Chorale Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works
Als der gütige Gott
Text and Translation of Chorale

Ref. in hymnals/hymn books: NLGB 16
Author: Michael Weisse (1531), German translastion of the Latin sequence "Mittit ad Virginem", ascribed to Peter Abelard (1079-1142)
Chorale Melody: Als der gütige Gott (Zahn 1646) | Composer: Johann Crüger (1640)
Theme: Advent-Christmas Time

Description:

Hymn, a translation in 12 5-line stanzas , of the sequence "Mittit ad virginem", by Michael Weisse (1531). Melody of the Sequence (12th century), adapted by J.S. Bach.
The Latin sequence "Mittit ad Virginem" [Feast of Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary] has generally been ascribed to Peter Abelard (1079-1142), but is not found in the collection of hymns and sequences which he made for the convent of the Paraclete. Cousin, in his edition of Abelard's Opera (Paris, 1849), vol. i. p. 328, gives the text from Clichtoveus, &c, and says his authorship is uncertain; though the hymn is not unworthy of him. Mone, No. 343, prints from a 13th century. MS. at St. Paul, in Carinthia, and other sources: and Daniel, ii. p. 59, from a 13th cent. Munich MS., &c.
It is also in the Sarum (MS. in the Bodleian, c. 1370, Barlow, 5, page 450); Hereford (MS. in the Bodleian, c. 1370); York (MS. in the Bodleian, c. 1390); Magdeburg of 1450; Paris of 1481, and other Missels. The text is also in Wackernagel i., No. 182; Kehrein, No. 199, &c.

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Chorale Als der gütige Gott, BWV 264
Ref: RE 159; Br 159; KE 20; W Birnstiel 163; AmB 46II p.126; BGA 12; BC F5.1

Latin Text

English Translation

1. Mittit ad Virginem
Non quemvis Angelum:
Sed fortitudinem
Suam, Archangelum;—
Amator hominis.

1. To the Virgin He sends
No inferior Angel;
But Gabriel He summons,
His Might, His Archangel;
He, Lover of Men.

2. Fortem expediat
Pro nobis nuncium,
Naturae faciat
Ut prejudicium
In partu Virginis.

2. And mighty must needs be
The Messenger sent,
By whom shall the order
Of nature be bent,
When a Virgin shall bear.

3. Naturam superet
Natus Bex glorirae;
Regnet et imperet
Ut zyma scoriae
Tollat de medio.

3. The King's Natal glory
Shall Nature o'er sway;
Let Him reign, let Him conquer,
By purging away
The dross of corruption.

4. Superbientium
Terat fastigia;
Colla sublimium
Calcet vi propria
Potens in praelio.

4. Let Him cast every haughty one
Down from his seat,
In His might on the mighty ones
Setting his feet,—
The Victor in battle.

5. Foras ejiciat
Mundanum principem;
Sponsamque faciat
Secom participem
Patris imperii.

5. Let Him east out the Monarch
Whom this world obeys;
To the Throne of the Father
His Bride let Him raise,
To be sharer with Him.

6. Exi qui mitteris;
Haec dona dissere;
Revela veteris
Velamen literae
Virtute nuntii.

6. Go forth on thy message,
These gifts to unfold;
From the letter of Scripture
The veil shall be rolled,
By the might of thy word.

7. Accede,—nuntia,—
Dic Ave cominus;
Dic Plena Gratia,
Dic Tecum Dominut;
Et dic, Ne timeas.

7. Draw nigh, —speak the tidings,—
Say Hail! to her now;
And say, Highly favoured,
And say, Fear not thou,
And, The Lord is with thee.

8. Virgo suscipias
Dei depositum;
In quo perficias
Castum proposituum,
Et votum teneas.

8. Receive then, O Virgin,
The gift God ordains,
While yet the firm purpose
Unaltered remains
Of thy chastest resolve.

9. Audit et suscipit
Puella nuncium;
Credit et concipit,
Et parit Filium;
Sed Admirabilem;

9. The word she receiveth,
That lowliest one,
Believeth, conceiveth,
And beareth The Son;
And His Name shall be called

10. Conciliarium
Humani generis,
Et Deum fortium
Et Patrem posteris
In pace stabilem.

10. Wonderful, Counsellor,
Lord God of Hosts;
The Father Eternal,
The Monarch Who boasts
A Kingdom of peace.

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1. Als der gütige Gott
vollenden wollt sein Wort,
sandt er sein Engel schnell,
des Namen Gabriel,
ins Galiläisch Land.

1. The story famed is told,
How God sometime of old
An angel bright sent down
To Nazareth's fair town
In Galilee's broad land,

2. In die Stadt Nazareth,
da er ein Jungfrau hat,
die Maria genannt,
Joseph nie hat erkannt,
dem sie vertrauet war.

2. Where dwelt a maid so fair;
She was beyond compare,
And Mary was her name.
With her, too, Joseph came:
For spouses twain were they.

3. Als der Bot’ für sie kam,
fing er mit Freuden an
und macht ihr offenbar,
was ihm befohlen war,
und sprach freundlich zu ihr:

3. And Gabriel, when he came,
With speed did there proclaim
The tidings he did bring
To Mary there and then,
And joyously did sing:

4. Sei gegrüßt holdselig,
Gott der Herr allmächtig,
ist mit dir allezeit,
o du gebenedeit
unter allen Frauen.

4. ' Hail, hail, O maid so fair!
Favoured right well ye are!
For God doth call you blest,
Yea more than all the rest
Of women that appear.'

5. Als die Jungfrau erhört
so wunderliche Wort
ward sie bald Traurens voll
und bedacht’ sich gar wohl,
was sie drauf sagen sollt’.

6. Er sprach: Ey, sei getrost,
denn Gott hat zu dir Lust
und du wirst empfangen,
und gebär’n einen Sohn,
und den heißen Jesum.

7. Maria antwort ihm:
Ist doch mein Herz und Sinn
auf keinen Mann gewandt,
ist mir auch unbekannt,
wie solches sollt ergeh’n.

8. Der Engel sprach zu ihr:
Der heil’ge Geist in dir,
wird so groß Wunder tun,
und du wirst Gottes Sohn
unverrückt empfangen.

9. Maria gläubet ihm
und sprach: Wohlan, ich bin
des Allerhöchsten Magd,
er tu(e) wie du sagst,
mit mir, wie’s ihm behagt.

9. And Mary mild did say:
Do with me as you may;
For as God wills I'll do,
Nor ever shal't me rue
His bidding to obey.'

10. Bald wirket Gottes Kraft
in ihrer Jungfrauschaft,
und sie empfing zu Hand,
Christum, der Weltheiland,
und der Engel veschwandt.

10. So did it then befall
In Bethlehem's poor stall
Pl'hat Christ was born on earth,
A wondrous mortal birth,
As Gabriel did say.

11. Preis, Lob und Herrlichkeit,
Danksagung und Klarheit
sei dir in Ewigkeit,
o Herr(e) Jesu Christ,
der du Mensch worden bist.

11. Praise, glory now be sung
While endless ages run
To Thee, Lord Jesu Christ,
Who in a manger liest,
Sweet Mary's gentle Son!

12. O komm’ durch deine Güt’,
auch in unser Gemüt,
verleih’ uns Heiligkeit,
deine Gerechtigkeit,
und ew’ge Seeligkeit.

Source of Latin Text: The Hymns and Carols of Christmas
English Translation: John Mason Neale (1852) | Source of English Translation: Rev. John Mason Neale and Rev. Thomas Helmore (editors): Hymnal Noted, Part I. (London: Novello & Co., 1852), Part II (London: Novello & Co., 1856), No. 90 (Combined Edition #90), pp 186-188, on The Hymns and Carols of Christmas
Source of German Text: Monarchieliga | Bach Digital (verses 1-4, 9-11)
English Translation: Charles Sanford Terry | Source of English Translation: Charles Sanford Terry: The Four-Part Chorals of J.S. Bach (Oxford University Press, 1929), p 21
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (September 2018 - November 2018)