Recordings/Discussions
Background Information
Performer Bios

Poet/Composer Bios

Additional Information

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


Cantata BWV 34
O ewiges Feuer, o Ursprung der Liebe [I]
English Translation in Parallel Format
Cantata BWV 34 - O eternal fire

Event: Cantata for Whit Sunday [1st Day of Pentecost]
Readings: Epistle: Acts 2: 1-13; Gospel: John 14: 23-31
Text: Anon

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

 

Original German Text

 

English Translation

1

Coro

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

 

Tromba I-III, Timpani, Oboe I/II, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

   
 

O ewiges Feuer, o Ursprung der Liebe,
Entzünde die Herzen und weihe sie ein.
Laß himmlische Flammen durchdringen und wallen,
Wir wünschen, o Höchster, dein Tempel zu sein,
Ach, lass dir die Seelen im Glauben gefallen.

 

O eternal fire, o source of love,
enkindle our hearts and coonsecrate them.
Make heavenly flames penetrate and flow through us,
We wish, o most high Lord, to be your temple,
Ah, make our souls pleasing to you in faith.

       

2

Recitativo T

2

Recitative [Tenor]

 

Continuo

   
 

Herr, unsre Herzen halten dir
Dein Wort der Wahrheit für:
Du willst bei Menschen gerne sein,
Drum sei das Herze dein;
Herr, ziehe gnädig ein.
Ein solch erwähltes Heiligtum
Hat selbst den größten Ruhm.

 

Lord, our hearts hold
your word to be the truth :
You want willingly to be among men;
therefore let my heart be yours;
Lord, may you graciously enter in .
Such a sanctuary chosen by you
has itself the greatest glory.

       

3

Aria A

3

Aria [Alto]

 

Flauto traverso I/II, Violino I/II con sordino, Viola con sordino, Continuo

 

Wohl euch, ihr auserwählten Seelen,
Die Gott zur Wohnung ausersehn.
Wer kann ein größer Heil erwählen?
Wer kann des Segens Menge zählen?
Und dieses ist vom Herrn geschehn.

 

Happy are you, you chosen souls,
whom God has picked for his dwelling.
Who can choose a greater salvation?
Who can count the abundance of blessings?
And this is the work of God.

       

4

Recitativo B

4

Recitative [Bass]

 

Continuo

   
 

Erwählt sich Gott die heilgen Hütten,
Die er mit Heil bewohnt,
So muss er auch den Segen auf sie schütten,
So wird der Sitz des Heiligtums belohnt.
Der Herr ruft über sein geweihtes Haus
Das Wort des Segens aus:

 

If God chooses the sacred dwellings
that he inhabits with salvation,
then he must also pour his blessing on them,
then the seat of his sanctuary is rewarded.
The Lord proclaims over his consecrated house
the word of his blessing:

       

5

Coro

5

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

 

Tromba I-III, Timpani, Oboe I/II, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

   
 

Friede über Israel.
Dankt den höchsten Wunderhänden,
Dankt, Gott hat an euch gedacht.
Ja, sein Segen wirkt mit Macht,
Friede über Israel,
Friede über euch zu senden.

 

Peace on Israel.
Give thanks, for the hands of the Most High that work miracles,
Give thanks, that God has thought of you
Yes, his blessing works with power,
to send peace on Israel
to send peace on you.

       

The anonymous librettist wrote two new recitatives and had to make only minor changes to the wedding cantata text to adapt three concerted numbers that were reused. So that comparisons may be easily made, I translate the relevant movements below.

 

Coro

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

       
 

O ewiges Feuer, o Ursprung der Liebe,
Entzünde der Herzen geweihten Altar.
Laß himmlische Flammen durchdringen und wallen
Ach laß doch auf dieses vereinigte Paar
Die Funken der edelsten Regungen fallen.

 

O eternal fire, o source of love,
kindle the altar of these consecrated hearts.
Make heavenly flames penetrate and flow through them,
Ah, grant that on this united couple
sparks of the noblest emotions may fall.

       

5

Aria A

5

Aria [Alto]

       
 

Wohl euch, ihr auserwählten Schafe,
Die ein getreuer Jacob liebt.
Sein Lohn wird dort am größten werden,
Den ihm der Herr bereits auf Erden
Durch seiner Rahel Anmut gibt.

 

Happy are you, you chosen sheep,
that a faithful Jacob loves.
His reward will there be very great ,
the reward which already on earth the Lord gives to him
through the charm of his Rachel.

       

4

Coro

4

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

       
 

Friede über Israel!
Eilt zu denen heilgen Stufen,
Eilt, der Höchste neigt sein Ohr.
Unser Wünschen dringt hervor,
Friede über Israel,
Friede über euch zu rufen.

 

Peace upon Israel!
Hurry to the holy steps,
Hurry, the Most High inclines his ear.
Our desire presses forward
to shout peace upon Israel,
peace upon you.

       

This Translation in Interlinear Format + Note on the Text

English Translation by Francis Browne (May 2003)

Contributed by Francis Browne (May 2003)

Cantata BWV 34: O ewiges Feuer, o Ursprung der Liebe [I] for Whit Sunday (1727)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

BWV 34 Text: German-1 | German-6 | German-7 | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-5 | English-6 | English-10 | English-14
Catalan-1 | Chinese-2 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-3 | French-1 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Hungarian-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Polish-2 | Portuguese-1 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-2 | Spanish-4 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8

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




 

Back to the Top


Last update: Monday, January 09, 2023 14:25