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Cantata BWV 91
Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ
English Translation in Parallel Format
Cantata BWV 91 - Praised be you, Jesus Christ |
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Event: Chorale Cantata for Christmas Day
Readings: Epistle: Titus 2: 11-14 / Isaiah 9: 2-7; Gospel: Luke 2: 1-14
Text: Martin Luther (Mvts. 1, 2, 6); Anon (Mvts. 3-5)
Chorale Text: Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ |
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Biblical quotations in green font , chorales in purple |
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Original German Text |
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English Translation |
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1 |
Coro |
1 |
Chorus [S, A, T, B] |
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Corno I/II, Timpani, Oboe I-III, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo |
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Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ,
Dass du Mensch geboren bist
Von einer Jungfrau, das ist wahr,
Des freuet sich der Engel Schar.
Kyrie eleis! |
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Praised be you, Jesus Christ,
that you have been born as a man
from a virgin - this is true-
at which the host of angels rejoices.
Kyrie eleison [Greek : Lord, have mercy] |
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2 |
Choral e Recitativo S |
2 |
Chorale and Recitative [Soprano] |
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Continuo |
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Der Glanz der höchsten Herrlichkeit,
Das Ebenbild von Gottes Wesen,
Hat in bestimmter Zeit
Sich einen Wohnplatz auserlesen. |
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The splendour of the highest glory,
the exact likeness of God's being,
has at the appointed time
chosen a place to dwell. |
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Des ewgen Vaters einigs Kind, |
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The only child of the eternal father, |
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Das ewge Licht von Licht geboren, |
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the eternal light born from light, |
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Itzt man in der Krippe findt. |
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is now found in the manger. |
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O Menschen, schauet an,
Was hier der Liebe Kraft getan! |
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O humanity, behold
what here the power of love has done! |
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In unser armes Fleisch und Blut, |
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In our poor flesh and blood, |
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(Und war denn dieses nicht verflucht,
verdammt, verloren?) |
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(and was this then not cursed,
doomed, lost?) |
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Verkleidet sich das ewge Gut. |
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eternal goodeness has clothed itself. |
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So wird es ja zum Segen auserkoren. |
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Thus it is chosen for blessedness. |
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3 |
Aria T |
3 |
Aria [Tenor] |
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Oboe I-III, Continuo |
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Gott, dem der Erden Kreis zu klein,
Den weder Welt noch Himmel fassen,
Will in der engen Krippe sein.
Erscheinet uns dies ewge Licht,
So wird hinfüro Gott uns nicht
Als dieses Lichtes Kinder hassen. |
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God, for whom the orbit of the earth is too small,
whom neither the world nor heaven can contain,
is willing to be in the narrow manger.
There appears for us this eternal light,
therefore henceforth God will not hate us
since we are children of this light. |
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4 |
Recitativo B |
4 |
Recitative [Bass] |
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Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo |
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O Christenheit!
Wohlan, so mache die bereit,
Bei dir den Schöpfer zu empfangen.
Der grosse Gottessohn
Kömmt als ein Gast zu dir gegangen.
Ach, lass dein Herz durch diese Liebe rühren;
Er kömmt zu dir, um dich for seinen Thron
Durch dieses Jammertal zu führen. |
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O Christendom!
Come now, prepare yourself
to welcome the creator amongst you.
The mighty Son of God
has descended and comes to you as a guest.
Ah, let your heart be moved by this love;
He comes to you, in order to lead you
through this vale of sorrow to his throne. |
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5 |
Aria (Duetto) S A |
5 |
Aria (Duet) [Soprano, Alto] |
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Violino I/II all' unisono, Continuo |
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Die Armut, so Gott auf sich nimmt,
Hat uns ein ewig Heil bestimmt,
Den Überfluss an Himmelsschätzen.
Sein menschlich Wesen machet euch
Den Engelsherrlichkeiten gleich,
Euch zu der Engel Chor zu setzen. |
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The poverty that God takes upon himself
has appointed for us an everlasting salvation,
the abundance of the treasures of heaven.
His human existence makes you
like the glory of the angels,
and places you among the choir of angels. |
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6 |
Choral |
6 |
Chorale [S, A, T, B] |
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Oboe I-III e Violino I col Soprano, Violino II coll'Alto, Viola col Tenore, Corno I/II, Timpani, Continuo |
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Das hat er alles uns getan,
Sein groß Lieb zu zeigen an;
Des freu sich alle Christenheit
Und dank ihm des in Ewigkeit.
Kyrie eleis! |
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He has done all this for us
to show his great love;
at this all Christendom rejoices
and thanks him for this in eternity.
Kyrie eleison! (Greek: Lord, have mercy) |
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This Translation in Interlinear Format |
English Translation by Francis Browne (April 2003) |
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Contributed by Francis Browne (April 2003) |
