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Cantata BWV 128
Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein
English Translation in Parallel Format
Cantata BWV 128 - On Christ's ascension [journey to heaven] alone

Event: Chorale Cantata for Ascension Day
Readings: Epistle: Acts 1: 1-11; Gospel: Markus 16: 14-20
Text: Josua Wegelin after Ernst Sonnemann (Mvt. 1); Matthäus Avenarius (Mvt. 5); Christiane Mariane von Ziegler (Mvt. 2-4)
Chorale Texts: O Jesu, meine Lust | Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

 

Original German Text

 

English Translation

1

Coro

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

 

Corno I/II, Oboe I/II, Oboe da caccia, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

 

Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein
Ich meine Nachfahrt gründe
Und allen Zweifel, Angst und Pein
Hiermit stets überwinde;
Denn weil das Haupt im Himmel ist,
Wird seine Glieder Jesus Christ
Zu rechter Zeit nachholen.

 

On Christ's ascension [journey to heaven] alone
I base my own later journey/ascension
and all doubt, anguish and pain
by this overcome forever;
for since the head is in heaven,
Jesus Christ later at the right time
will gather his members.

       

2

Recitativo T

2

Recitative [Tenor]

 

Continuo

   
 

Ich bin bereit, komm, hole mich!
Hier in der Welt
Ist Jammer, Angst und Pein;
Hingegen dort, in Salems Zelt,
Werd ich verkläret sein.
Da seh ich Gott von Angesicht zu Angesicht,
Wie mir sein heilig Wort verspricht.

 

I am ready, come, gather me!
Here in the world
is misery, anxiety and pain;
there however , in Salem's tent,
I shall be transfigured.
There I see God face to face,
as his holy word promises me.

       

3

Aria e Recitativo B

3

Aria and Recitative [Bass]

 

Tromba, Violino I/II, Continuo

   
 

Auf, auf, mit hellem Schall
Verkündigt überall:
Mein Jesus sitzt zur Rechten!
Wer sucht mich anzufechten?
Ist er von mir genommen,
Ich werd einst dahin kommen,
Wo mein Erlöser lebt.
Mein Augen werden ihn in größter Klarheit schauen.
O könnt ich im voraus mir eine Hütte bauen!
Wohin? Vergebner Wunsch!
Er wohnet nicht auf Berg und Tal,
Sein Allmacht zeigt sich überall;
So schweig, verwegner Mund,
Und suche nicht dieselbe zu ergründen!

 

Up, up, with shrill sound
proclaim everywhere:
my Jesus sits on the right!
Who seeks to challenge me ?
[Although] he is taken from me,
I shall one day come there
where my redeemer lives,
My eyes will look in him in perfect clarity.
If only I could build a shelter for myself before that time!
For what purpose ? Vain wish!
He does not dwell on a mountain or in a valley
His omnipotence shows itself everywhere;
so be silent, rash mouth,
and do not seek to fathom yourself!

       

4

Aria (Duetto) A T

4

Aria (Duet) [Alto, Tenor]

 

Oboe d'amore I, Continuo

   
 

Sein Allmacht zu ergründen,
Wird sich kein Mensche finden,
Mein Mund verstummt und schweigt.
Ich sehe durch die Sterne,
Dass er sich schon von ferne
Zur Rechten Gottes zeigt.

 

To fathom his omnipotence
no man will be able.
My mouth becomes dull and is silent.
I see through the stars
that already from this distance
he shows himself at God's right hand.

       

5

Coro

5

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

 

Oboe I e Violino I col Soprano, Oboe II e Violino II coll'Alto, Oboe da caccia e Viola col Tenore, Continuo

 

Alsdenn so wirst du mich
Zu deiner Rechten stellen
Und mir als deinem Kind
Ein gnädig Urteil fällen,
Mich bringen zu der Lust,
Wo deine Herrlichkeit
Ich werde schauen an
In alle Ewigkeit.

 

Since then you will place me
on your right side
and to me as your clild
a gracious judgement is given,
bring me to that pleasure
where on your majesty
I shall gaze
for all eternity.

       

This Translation in Interlinear Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (February 2002)

Contributed by Francis Browne (February 2002)

Cantata BWV 128: Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein for Ascension Day (1725)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

BWV 128 Text: German-1 | German-6 | German-7 | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-8 | English-10 | English-14
Catalan-1 | Chinese-2 | Danish-1 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-3 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-5 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-5 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Texts: Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein [BWV 128/1,~2-4] | O Jesu, meine Lust [BWV 128/5]

English Translations in Interlinear/Parallel Format (English-3): Sorted by BWV Number | Sorted by Title | Sorted by Event | Note on English Translations


Texts & Translations: Main Page | Cantatas BWV 1-50 | Cantatas BWV 51-100 | Cantatas BWV 101-150 | Cantatas BWV 151-200 | Cantatas BWV 201-224 | Other Vocal BWV 225-249 | Chorales BWV 250-438 | Geistliche Lieder BWV 439-507 | AMN BWV 508-524 | Other Vocal 1081-1164 | BWV Anh | Chorale Texts | Emblemata | Sources | Poets & Composers
Discussions: Texts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Translations: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4




 

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Last update: Monday, January 09, 2023 14:22