Cantata BWV 140 - English Translation [Chorale Mvts. only]

Cantata BWV 140 Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme English Translation - Chorale Mvts. only Cantata BWV 140 - "Wake, arise,” loud call the voices
Event: 27^th Sunday after Trinity
	Original German Text		English Translation
1	Coro	1	Chorale [S, A, T, B]
	Corno col Soprano, Oboe I/II, Taille, Violino I/II, Violino piccolo, Viola, Continuo
	Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme Der Wächter sehr hoch auf der Zinne, Wach auf, du Stadt Jerusalem!		“Wake, arise,” loud call the voices of Watchmen so high in the tower, “Wake up, you town Jerusalem!”
	Mitternacht heißt diese Stunde; Sie rufen uns mit hellem Munde: Wo seid ihr klugen Jungfrauen?		Midnight’s hour is now approaching They call to us with lucid voices: Where are the clever virgins now?
	Wohl auf, der Bräutgam kömmt; Steht auf, die Lampen nehmt! Alleluja!		Behold, the bridegroom comes Rise up, your lanterns take! Alleluia!
	Macht euch bereit Zu der Hochzeit, Ihr müsset ihm entgegen gehn!		Prepare yourself For the wedding, You must arise and go to him!

4	Choral T	4	Chorale [Tenor]
	Violino I/II e Viola all' unisono, Continuo
	Zion hört die Wächter singen, Das Herz tut ihr vor Freuden springen, Sie wachet und steht eilend auf.		Zion hears the watchmen singing The maidens’ hearts with joy are springing They wake and quickly to Him go.
	Ihr Freund kommt vom Himmel prächtig, Von Gnaden stark, von Wahrheit mächtig, Ihr Licht wird hell, ihr Stern geht auf.		Their Friend comes in Heav’nly splendor With graceful strength, with mercy tender Their light is bright, their star doth glow.
	Nun komm, du werte Kron, Herr Jesu, Gottes Sohn! Hosianna!		Now come, thou worthy One; Lord Jesus, God’s own Son Hosanna!
	Wir folgen all Zum Freudensaal Und halten mit das Abendmahl.		We follow all To that glad hall To our Lord’s table we are called.

7	Choral	7	Chorale [S, A, T, B]
	Corno e Oboe I e Violino piccolo in octava e Violino I col Soprano, Oboe II e Violino II coll'Alto, Taille e Viola col Tenore, Continuo
	Gloria sei dir gesungen Mit Menschen- und englischen Zungen, Mit Harfen und mit Zimbeln schon.		“Gloria” we all are singing With earth and heav’n our voices ringing With harp and cymbal’s clearest tone.
	Von zwölf Perlen sind die Pforten, An deiner Stadt sind wir Konsorten Der Engel hoch um deinen Thron.		Twelve great pearls adorn the portals. At your fair city we are consorts With angels high around Your throne.
	Kein Aug hat je gespürt, Kein Ohr hat je gehört Solche Freude.		No eye has ever seen No ear has ever heard Such a rapture.
	Des sind wir froh, Io, io! Ewig in dulci jubilo.		Our song doth go Io, Io! Ever in dulci jubilo.

		English Translation: Marlon G. Hurst

Notes from the translator:
For verse 1, I endeavored to match English for German wherever possible, and tried to match similar phonetic sounds when possible - all without regard for rhyme structure. Since the poetic lines in this movement are delivered so far apart (in time) from one another, I felt that rhyme structure was less important than matching word for word to compliment Bach's text painting. For verses 2 & 3, since the poetic form is more evident, I attempted to maintain a rhyme structure. And while not perfect, I again sacrificed some sense of poetry for a more literal rendering of the German.
--
Contributed by Marlon G. Hurst - Director of Music & Arts, First Presbyterian Church (USA) of Lexington, Kentucky (November 2005)
Cantata BWV 140: Complete Recordings \| Recordings of Individual Movements \| Discussions: Part 1 \| Part 2 \| Part 3 \| Part 4 \| Part 5 German Text \| Translations: Dutch-1 \| Dutch-3 \| Dutch-4 \| English-1 \| English-3 \| English-6 \| English-8 \| English-9 \| English-10 \| French-4 \| French-6 \| Hebrew-2 \| Indonesian \| Italian-5 \| Portuguese-1 \| Russian-1 \| Spanish-3

Back to the Top

Last update: ýJuly 11, 2008 ý10:19:25