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Text for Cantata 36
Schwingt freudig euch empor

Original German Text

English Translation


Erster Teil


Part I

1. CHOR

Schwingt freudig euch empor zu den erhabnen Sternen,
ihr Zungen, die ihr itzt in Zion fröhlich seid!
Doch haltet ein! Der Schall darf sich nicht weit entfernen,
es naht sich selbst zu euch der Herr der Herrlichkeit.

Resonate joyfully on high, up to the lofty stars,
you tongues, as you now are glad in Zion!
Yet, wait! The sound need not travel far,
for the Lord of glory himself draws near.

2. CHORAL (Sopran, Alt)

Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland,
der Jungfrauen Kind erkannt,
des sich wundert alle Welt,
Gott solch Geburt ihm bestellt.

Come now, Savior of the heathens,
the Virgin’s child made known,
at which the whole world wonders
how God would appoint him such a birth.

3. ARIA (Tenor)

Die Liebe zieht mit sanften Schritten
sein Treugeliebtes allgemach.
Gleichwie es eine Braut entzücket,
wenn sie den Bräutigam erblicket,
so folgt ein Herz auch Jesu nach.

Love draws near its truly beloved
steadily, with tender strides.
Just as a bride is beguiled
when she once glimpses the groom
so too the heart anticipates Jesus.

4. CHORAL

Zwingt die Saiten in Cythara
und laßt die süße Musica
ganz freudenreich erschallen,
daß ich möge mit Jesulein,
dem wunderschönen Bräutgam mein,
in steter Liebe wallen!
Singet,
springet,
jubilieret, triumphieret, dankt dem Herren!
Groß ist der König der Ehren.

Engage the strings of the zither
and let sweet music
resound fully rich with joy,
that I might with baby Jesus,
my wondrously fine bridegroom,
overflow in constant love!
Sing,
spring,
jubilate, triumph, thank the Lord!
Great is the King of Glory.


Zweiter Teil


Part II

5. ARIA (Baß)

Willkommen, werter Schatz!
Die Lieb und Glaube machet Platz
vor dich in meinem Herzen rein,
zieh bei mir ein!

Welcome, precious treasure!
Love and faith prepare a place
for you in my heart, pure,
inhabit me!

6. CHORAL (Tenor)

Der du bist dem Vater gleich,
führ hinaus den Sieg im Fleisch,
daß dein ewig Gotts Gewalt
in uns das krank Fleisch enthalt.

As you are one with the Father,
lead your conquest in the flesh,
that through God’s eternal might you
may constrain the fouled flesh within us.

7. ARIA (Sopran)

Auch mit gedämpften, schwachen Stimmen
wird Gottes Majestät verehrt.
Denn schallet nur der Geist darbei,
so ist ihm solches ein Geschrei,
das er im Himmel selber hört.

Even with subdued, feeble voices
God's majesty will be revered.
For when the Spirit resounds along
then it is to him such a roar
that he can hear it all the way in heaven.

8. CHORAL

Lob sei Gott, dem Vater, g'ton,
lob sei Gott, sein'm eingen Sohn,
lob sei Gott, dem Heilgen Geist,
immer und in Ewigkeit!

Praise be to God, the Father intoned
praise be to God, his only Son,
praise be to God, the Holy Spirit,
forever and in eternity!


COMPOSED: December 2, 1731 (Leipzig) for Advent I
LIBRETTIST: unknown; possibly Christian Friedrich Henrici (Picander); Mvt 2, 6 & 8. Martin Luther, stanzas 1, 6 & 8 of Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (1524); Mvt 4: Philipp Nicolai stanza 6 of Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern (1599)
TRANSLATION: 2019 © Tobin Schmuck, NYC
Print by permission only, please. Click here
.

Cantata BWV 36: Schwingt freudig euch empor for 1st Sunday in Advent (1731)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

BWV 36 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-6 | French-1 | French-3 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Hungarian-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Italian-4 | Japanese-6 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Polish-2 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-4 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Texts: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland [BWV 36/2,6,8] | Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern [BWV 36/4]

English Translations (English-10): Index by BWV Number | Index by Title | Index 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: Tuesday, December 12, 2023 14:11