Chorale Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Text and Translation of Chorale

Ref. in hymnals/hymn books: NLBG 315; EG 147; Feiern & Loben 287; Gemeindelieder 449; Ich will dir danken! 286; Jesus unsere Freude! 721; Singt mit uns 199; Singt zu Gottes Ehre 351; Unser Liederbuch 262
Author: Philipp Nicolai (1599)
Chorale Melody: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Zahn 8405) | Composer: Philipp Nicolai (1599), after Hans Sachs (1513)
Theme: Eternity; Year End, Second Coming

Description:

"Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" (literally: Awake, the voice is calling us) is a Lutheran hymn written in German by Philipp Nicolai, first published in 1599 together with "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern". It appears in German hymnals and in several English hymnals in translations such as "Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying" (Catherine Winkworth, 1858), "Wake, O wake! with tidings thrilling" (Francis Crawford Burkitt, 1906), and "Up! Awake! From Highest Steeple" (George Ratcliffe Woodward, 1908). The hymn is known as the foundation of J.S. Bach's chorale cantata Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140, as well as being the foundation of settings by other composers.
P. Nicolai wrote the hymn in 1598, a time when the plague had hit Unnawhere he lived as a preacher after studies in theology at the University of Wittenberg, for six months. The text is based on the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13). Nicolai refers to other biblical ideas, such as from the Revelation the mentioning of marriage (Revelation 19:6-9) and the twelve gates, every one of pearl (Revelation 21:21), and from the First Letter to the Corinthians the phrase "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard" (1 Corinthians 2:9). Portions of the melody are similar to the older hymn tune In dulci jubilo ("In sweet rejoicing") and to Silberweise ("Silver Air") by Hans Sachs.
In the first publication in FrewdenSpiegel deß ewigen Lebens ("Mirror of Joy of the Life Everlasting"), the text was introduced: "Ein anders von der Stimm zu Mitternacht / vnd von den klugen Jungfrauwen / die jhrem himmlischen Bräutigam begegnen / Matth. 25. / D. Philippus Nicolai." (Another [call] of the voice at midnight and of the wise maidens who meet their celestial Bridegroom / Matthew 25 / D. Philippus Nicolai). The author wrote in his preface, dated 10 August 1598:
"Day by day I wrote out my meditations, found myself, thank God, wonderfully well, comforted in heart, joyful in spirit, and truly content; gave to my manuscript the name and title of a Mirror of Joy... to leave behind me (if God should call me from this world) as a token of my peaceful, joyful, Christian departure, or (if God should spare me in health) to comfort other sufferers whom He should also visit with the pestilence."
P. Nicolai's former student, Wilhelm Ernst, Count of Waldeck, had died of the plague at the age of 15, and P. Nicolai used the initials of "Graf zu Waldeck" in reverse order as an acrostic to begin the three stanzas: "Wachet auf", "Zion hört die Wächter singen", "Gloria sei dir gesungen".
Translations of the Hymn into English are noted in the Dictionary of Hymnology, pp. 806, 1613, 1722. According to the Hymnary web site, the hymn appears in 68 hymnals in English. In 1908, it was reported that "the favourite rendering" was using the title "Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying". It was either that of Catherine Winkworth or the one compiled by William Cooke, which is based on Catherine Winkworth's and other translations with additions by Cooke himself.
Source: Wikipedia (September 22, 2018) with additions by Aryeh Oron (October 2018)

J.S. Bach based his chorale cantata Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140, on the hymn and derived one of the Schübler Chorales, BWV 645, from the cantata's central movement.

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Chorus Wachet Auf (Mvt. 1) from Cantata BWV 140 (1731) (verse 1)

Form. Choral Fantasia (Corno, 2 Ob., Taille1, Strings (including Violino piccolo), Continuo).

Chorale Zion hört die Wächter singen (Mvt. 4) from Cantata BWV 140 (1731) (verse 2),

Form. Unison Choral for Tenor (Vn. I and II and Viola in unison, Continuo)

Chorale ‘Gloria sei dir gesungen’ (Mvt. 7) from Cantata BWV 140 (1731) (verse 3)
Ref: RE 179; Br 179; Birnstiel 185; Dietel 17; AmB 46II p.97

Form. Simple (Corno, 2 Ob., Taille, Strings (including Violino piccolo), Continuo). Choralgesange, No. 329.

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1. Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Der Wächter sehr hoch auf der Zinne,
Wach auf, du Stadt Jerusalem!
Mitternacht heißt diese Stunde;
Sie rufen uns mit hellem Munde:
Wo seid ihr klugen Jungfrauen?
Wohl auf, der Bräutgam kömmt;
Steht auf, die Lampen nehmt!
Alleluja!
Macht euch bereit
Zu der Hochzeit,
Ihr müsset ihm entgegen gehn!

Wake up, the voice calls us
of the watchmen high up on the battlements,
wake up, you city of Jerusalem!
This hour is called midnight;
they call us with a clear voice:
where are you, wise virgins ?
Get up, the bridegroom comes;
Stand up, take your lamps! Hallelujah!
Alleluia!
Make yourselves ready
for the wedding,
you must go to meet him!

2. Zion hört die Wächter singen,
Das Herz tut ihr vor Freuden springen,
Sie wachet und steht eilend auf.
Ihr Freund kommt vom Himmel prächtig,
Von Gnaden stark, von Wahrheit mächtig,
Ihr Licht wird hell, ihr Stern geht auf.
Nun komm, du werte Kron,
Herr Jesu, Gottes Sohn!
Hosianna!
Wir folgen all
Zum Freudensaal
Und halten mit das Abendmahl.

Zion hears the watchmen sing,
her heart leaps for joy,
she awakes and gets up in haste.
Her friend comes from heaven in his splendour,
strong in mercy, mighty in truth.
Her light becomes bright, her star rises.
Now come, you worthy crown,
Lord Jesus, God's son!
Hosanna!
We all follow
to the hall of joy
and share in the Lord's supper.

3. Gloria sei dir gesungen
Mit Menschen- und englischen Zungen,
Mit Harfen und mit Zimbeln schon.
Von zwölf Perlen sind die Pforten,
An deiner Stadt sind wir Konsorten
Der Engel hoch um deinen Thron.
Kein Aug hat je gespürt,
Kein Ohr hat je gehört
Solche Freude.
Des sind wir froh,
Io, io!
Ewig in dulci jubilo.

May gloria be sung to you
with the tongues of men and angels,
with harps and with cymbals.
The gates are made of twelve pearls,
in your city we are companions
of the angels on high around your throne.
No eye has ever perceived,
no ear has ever heard
such joy.
Therefore we are joyful,
hurray, hurray!
for ever in sweet rejoicing.

Source of German Text: Hymnary.org | Die Christliche Liederdatenbank |
English Translation by Francis Browne (October 2002)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (September 2018 - October 2018)