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Cantata BWV 140
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
English Translation - Chorale Mvts. only
Cantata BWV 140 - "Wake, arise,” loud call the voices |
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Event: 27th Sunday after Trinity |
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Original German Text |
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English Translation |
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1 |
Coro |
1 |
Chorale [S, A, T, B] |
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Corno col Soprano, Oboe I/II, Taille, Violino I/II, Violino piccolo, Viola, Continuo |
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Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Der Wächter sehr hoch auf der Zinne,
Wach auf, du Stadt Jerusalem! |
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“Wake, arise,” loud call the voices
of Watchmen so high in the tower,
“Wake up, you town Jerusalem!” |
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Mitternacht heißt diese Stunde;
Sie rufen uns mit hellem Munde:
Wo seid ihr klugen Jungfrauen? |
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Midnight’s hour is now approaching
They call to us with lucid voices:
Where are the clever virgins now? |
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Wohl auf, der Bräutgam kömmt;
Steht auf, die Lampen nehmt!
Alleluja! |
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Behold, the bridegroom comes
Rise up, your lanterns take!
Alleluia! |
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Macht euch bereit
Zu der Hochzeit,
Ihr müsset ihm entgegen gehn! |
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Prepare yourself
For the wedding,
You must arise and go to him! |
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4 |
Choral T |
4 |
Chorale [Tenor] |
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Violino I/II e Viola all' unisono, Continuo |
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Zion hört die Wächter singen,
Das Herz tut ihr vor Freuden springen,
Sie wachet und steht eilend auf. |
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Zion hears the watchmen singing
The maidens’ hearts with joy are springing
They wake and quickly to Him go. |
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Ihr Freund kommt vom Himmel prächtig,
Von Gnaden stark, von Wahrheit mächtig,
Ihr Licht wird hell, ihr Stern geht auf. |
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Their Friend comes in Heav’nly splendor
With graceful strength, with mercy tender
Their light is bright, their star doth glow. |
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Nun komm, du werte Kron,
Herr Jesu, Gottes Sohn!
Hosianna! |
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Now come, thou worthy One;
Lord Jesus, God’s own Son
Hosanna! |
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Wir folgen all
Zum Freudensaal
Und halten mit das Abendmahl. |
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We follow all
To that glad hall
To our Lord’s table we are called. |
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7 |
Choral |
7 |
Chorale [S, A, T, B] |
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Corno e Oboe I e Violino piccolo in octava e Violino I col Soprano, Oboe II e Violino II coll'Alto, Taille e Viola col Tenore, Continuo |
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Gloria sei dir gesungen
Mit Menschen- und englischen Zungen,
Mit Harfen und mit Zimbeln schon. |
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“Gloria” we all are singing
With earth and heav’n our voices ringing
With harp and cymbal’s clearest tone. |
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Von zwölf Perlen sind die Pforten,
An deiner Stadt sind wir Konsorten
Der Engel hoch um deinen Thron. |
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Twelve great pearls adorn the portals.
At your fair city we are consorts
With angels high around Your throne. |
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Kein Aug hat je gespürt,
Kein Ohr hat je gehört
Solche Freude. |
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No eye has ever seen
No ear has ever heard
Such a rapture. |
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Des sind wir froh,
Io, io!
Ewig in dulci jubilo. |
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Our song doth go
Io, Io!
Ever in dulci jubilo. |
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English Translation: Marlon G. Hurst |
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Notes from the translator: |
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For verse 1, I endeavored to match English for German wherever possible, and tried to match similar phonetic sounds when possible - all without regard for rhyme structure. Since the poetic lines in this movement are delivered so far apart (in time) from one another, I felt that rhyme structure was less important than matching word for word to compliment Bach's text painting.
For verses 2 & 3, since the poetic form is more evident, I attempted to maintain a rhyme structure. And while not perfect, I again sacrificed some sense of poetry for a more literal rendering of the German. |
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Contributed by Marlon G. Hurst - Director of Music & Arts, First Presbyterian Church (USA) of Lexington, Kentucky (November 2005) |
