal and organ music from the Renaissance to contemporary, including composers such as Michael Praetorius, Dietrich Buxtehude and J.S. Bach. Alternate versions of the hymn, concluding the same medieval first stanza have appeared in Catholic hymnals.
The first stanza is documented in the 13th century: the Franciscan Berthold von Regensburg (died 1272) quoted it in a sermon.
Nû biten wir den heiligen geist
umbe den rechten glouben allermeist,
daz er uns behüete an unsrem ende,
sô wir heim suln varn ûz disem ellende.
kyrieleis.
It is a prayer in German to the Holy Spirit, reminiscent of the Latin sequence Veni Sancte Spiritus. The concern is "most of all" (allermeist) the "right faith" (rechten glouben), considering to return "home" (heim) after the "exile" (ellende) of life. In the old German (Middle High German), "ellende" meant exile and was stressed on the second syllable, rhyming with "ende", whereas the modern "Elend" is stressed on the first syllable and translates to "misery".
A tune derived from the chant of the sequence appeared first in Jistebnitz around 1420.
The reformer Martin Luther intended this stanza to be sung every Sunday between the readings of the epistle and the gospel. In 1524, M. Luther continued the prayer in three additional stanzas, addressing the Holy Spirit three more times, as "Du wertes Licht" (You esteemed light), "Du süße Lieb" (You sweet love) and "Du höchster Tröster" (You highest comforter). The hymn is a "Leise", concluding each stanza by "Kyrieleis". The three added stanzas can be as seen related to Paul's concept of "Glaube, Liebe, Hoffnung" (faith, love, hope), which he expressed in his First Epistle to the Corinthians, 1 Corinthians 13:13.
M. Luther's text, set to music by Johann Walter, appeared in 1524 in Wittenberg. It was part of J. Walter's choral hymnal Eyn geystlich Gesangk Buchleyn. Johann Crüger included it, as many of M. Luther 's songs, in his hymnal Praxis pietatis melica which was first published in 1647. The hymn has often been associated with Pentecost. It is part of many hymnals, in several Christian denominations and in translations. The oldest translation to Danish appeared in 1528. Translations to English include "We now implore God the Holy Ghost" in The Lutheran Hymnal (St. Louis, 1941).
Michael Vehe, a Dominican monk and theologian, took in 1537 the medieval stanza as a starting point which he completed by adding three different stanzas. His version appears with the chant melody in the first German Catholic hymnal Gotteslob as GL 870 for the Diocese of Limburg. In the main section of that hymnal, it appeared as GL 248 again in a different version, with stanzas two to four written in 1972 by Maria Luise Thurmair, who closed with a fifth stanza modeled after Vehe's second. The melody is a transcription of the chant in fixed rhythm. This version was kept in the second edition of the Gotteslob, GL 348.
Source: Wikipedia (May 19, 2018) |
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Cantata BWV 169 closes with an emphasis on the Second Commandment to love one's neighbor, as found in the third verse of M. Luther's 1524 "Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist" (Now Let Us Pray to the Holy Spirit): "Du süße Liebe, schenk uns deine Gunst" (You sweet love, grant us your favour). M. Luthers four-stanza Gradual Song between the Epistle and Gospel lessons in the main service is found as a designated <de tempore> Pentecost Hymn in the NLGB No. 130.
J.S. Bach did three harmonized settings (all in A Major) of M. Luther's contrafaction of the Latin sequence, Veni, sancte spirtus. Besides the closing simple setting of Stanza 3 in Cantata BWV 169/7, J.S. Bach also elaborately set Stanza 3 to close Part 1 of the 1736/7 wedding parody Cantata BWV 197, "Gott its unsre Zuversicht" (God Is Our Trust), as well as the untexted setting, BWV 385, that dates to c1730 on stylistic grounds and may have been performed at a Pentecost service. In addition, Piacander's 1728 cantata annual cycle text for the 18th Sunday after Trinity (September 26), "Ich liebe Gott vor allen Dinge" (I Love God Before All Things), also uses Stanza 3 but J.S. Bach did not set the libretto. J.S. Bach also designated M. Luthers hymn as a Pentecost service chorale prelude in his Weimar Orgelbüchlein (Little Organ Book), No. OB 45, but did not set it.
Source: Motets & Chorales for 18th Sunday after Trinity (William Hoffman, April 29, 2012) |
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Vocal Works by J.S. Bach: |
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Chorale Du süße lieb, schenk uns deine Gunst (Mvt. 7) from Cantata BWV 169 (1726 (verse 3) |
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Chorale Du süße lieb, schenk uns deine Gunst (Mvt. 5) from Cantata BWV 197 (1736-1737) (verse 3) |
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Chorale Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist, BWV 385
Ref: RE 36; Breitkopf 36; KE 385; Birnstiel 40; Dietel 109; AmB 46II p.310; Levy–Mendelssohn 22; Fasch p.80; BGA 132; BC F147.1; CST 262-264 |
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German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach) |
English Translation |
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1. Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist
Um den rechten glauben allermeist,
Daß er uns behüte an unserm ende,
Wenn wir heimfahren aus diesem elende.
Kyrieleis! |
We now beg the holy spirit
for true belief above all
so that he may watch over us at our end
when we travel home from this miserable world.
Lord, have mercy |
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2. Du werthes licht! gib uns deinem schein,
Lehr' uns Jesum Christ kennen allein,
Daß wir an ihm bleiben, dem treuen Heiland,
Der uns bracht hat zu dem rechten vaterland.
Kyrieleis! |
You precious light, give us your brightness, teach us to know Jesus Christ alone so that we may remain with him ,the true saviour who has brought us to our true fatherland .
Lord, have mercy |
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3. Du süße lieb'! schenk uns deine gunst,
Laß uns empfinden der liebe brunst,
Daß wir uvon herzen einander lieben,
Und im friede auf einem sinn bleiben.
Kyrieleis! |
You sweet love, grant us your flavour
let us feel your burning love
so that we may love each other from the heart and in peace remain of one mind
Lord, have mercy |
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4. Du höchster tröster in aller noth!
Hilf, daß wir nicht fürchten schand' noch tod,
Daß in uns die sinne nicht verzagen,
Wenn der feind wird das leben verklagen.
Kyrieleis! |
You who are the greatest consolation in all distress, help us so that we fear neither disgrace nor death, so that is just the mind may not despair when the enemy brings accusations against our life
Lord, have mercy |
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English Translation by Francis Browne (May 2015)
Contributed by Francis Browne (May 2015), Aryeh Oron (October 2018) |
