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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
Lobet den Herren, denn er ist sehr freundlich
Text and Translation of Chorale

Ref. in hymnals/hymn books: NLGB 223; EG 304; ELG 596; GBEB 24
Author: Anon (before 1579), after Psalm 147
Chorale Melody: Lobet den Herren, denn er ist sehr freundlich (Zahn 975) | Composer: Antonio Scandello (Dresden/Nürnberg, 1568)
Theme: After Meal

Description: “Lobet den Herrn, denn er ist sehr freundlich” (Praise the Lord, for he is good) is a paraphrase of Psalm 147, to an anonymous text before 1579, set to the associated melody (Zahn 975, EG 304) of Antonio Scandello in Newe Teutsche Geistliche Liedlein (New German Hymns; Nuremberg 1568). Set in six 7-line stanzas, it is an After Meal hymn that is found in the NLGB as No. 223, in the Orgelbüchlein, No. 154 (from Gotha-Witt Hymnbook No. 456), and in the Telemann 1730 chorale book, No 166, Christian Life. J.S. Bach set it as plain chorale, BWV 374 (http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0374.htm, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrOS5geolAQ.
Source: Blessing & Thanks Hymns as Chorales at Meals; Tafelmusik (William Hoffman, December 21, 2017)

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:
Chorale Lobet den Herren, denn er ist sehr freundlich, BWV 374
Ref: Ri 227; Br 227; AmB 46II p.200; Ref: BC F135.1

Psalm 147.1 in German

 

Lobet den HERRN! denn unsern Gott loben, das ist ein köstlich Ding; solch Lob ist lieblich und schön.

 
   

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1. Lobet den Herren, denn er ist sehr freundlich;
Es ist sehr köstlich, | unsern Gott zu loben,
Sein Lob ist schön, und lieblich anzuhören.
Lobet den Herren!

1. Praise thy Creator (bis), for He owns and loves thee,
Sing praises to Him, | pleasant 'tis and comely (bis)
Within His courts to sing unto thy Maker:
Praise thy Creator! (bis)

2. Singt umeinander dem Herren mit Danken,
Lobt ihn mit Harfen, | Unsern Gott, den werten;
Denn er ist mächtig und von großen Kräften.
Lobet den Herren!

2. Sing ye together (bis) to the Lord with praises,
With harps and timbrels | I and well voices. (bis)
For He is mighty and doth reign for ever:
Praise thy Creator! (bis)

3. Er kann den Himmel mit Wolken bedecken
Und gibet Regen, | Wann er will, auf Erden;
Er lässt Gras wachsen hoch auf dürren Bergen.
Lobet den Herren!

3. The heaven's broad spaces (bis) all with clouds He spreadeth,
And for the earth's use | soft'ning rain prepareth. (bis)
The mountain tops with verdure He doth cover:
Praise thy Creator ! (bis)

4. Der allem Fleische giebet seine Speise,
Dem Vieh sein Futter | Väterlicher Weise,
Den jungen Raben, wenn sie ihn tun anrufen.
Lobet den Herren!

4. To all that liveth (bis) meat and drink He giveth,
And as a Father | for all flesh provideth. (bis)
The fowls of air in vain call on Him never:
Praise thy Creator! (bis)

5. Danket dem Herren, Schöpfer aller Dinge;
Der Brunn des Lebens tut aus ihm entspringen
Gar hoch vom Himmel her aus seinem Herzen.
Lobet den Herren!

 

6. O Jesu Christe, Sohn des Allerhöchsten,
Gib du die Gnade allen frommen Christen,
Dass sie dein' Namen Ewig preisen, Amen.
Lobet den Herren!

 
   

Source of German Text: Bach Digital | Hymnary.org | Monarchieliga (verse 1 only) | Christliche Liederdatenbank
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 255
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (October 2018 - November 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