Recordings/Discussions
Background Information
Performer Bios

Poet/Composer Bios

Additional Information

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, liebe Seel, nun ist es Zeit
Text and Translation of Chorale

Ref. in hymnals/hymn books:
Author: Georg Weissel (1642)
Chorale Melody: In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr (Zahn 2461) | Composer: Sethus Calvisius (Nürnberg, 1581)

Description:

Georg Weissel was one of the best of the early Prussian hymn-writers. His writings were published in the Preussischen Festlieder (Pt i., Elbing, 1642; Pt ii., Konigsberg, 1644). The Hymn, “Nun liebe Seel’,” in 6 6-line stanzas appeared in Pt i. of the Festlieder. The hymn was wrongly attributed to Christian Heinrich Aschenbrenner (for example in Hymnary.org; German Wikipedia).

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Chorale Dein glanz all' finsterniß verzehr (Mvt. 4 (46)) from Weihnachts-Oratorium BWV 248/5 (1734) (verse 6)
Ref: RE 77; Br 77; Birnstiel 81; Dietel 126; Levy-Mendelssohn 52; Fasch p.116; CST 194

Form. Simple (Instrumentation: Colla parte - S: violin 1, oboe d’amore 1 & 2. A: violin 2. T: viola. B: organ, continuo).

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1. Nun liebe seel', nun ist es zeit,
Wach' auf, erwäg' mit lust und freud',
Was Gott an uns gewendet:
Sein'n lieben Sohn
Von's himmelthron
In's jammerthal er sendet.

1. Arise, my soul, thy voice employ
To sing God's praise with mirth and joy!
Great things for us He planneth.
His only Son
From heaven's high throne
To us poor folk He sendeth.

2. Nicht nur den jüden blos allein,
Die sein's geblüts und stammes sein,
Sondern auch allen heiden
Ist aufgericht't
Dies ewig' licht,
Erleuchtet sie mit freuden.

 

3. Der heiden erstling' wunderlich
Durch einen stern er holt zu sich,
Daß sie den Heiland schauen,
Und ihren Herrn
In andacht ehr'n
Mit gläubigem vertrauen.

 

4. Nun, die ihr heiden seid gewest
Begeht mit dank der heiden fest,
Laßt eure stimme klingen:
Laßt ihm zu ehr'n
Euch fröhlich hör'n
Mit freudenreichem singen.

 

5. O Jesu, unser heil und licht,
Halt über uns dein angesicht,
Mit deinen strahlen walte,
Und mein gemüth
Durch deine güt'
Bei deinem licht erhalte.

5. O Jesu, Saviour, guiding Star,
Preserve us ever in Thy care,
Thy glorious beams e'er lead us!
Beneath Thy light
And in Thy sight,
Upon Thy paths O speed us !

6. Dein glanz all' finsterniß verzehr,
Die trübe nacht in licht verkehr,
Leit' uns auf deinen wegen,
Daß dein gesicht
Und herrlich licht
Wir ewig schauen mögen.

6. Black darkness flies before Thy face,
Bright rays the clouds of night displace,
O guide our footsteps ever!
That in that bright
And glorious light
We journey, Saviour, ever !

   

Source of German Text: Hymnary.org
English Translation: Charles Sanford Terry | Source of English Transalation: Charles Sanford Terry: The Four-Part Chorals of J.S. Bach (Oxford University Press, 1929), p 202
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (September 2018 - October 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




 

Back to the Top


Last update: Saturday, January 04, 2020 13:41