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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
Heut triumphieret Gottes Sohn
Text and Translation of Chorale

Ref. in hymn books: NLGB 95; GH 145; EKG 83; EG 109; KGEL 107
Author: Kaspar Stolzhagen (1591)
Chorale Melody: Heut triumphieret Gottes Sohn (Zahn 2585) | Composer: Bartholomäus Gesius (1601)
Theme: Easter
Comments: Bach Digital & present 6 verse; Hymnary.org presents 7 verses [square brackets]; there are slight differences between the versions.

Description:

The Easter hymn, “Heut’ triumphiret Gottes Sohn,” appeared first in the Kinderspiegel (Eisleben, 1591) of Kaspar Stolzhagen, Lutheran pastor at Iglau, in Moravia. Whether he wrote it cannot be stated positively. It is also attributed to Jakob Ebert and Basilius Förtsch.
The melody (supra) is found in association with the hymn in Bartholomäus GesiusGeistliche_deutsche Lieder, published in 1601 at Frankfort a. Oder, where B. Gesius at that time was Cantor. The tune appears in 1601 for the first time and certainly was composed by B. Gesius himself.
Bach uses the melody in the Organ movement infra (BWV 630), Choralgesänge, No. 171 (BWV 342), but employs different melodic texts. In the Choralgesange the fourth and last phrases of the tune do not follow the original. In the Organ movement, excepting the last three bars, which are an added “Alleluya,” he follows the 1601 text and Witt, who also (No. 145) has three concluding “Alleluyas”:
Charles Sanford Terry: Johann Sebastian Bach, Bach’s Chorals, vol. 3 The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the Organ Works [1921], pp 183-185

Speculation regarding liturgical occasion: Häfner and Dürr suggest that this setting probably originated from the lost Picander–Jahrgang cantata Ich bin ein Pilgrim auf der Welt composed for Easter Monday, using the 3rd verse of Heut triumphieret Gottes Sohn. (NBA III/2.2 KB, p.186) This suggestion is further supported by the setting’s position (Chorale #18) in the Levy-Mendelssohn Collection (NBA Source D), portions of which are organized by liturgical occasion - Chorale 16 is from the St. John Passion (BWV 245), Chorale 17 is likely from the lost St. Mark Passion (BWV 247), Chorale 19 is, according to Häfner, from the Easter Day cantata in the Picander–Jahrgang, and Chorale 20 is from the Easter Tuesday cantata, BWV 145.
Source: bach-chorales.com (Luke Dahn, 2018)

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Chorale Heut triumphieret Gottes Sohn, BWV 342
Ref: RE 79; Br 79; KE 171; Birnstiel 70; AmB 46II p.150; Levy–Mendelssohn 18; Fasch p.39; BGA 89; BC F95.1; CST 175

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1. Heut triumphieret Gottes Sohn,
Der vom Tod ist erstanden schon,
Alleluja, Alleluja!
Mit großer Pracht und Herrlichkeit,
Des danken wir ihm in Ewigkeit.
Alleluja, Alleluja!

1. To-day God’s only-gotten Son
Arose from death, and triumph won,
Alleluya, Alleluya,
In mighty pomp and rich array;
His therefore be the praise alway.
Alleluya, Alleluya.

2. Dem Teufel hat er sein Gewalt
Zerstört, verheert ihm all Gestalt,
Alleluja, Alleluja!
Wie pflegt zu tun ein starker Held,
Der seinen Feind gewaltig fällt.
Alleluja, Alleluja!

2. Lo! Death is crushed—nay, Death must die,
By Jesus smitten hip and thigh.
Alleluya, Alleluya.
Like armoured knight, with skilful thrust
Christ made His foeman lick the dust.
Alleluya, Alleluya.

3. O süßer Herre Jesu Christ,
Der du der Sünder Heiland bist,
Alleluja, Alleluja!
Führ uns durch dein Barmherzigkeit
Mit Freuden in dein Herrlichkeit.
Alleluja, Alleluja!

3. Almighty Lord of great and small,
Redeemer of poor sinners all,
Alleluya, Alleluya,
Grant us, for great Thy mercy is,
To reign with Thee in endless bliss.
Alleluya, Alleluya.

4. Nun kann uns kein Feind schaden mehr,
Ob er gleich murrt, ists ohn Gefähr.
Alleluja, Alleluja!
Er liegt im Staub, der arge Feind,
Wir aber Gottes Kinder seind.
Alleluja, Alleluja!

 

5. Dafür dankn wir ihm allzugleich
Und sehnen uns ins Himmelreich.
Alleluja, Alleluja!
Es ist am End: Gott helf uns All'n,
So singen wir mit großem Schall'n:
Alleluja, Alleluja!

5. We hymn Thee, Christ, our living Head,
Hereafter Judge of quick and dead.
Alleluya, Alleluya.
At doomsday spare us, mighty King,
That we may always say and sing
Alleluya, Alleluya.

6. Gott dem Vater im höchsten Thron,
Samt seinem eingebornen Sohn,
Alleluja, Alleluja!
Dem Heiligen Geist gleicher Weis
Sei Lob in Ewigkeit und Preis.
Alleluja, Alleluja!

6. To God the Father on His Throne,
To Jesus Christ, His Son alone,
Alleluya, Alleluya.
To God the Holy Paraclete,
Be laud and glory infinite.
Alleluya, Alleluya.

   

[1]. Heut triumphiret Gottes Sohn,
Der vom tod ist erstanden schon,
Halleluja, Halleluja!
Mit großer pracht und herrlichkeit,
Deß dank'n wir ihm in ewigkeit,
Halleluja, Halleluja!

 

[2]. Dem teufel hat er sein gewalt
Zerstört, verheert in aller gestalt,
Halleluja, Halleluja!
Wie pflegt zu thun ein starker held,
Der seinen feind gewaltig fällt,
Halleluja, Halleluja!

 

[3]. O süßer Herre, Jesus Christ!
Der du der sünder Heiland bist,
Halleluja, Halleluja!
Führ' uns durch dein' barmherzigkeit
Mit freuden in dein herrlichkeit.
Halleluja, Halleluja!

 

[4]. Drum kann uns kein feind schaden mehr,
Ob er gleich murrt, ist ohn' gefähr,
Halleluja, Halleluja!
Er liegt im koth, der arge feind,
Dageg'n wir Gottes kinder seind,
Halleluja, Halleluja!

 

[5]. Hier ist doch nichts denn angst und noth,
Wer gläubet und hällt dein gebot,
Halleluja, Halleluja!
Der welt ist er ein hohn und spott,
Muß leiden oft ein'n schnöden tod,
Halleluja, Halleluja!

 

[6]. Dafür danken wir alle gleich,
Und sehnen uns in's himmelreich,
Halleluja, Halleluja!
Es ist am end', Gott helf' uns all'n,
So singen wir mit großen schall'n,
Halleluja, Halleluja!

 

7. Gott dem Vater im höchsten thron,
Sammt Christo, seinem leiben Sohn,
Hall., Hall!
Dem heil'gen Geist in gleicher weis'
Sei ewiglich lob, ehr' und preis,
Hall., Hall.!

 
   

Source of German Text: Bach Digital | Die Christliche Liederdatenbank | Hymnary.org
English Translation:
G.R. Woodward | 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 183-185
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




 

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