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Chorales BWV 250-438: Details and Recordings
Individual Recordings: Hilliard - Morimur | Chorales - N. Matt | Chorales - H. Rilling | Preludi ai Corali - Quartetto Italiani di Viola Da Gamba
Discussions: Motets & Chorales for Events in the LCY / Chorales by Theme | General Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Chorales in Bach Cantatas: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Passion Chorale
References: Chorales BWV 250-300 | Chorales BWV 301-350 | Chorales BWV 351-400 | Chorales BWV 401-438 | 371 4-Part Chorales sorted by Breitkopf Number | Texts & Translations of Chorales BWV 250-438
Chorale Texts: Sorted by Title | Chorale Melodies: Sorted by Title | Explanation
MIDI files of the Chorales: Cantatas BWV 1-197 | Other Vocal Works BWV 225-248 | Chorales BWV 250-438
Articles: The Origin of the Texts of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Origin of the Melodies of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Chorale in the Church Service [A. Schweitzer] | Choral / Chorale [C.S. Terry] | Hidden Chorale Melody Allusions [T. Braatz] | The History of the Breitkopf Collection of J. S. Bach’s Four-Part Chorales [T. Braatz] | The World of the Bach Chorale Settings [W.L. Hoffman]
Hymnals: Hymnals used by Bach | Wagner Hymnal 1697 | Evangelisches Gesangbuch 1995 | Dietel Chorale List c1734
Abbreviations used for the Chorales | Links to other Sites about the Chorales


Chorale Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works
Herr Jesu Christ, wahr Mensch und Gott
Text and Translation of Chorale

Ref. in hymnals/hymn books:
Author: Paul Eber (1557 / 1563 / 1566)
Theme:

Description:

 

Chorale Melody 1: Befiehl du deine Wege (I) | Composer: Hans Leo Hassler (1601)

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Ver

Work

Mvt.

Year

Br

RE

KE

Di

BC

Type

 

1

BWV 127

Mvt. 1

1725

-

-

-

-

A49:1

Chorus (Chorale) [S, A, T, B]

 

~2-3

BWV 127

Mvt. 2

1725

-

-

-

-

A49:2

Recitative [T]

 

~4

BWV 127

Mvt. 3

1725

-

-

-

-

A49:3

Aria [S]

 

~5-7

BWV 127

Mvt. 4

1725

-

-

-

-

A49:4

Recitative & Aria [B]

 

8

BWV 127

Mvt. 5

1725

 

147

284

 

A49:5

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 

See: Commentary & Score Examples of Mvt.1: The The Chorale Melody and Text | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Melody Variants (Thomas Braatz, November 19-20, 2004)

Chorale Melody 2: Herr Jesu Christ, wahr' Mensch und Gott (Zahn 423) | Composer: Johann Eccard (1597)

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Chorale Herr Jesu Christ, wahr Mensch und Gott, BWV 336
Ref: RE 189; Br 189; KE 146; Birnstiel 195; AmB 46II p.167; Penzel 114; BGA 83; BC F88.1; CST 148

 

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1

Herr Jesu Christ, wahr Mensch und Gott,
der du littst Marter, Angst und Spott,
Für mich am Kreuz auch endlich starbst
und mir deins Vaters Huld erwarbst:
Ich bitt durch bitter Leiden dein,
du wollst mir Sünder gnädig sein!

Lord Jesus Christ, true man and God,
who suffered torture, anguish and mockery, who also finally died for me on the cross
and gained for me your fathers grace:

I beg you through your bitter suffering,
may it be your will to be gracious to me a sinner!

2

Wenn ich nun komm in Sterbens not
und ringen werde mit dem Tod,
Wenn mir vergeht all mein Gesicht
und meine Ohren hören nicht,
Wenn meine Zunge nichts mehr spricht
und mior vor Angst mein Herz zerbrichts,

When I come to the agony of dying
and I struggle with death,

when my eyesight fails completely
and my ears hear nothing,

when my tongue can speak no more
and my heart breaks with anguish,

3

Wenn mein Verstand sich nicht versinnt
und mir all menschlich Hilf zerrinnt:
So komm, Herr Christe, mir behend
zu Hilf an meinem letzsten End
Und führ mich aus dem Jammerthal,
verkürtz mir auch des Todes Qual!

When my reason can reason no more
and all human help melts away from me
then come Lord Christ, skilfully
help me at my last hour
and lead me from the vale of sorrow,

shorten also my death agony.

4

Die bösen Geister von mir treib,
mit deinem Geist stets bei mir bleib,
Bis sich die Seel vom Leib abwend,
so nimm sie, Herr, in deine Händ!
Der Leib hab in der Erd sein Ruh,
bis sich der Jüngst Tag naht herzu.

Drive evil spirits away from me,
with your spirit stay with me always,

until my soul parts from my body,
then take it, Lord, in your hands!
Let my body have its rest of the earth
until the last day approaches

5

Ein fröhlich Urständ mir verleih,
am jüngsten Gricht mein Fürsprech sei
Und meiner Sünd nicht mehr gedenk,
aus Gnaden mir das Leben schenck,
Wie du hast zugesaget mir
in deinem Wort, das trau ich dir:

Grant me a joyful resurrection,
be my advocate at the last judgement
and do not think any more of my sins,

in your mercy grant me the life
as you have promised to me
in your word in which I trust.

6

Fürwahr, Fürwahr, euch sage ich:
wer mein Wort hält und glaubt an mich,
Der wird nicht kommen ins Gericht
und den Tod ewig schmecken nicht,
Und ob er schon hier zeitlich stirbt,
mit nichten er drum gar verdirbt!

Truly truly, I say to you:
who keeps my word and believes in me
will not come to judgement
and will not taste eternal death,

and although he dies here in time,
he will therefore in no way perish!

7

Sondern ich will mit starker Hand
ihn reißen aus des Todes Band
Und zu mir nehmen in mein Reich,
da soll er dann mit mir zugleich
In Freuden leben ewiglich!
dazu hilf uns ja gnädiglich!

Instead with mighty hand I shall
snatch him from the bond of death
and take him with me to my kingdom,

where he shall be together with me
to live in joy forever!

Therefore help us mercifully.

8

Ach Herr, vergib all unser Schuld!
hilf, daß wir warten mit Geduld
Bis unser Stündlein kommt herbei,
auch unser Glaub stäts wacker sei,
Deim Wort zu trauen festiglich,
bis wir entschlafen seliglich!

Ah Lord, forgive all our guilt,
help us to wait patiently
until the time comes for our hour of death,

May our faith be ever vigilant,
to trust firmly in your word,
until we fall asleep in blessedness.

 

English Translation by Francis Browne (March 2007)
Contributed by Francis Browne (March 2007), Aryeh Oron (October 2018)


Chorales BWV 250-438: Details and Recordings
Individual Recordings: Hilliard - Morimur | Chorales - N. Matt | Chorales - H. Rilling | Preludi ai Corali - Quartetto Italiani di Viola Da Gamba
Discussions: Motets & Chorales for Events in the LCY / Chorales by Theme | General Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Chorales in Bach Cantatas: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Passion Chorale
References: Chorales BWV 250-300 | Chorales BWV 301-350 | Chorales BWV 351-400 | Chorales BWV 401-438 | 371 4-Part Chorales sorted by Breitkopf Number | Texts & Translations of Chorales BWV 250-438
Chorale Texts: Sorted by Title | Chorale Melodies: Sorted by Title | Explanation
MIDI files of the Chorales: Cantatas BWV 1-197 | Other Vocal Works BWV 225-248 | Chorales BWV 250-438
Articles: The Origin of the Texts of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Origin of the Melodies of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Chorale in the Church Service [A. Schweitzer] | Choral / Chorale [C.S. Terry] | Hidden Chorale Melody Allusions [T. Braatz] | The History of the Breitkopf Collection of J. S. Bach’s Four-Part Chorales [T. Braatz] | The World of the Bach Chorale Settings [W.L. Hoffman]
Hymnals: Hymnals used by Bach | Wagner Hymnal 1697 | Evangelisches Gesangbuch 1995 | Dietel Chorale List c1734
Abbreviations used for the Chorales | Links to other Sites about the Chorales




 

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Last update: Friday, October 26, 2018 05:16