Chorale Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works
Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich
Text and Translation of Chorale

EKG: NLGB 18
Author: Martin Luther (1529), a Geman translation of 14th century Latin Hymn Dies est laetitiae
Chorale Melody: Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich (Zahn 7869) | Composer: Anon (Wittenberg, 1529), after a 15th century melody
Theme: Christmas
Comments: Hymnary.org presents only verses 1-4; Christliche Gedichte & Lieder presents 2 verses with a diffeent text..

Description:

The Christmas Carol, “Dies est laetitiae, In ortu regali,” dates probably from the fourteenth century. “Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich,” an early 15th century translation of it, is found in many versions with a varying number of stanzas. The form translated here is in four stanzas, in Joseph Klug’s Wittenberg Hymn-book, 1535 [1529], along with the melody.
The tune, whose opening phrase is reminiscent of the Carol “Puer natus in Bethlehem,” is that of the Latin “Dies est laetitiae.” Bach uses it in the two Organ movements infra and Choralgesange, No. 62. His text closely follows Witt’s (No. 20).
Source: Charles Sanford Terry: Johann Sebastian Bach, Bach’s Chorals, vol. 3 The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the Organ Works (1921), pp 131-133

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Der du bist drei in Einigkeit, BWV 294
Ref: RE 158; Br158; KE 62; Birnstiel 162; AmB 46II p.90 & p.129; Penzel 123; BGA 41; BC F43.1; CST 65

Latin Text

English Translation

1. Dies est lætitiæ
In ortu regali,
Nam processit hodie
Ventre virginali
Peur admirabilis,
Totus delectabilis
In humanitate,
Qui inæstimabilis
Est et ineffabilis
In divinitate.

1. Christian folk, a day of joy
Bid ye one another,
Birthday of a Kingly Boy,
Virgin is His mother.
'Tis a Child of wonderment,
All delight in Him is pent
By our human nature;
But what speech of man may spell,
Or what music utter well,
Our Divine Creator.

2. Orto Dei filio
Virgine de pura,
Ut rosa de lilio,
Stupescit natura,
Quem parit juvencula
Natum ante sæcula
Creatorem rerum,
Quod uber muniditiae
Lac dat pueritiæ
Antiquo dierum.

2. When the Son of God uprose
From a maid unchilder'd
As from lily-stem the Rose,
Nature stood bewildered;
Saw a Girl encompassing
Him who came ere any Spring,
Him who all things moulded;
Saw how milk of pureness stays
Hungry Ancient of the days
To her shy breast folded.

3. Ut vitrum non læditur
Sole penetrante,
Sic illæsa creditur
Virgo post et ante.
Felix est puerpera,
Cojus casta viscera
Deum genuerunt,
Et beata ubera
In ætate tenera
Christum lactaverunt.

3. In a stable's murky shade
Born is sunlight's Fountain,
There is laid the Might that made
Field and flood and mountain.
Swathed is the small Right Hand
At whose beck the stars upstand
In celestial stations:
Only mother-moving moans
Hath the Voice Whose thunder-tones
Fulminate o'er nations.

4. Christe, qui nos manibus
Propriis fecisti,
Et pro nobis omnibus
Nasci voluisti,
Te devote poscimus,
Laxa, quod peccavimus,
Non sinas perire
Post mortem nos miseros,
Sed tecum ad superos
Facias venire.

4. As the sunray passing free
Leaveth crystal flawless,
Ere and after childbed, she
Maid is not at all less.
Crystal-pure and hallowed
Bides the virgin womb that bred
God the Son, and bore Him
And for ever pure and blest
That sufficing mother-breast
Whence He deign'd restore Him.

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1. Der Tag der ist so freudenreich
Aller Kreature;
Denn Gottes Sohn vom Himmelreich
Über die Nature
Von einer Jungfrau ist geborn.
Maria, du bist auserkorn,
Dass du Mutter wärest.
Was geschah so wundergleich?
Gottes Sohn vom Himmelreich,
Der ist Mensch geboren.

1. O hail this brightest day of days,
All good Christian people!
For Christ hath come upon our ways,
Ring it from the steeple!
Of maiden pure is He the Son;
For ever shall thy praise be sung,
Christ’s fair mother Mary!
Ever was there news so great?
God’s own Son from heaven’s high state
Is born the Son of Mary!

2. Ein Kindelein so löbelich
Ist uns geboren heute
Von einer Jungfrau säuberlich,
Zu Trost uns armen Leuten.
Wär uns das Kindlein nicht geborn,
So wärn wir all zumal verlorn;
Das Heil ist unser aller.
Ei, du süßer Jesu Christ,
Dass du Mensch geboren bist!
Behüt uns vor der Hölle.

ii. This day the wondrous Child is born,
Lent to earth from heaven.
He comes to cheer a world forlorn,
Its heavy sin to leaven.
So, sing ye all the glorious birth
Which doth redeem our fallen earth,
And works our salvation.
Laud to Thee, Child Jesu Christ!
With mankind Thou’st kept the tryst
Thou Star of every nation.

3. Groß Wunderding sich bald begab,
Wie uns die Schrift tut melden:
Ein Engel kam vom Himmel herab
Zu'n Hirten auf das Felde.
Ein großes Licht sie da umfing,
Der Engel Gottes zu ihn' ging,
Verkündt ihn' neue Märe,
Dass zu Bethlehem in der Stadt
Ein Jungfrau den geboren hat,
Der aller Heiland wäre.

3. As from above the sun his rays
Poureth down upon us,
And with his glow renews our days,
Health and life doth give us;
E’en so the Christ Child was He sent
A maiden’s Babe, for our content,
And for our sweet comfort.
In a manger was He laid,
Sinless, and yet undismayed
To dwell on earth among us.

4. Die Hirten wurden freudenvoll,
Da sie den Trost empfingen.
Ein jeder das Kind sehen wollt,
Gen Bethlehem sie gingen.
In einer Kripp, gewickelt ein,
Da fanden sie das Kindelein,
Wie ihn' der Engel saget.
Sie fielen nieder all zugleich
Und lobten Gott vom Himmelreich.
Der sie so hätt begnadet.

4. The shepherds in amaze did stand,
As from heaven came streaming
Bright angels in a flaming band,
Christ the King’s birth hymning.
O Christ the King of Kings where’s He?
False Herod, raging mightily,
Everywhere doth seek Him
Whom His mother Jesus dight,
And doth slay, O wicked wight,
The children for to catch Him.

Source of German Text: Bach Digital | Hymnary.org | Monarchieliga | Christliche Gedichte & Lieder
English Translation: Charles Sanford Terry | Source of English Translation: Charles Sanford Terry: Johann Sebastian Bach, Bach’s Chorals, vol. 3 The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the Organ Works (1921), pp 131-133
Source of Latin Text: The Hymns and Carols of Christmas
English Translation: Rev. J. O'Connor | Source of English Translation: Richard Runciman Terry: Two Hundred Folk Carols (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne Limited, 1933), Carol #168, pp. 18-19.
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (September 2018)