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Chorale Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works
Den Vater dort oben
Text and Translation of Chorale |
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Ref. in hymnals/hymn books: NLGB 225
Author: Michael Weisse (1531)
Chorale Melody: Den Vater dort oben (Zahn 4795) | Composer: Michael Weisse (1531)
Theme: Communion hymn; Grace after Meals |
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Vocal Works by J.S. Bach: |
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"Den Vater dort oben" (The Father up there) in five 7-line stanzas, set to the 1531 associated melody, was published again in the Moravian Hymnbook of 1554. It is used as an omnes tempore Communion hymn and Grace after Meals (Wackernagel iii: 321). It is found in the 1682 NLGB with music (Zahn 7495), No. 225 Catechism Thanksgiving (https://books.google.com/books?id=UmVkAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA600#v=onepage&q&f=false, and is known in English as "Father, Lord of mercy," by John Christian Jacobi, 1722. Bach set it as a plain chorale, BWV 292 in C Major (http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0292.htm, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqLIj4KVVTg). Stanzas 1, 3, and 5 are translated in Terry's Four-Part Chorales of J. S. Bach (London: Oxford University Press, 1929, No. 63; Bach Digital, https://www.bach-digital.de/receive/BachDigitalWork_work_00000362?XSL.Style=detail), and in the Helmut Rilling Edition Bachakademie Vol. 83, A Book of Chorale-Settings for Thanks & Praise (http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Vocal/BWV250-438-Rilling.htm, English translation, Stanza 1: "The father high above / We will praise now, / Who has kindly fed us / in his divine mildness, / And Christ, his son, / Through whom blessing come / From the highest throne."
Source: Passiontide Devotional Chorales, Other Weiße Hymns (William Hoffman, February 20, 2018) |
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Vocal Works by J.S. Bach: |
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Chorale Den Vater dort oben, BWV 292
Ref: RE 239; Br 239; KE 60' AmB 46II p.199; Penzel 175; BGA 39; BC F40.1; CST 63 |
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German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach) |
English Translation |
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1. Den Vater dort oben
Wollen wir nun loben,
Der uns, als ein milder Gott,
Gnädiglich gespeiset hat,
Und Christum seinen Sohn,
Durch welchen der Segen kommt
Vom allerhöchsten Thron. |
1. God in heaven Almighty,
Hear the praise we sing Thee,
Thou who hast Thy people led,
them and bounteous fed,
Sent to them Thy dear Son,
With salvation from above,
From Thine ever bright throne! |
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2. Sprechend in der Wahrheit:
Dir sei Preis und Klarheit,
Danksagung und Herrlichkeit,
O mein Gott, von Ewigkeit!
Der Du Dich erweisest,
Und uns heut mit Deiner Gnad'
Leiblich hast gespeiset. |
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3. Nimm an dies Dankopfer,
O Vater und Schöpfer,
Welchs wir deinem Namen tun
In Christo deim lieben Sohn;
O lass dirs gefallen
Und ihn mit seinem Verdienst
Zahlen für uns alle. |
3. Take the praise we proffer,
Father, Lord, Creator,
Which we offer in the name
Of Thy Son who once was slain!
May we, through His merit
And the sacrifice He paid,
Life with Thee inherit! |
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4. Denn nichts ist zu melden,
Das Dir möcht vergelten
Alle Gnad' und Gütigkeit,
Erzeiget unserer Schwachheit:
Ei, wie mag auf Erden,
Wenn Alles Dein eigen ist,
Dir vergolten werden! |
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5. Herr, nimm an unsern Dank,
Sammt diesem Lobgesang,
Und vergib, was noch gebricht,
Zu tun bei unserer Pflicht!
O, mach uns dir eben,
Dass wir hier in deiner Gnad
Und dort ewig leben. |
5. Take, then, God Almighty,
All the praise we give Thee,
And forgive us our default
If to Thee our song is nought.
Grant us Thy grace alway
Here to live and do Thy will,
And see heasan's glory. |
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Source of German Text: Bach Digital (verses 1,3,5) | Hymnary.org
English Translation: Charles Sanford Terry | Source of English Translation: Charles Sanford Terry: The Four-Part Chorals of J.S. Bach (Oxford University Press, 1929), p 64
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (September 2018), William Hoffman (February 2018) |
