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Cantata BWV 171
Gott, wie dein Name, so ist auch dein Ruhm
English Translation in Interlinear Format
Cantata BWV 171 - God, as your name |
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Event: Cantata for New Year's Day [Circumcision of Christ, Holy Name]
Readings: Epistle: Galatians 3: 23-29; Gospel: Luke 2: 21
Text: Christian Friedrich Henrici (Picander) (Mvts. 2-5); Psalm 48: 10 (Mvt. 1); Johannes Herman (Mvt. 6)
Chorale Text: Jesu, nun sei gepreiset |
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Biblical quotations in green font , chorales in purple |
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1 |
Coro [S, A, T, B] |
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Tromba I-III, Timpani, Oboe I/II, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo |
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Gott, wie dein Name, so ist auch dein Ruhm bis an der Welt Ende.
God, as your name, so also is your fame to the ends of the earth. |
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2 |
Aria [Tenor] |
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Violino I/II, Continuo |
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Herr, so weit die Wolken gehen,
Lord, as far as the clouds go,
Gehet deines Namens Ruhm.
goes the fame of your name.
Alles, was die Lippen rührt,
Everything, that moves lips,
Alles, was noch Odem führt,
everything , that draws breath
Wird dich in der Macht erhöhen.
will exalt you in your power. |
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3 |
Recitative [Alto] |
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Continuo |
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Du süßer Jesus-Name du,
You, sweet name of Jesus, you,
In dir ist meine Ruh,
in you is my peace,
Du bist mein Trost auf Erden,
you are my comfort on earth,
Wie kann denn mir
how can I then
Im Kreuze bange werden?
be anxious in my affliction?
Du bist mein festes Schloß und mein Panier,
You are my strong castle and my banner
Da lauf ich hin,
where I run for refuge
Wenn ich verfolget bin.
when I am persecuted.
Du bist mein Leben und mein Licht,
You are my life and my light,
Mein Ehre, meine Zuversicht,
my honour, my reassurance,
Mein Beistand in Gefahr
my help in trouble
Und mein Geschenk zum neuen Jahr.
and my present for the new year. |
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4 |
Aria [Soprano] |
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Violino solo, Continuo |
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Jesus soll mein erstes Wort
Jesus should be my first word
In dem neuen Jahre heißen.
spoken in the new year.
Fort und fort
Continually
Lacht sein Nam in meinem Munde,
his name laughs in my mouth,
Und in meiner letzten Stunde
and in my last hours
Ist Jesus auch mein letztes Wort.
Jesus is also my last word. |
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5 |
Recitative [Bass] |
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Oboe I/II, Continuo |
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Und da du, Herr, gesagt:
And as you, Lord, have said:
Bittet nur in meinem Namen,
only ask in my name,
So ist alles Ja! und Amen!
then is everything 'Yes!' and 'Amen!'
So flehen wir,
Therefore we make our entreaties,
Du Heiland aller Welt, zu dir:
you saviour of all the world, to you:
Verstoß uns ferner nicht,
do not cast us away,
Behüt uns dieses Jahr
protect us during this year
Für Feuer, Pest und Kriegsgefahr!
from fire, disease and the dangers of war!
Laß uns dein Wort, das helle Licht,
Let your word, the bright light
Noch rein und lauter brennen;
burn pure and clear for us.
Gib unsrer Obrigkeit
Grant that our government
Und dem gesamten Lande
and the whole country
Dein Heil des Segens zu erkennen;
may acknowledge the salvation of your blessing;
Gib allezeit
grant at all times
Glück und Heil zu allem Stande.
good fortune and salvation to all classes.
Wir bitten, Herr, in deinem Namen,
We ask this, Lord, in your name,
Sprich: ja! darzu, sprich: Amen, Amen!
say :'Yes!' to this, say: 'Amen, Amen!' |
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6 |
Chorale [S, A, T, B] |
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Tromba I-III, Timpani, Oboe I/II e Violino I col Soprano, Violino II coll'Alto, Viola col Tenore, Continuo |
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Laß uns das Jahr vollbringen
Let us complete the year
Zu Lob dem Namen dein,
with praise for your name,
Daß wir demselben singen
so that we may sing of this
In der Christen Gemein.
in the Christian congregation.
Wollst uns das Leben fristen
If you want us to eke out our existence
Durch dein allmächtig Hand,
through your almighty hand,
Erhalt dein liebe Christen
support your dear Christians
Und unser Vaterland!
and our fatherland!
Dein Segen zu uns wende,
Send your blessing upon us,
Gib Fried an allem Ende,
grant peace everywhere,
Gib unverfälscht im Lande
grant unadulterated in the country
Dein seligmachend Wort,
your word that brings blessing,
Die Teufel mach zuschanden
destroy the devils
Hier und an allem Ort!
here and in all places! |
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Alternatively: |
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Dein ist allein die Ehre,
Yours alone is the honour,
Dein ist allein der Ruhm;
yours alone is the praise;
Geduld im Kreuz uns lehre,
teach us patience in [bearing the] cross,
Regier all unser Tun,
govern all our actions,
Bis wir fröhlich abscheiden
until we joyfully depart
Ins ewig Himmelreich,
to the eternal kingdom of heaven,
Zu wahrem Fried und Freude,
to true peace and joy,
Den Heilgen Gottes gleich.
like the saints of God.
Indes machs mit uns allen
Meanwhile deal with all of us
Nach deinem Wohlgefallen:
according to your pleasure:
Solchs singet heut ohn Scherzen
thus sings today without jests
Die christgläubige Schar
the flock of those who believe in Christ
Und wünscht mit Mund und Herzen
and wishes with voice and heart for
Ein seligs neues Jahr.
a blessed new year. |
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Note on the text |
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This cantata for New Year's Day is probably the last of the five surviving cantatas (BWV 16, BWV 28, BWV 41, BWV 171, BWV 190) that Bach wrote for this festival at Leipzig . It may have been performed on 1 January 1729 and perhaps also one or a few years later. The text is by Picander who in 1728 had published a set of cantata librettos for the entire church calendar . In this particular cantata Picander focuses on the significance of God's name for all Christians; but he also makes specific reference to the hope of Church and State that God's guidance and protection will attend them throughout the coming year.
The text is furthermore losely connected to the appointed Gospel reading (Luke 2: 15-21) and, in the case of the pening movement, more specifically to part of the ninth verse of Psalm 48.
The concluding chorale ends with the second strophe of Johann Herman's hymn Jesu, nun sei gepreiset.This hymn has only three verses, but they are unusually long, having fourteen lines each. The first and last strophe are used in BWV 41. Bach reuses the elaborate setting of the third strophe from BWV 41 for the second strophe in the present cantata. Since some recordings use the third strophe both strophes are given in the translation . The complete text of the hymn can be found at: Jesu, nun sei gepreiset
(Note based on Oxford Composer Companion J.S. Bach) |
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This Translation in Parallel Format |
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English Translation by Francis Browne (June 2003)
Contributed by Francis Browne (June 2003) |
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