Event: Cantata for Christmas Day
Readings: Epistle: Titus 2: 11-14 / Isaiah 9: 2-7; Gospel: Luke 2: 1-14
Text: Erdmann Neumeister
Composer: Probably Johann Kuhnau

1

Concerto

2

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

Uns ist ein Kind geboren,
A child has been born to us,
ein Sohn ist uns gegeben.
a son has been given to us.

3

Aria [Bass]

Dein Geburtstag ist erschienen,
Your birthday has appeared.
so erfordert meine Pflicht,
and so my duty requires
dich, mein Jesu zu bedienen.
that I should serve you, my Jesus.
Doch, ich Armer weiß gar nicht,
But I –poor man- do not know at all
was ich suche, was ich finde,
what I could look for, what I could find
welches dir zum Angebinde
that as a gift for you
als ein heilig Opfer taugt,
might be considered a holy offering
dich, o großer Gott, vergnügt.
that would please you, o great God.

4

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

Ich will den Namen Gottes loben mit einem Liede,
I wish to praise God’s name with a song
und will ihn hoch ehren mit Dank.
and honour him highly with my gratitude.

5

Aria [Tenor]

Jesu, dir sei Preis gesungen,
Jesus, may praise be sung to you
Jesu, dir sei Ehr' und Ruhm!
Jesus, may you have honour and glory!
Denn das Los ist mir in allen
For the lot that has fallen to me
auf das Lieblichste gefallen,
is the most delightful of all,
du, du bist mein Eigentum.
you, you belong to me.

6

Recitative [Alto]

Immanuell! Du wollest dir gefallen lassen,
Immanuel, it has been your pleasure to allow
daß dich mein Geist und Glaube kann umfassen;
my spirit and faith to grasp you;
kann ich die Freude gleich so herzlich nicht entdecken,
even if I am not able wholeheartedly to reveal all the joy
die dein Geburtstag will erwecken,
that the day of your birth will inspire ,
wird doch mein schwaches Lallen
yet my feeble stammering will still
dir durch Lob und Preis gefallen.
please you through giving praise and honour.

7

Aria [Alto]

Jesu, dir sei Preis gesungen,
Jesus, may prasie be sung to you
denn ich bin durch dich erlöst,
for it is through you that I have been redeemed.
Nichts betrübet das Gemüte,
Nothing troubles my soul
da mein Herz durch deine Güte
since my heart through your kindness
überschwenglich wird getröst't
has been abundantly consoled.

8

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

Alleluja, Alleluia, gelobet sei Gott,
Alleluia, alleluia, may God be praised,
singen wir aus unsres Herzen Grunde,
let us sing from the bottom of our hearts,
denn Gott hat heut'
for God has today
gemacht solch Freud'
created such joy
der wir vergessen soll'n
zu keiner Stunde.
that at no time should we ever forget it.

--

English Translation by Francis Browne (November 2005)
Contributed by Francis Browne (November 2005)

Cantata BWV 142: Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements | Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
German-5 | Translations: English-3 | Russian-1

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