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Chorale Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works
Gott der Vater wohn uns bei
Text and Translation of Chorale |
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Ref. in hymnals/hymn books: NLGB 136; ELG 22; EG 138
Author: Martin Luther (1524), after a 15th century litany, Psalm 18:18
Chorale Melody: Gott der Vater wohn uns bei (Zahn 8507) | Composer: Johann Walter (Wittenberg, 1524), after Halberstadt c1500
Theme: 1st Sunday in Lent; Suffering and Death of Jesus |
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Description: |
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"Gott der Vater wohn uns bei" (God, the Father, stay with us), to the Johann Walter melody after Halberstadt c1500 (Zahn 8507), published in the first Wittenberg hymnal of 1524, is the three-stanza 1524 Trinityfest hymn on fundamental Trinitarian theology, modeled after 15th century Latin saints-day addressing litany hymns, says Robin A. Leaver. It is found in the NLGB as 136 with music, Trinityfest (https://books.google.com/books?id=UmVkAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA416#v=onepage&q&f=false), also for Lenten Reminiscare and Oculi as well as the 24th Sunday after Trinity, and in the Schmelli on pp. 245-247, Suffering & Death of Jesus. In Martin Luther's hymn (English translation, http://www.lutheran-hymnal.com/lyrics/tlh247.htm), Stanza 1 implores God's protection against evil, Stanza 2 seeks Christ's defense against the "Evil One," and Stanza 3 finds the Holy Spirit's intercession. Contemporary Sources: Evangelisches Gesangbuch EG 138 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a41K2SqD8Mk); Lutheran Book of Worship (Minneapolis MN: Augsburg Publishing, 1978), No. 308, "God the Father, Be Our Stay" (Repentance Forgiveness), and New Lutheran Hymnal (St. Louis MO: Concordia Publishing, 2006), No. 505, "Triune God, oh, be our Stay" (Holy Trinity).
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 Gott der Vater wohn uns bei, BWV 317
Ref: RE 135; Br 134; KE 113; Birnstiel 137; AmB 46II p.114; Penzel 160; BGA 64; BC F72.1; CST 118 |
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German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach) |
English Translation |
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1. Gott der Vater, wohn uns bei
Und lass uns nicht verderben,
Mach uns aller Sünden frei
Und helf uns selig sterben.
Vor dem Teufel uns bewahr,
Halt uns bei festem Glauben.
Und auf dich lass uns bauen,
Aus Herzensgrund vertrauen,
Dir uns lassen ganz und gar,
Mit allen rechten Christen
Entfliehen Teufels Listen,
Mit Waffen Gotts uns rüsten.
Amen, Amen, das sei wahr,
So singen wir Alleluja. |
1. God the Father, be our Stay;
O let us perish never!
Cleanse us from our sins, we pray,
And grant us life forever.
Keep us from the evil one;
Uphold our faith most holy;
Grant us to trust Thee solely
With humble hearts and lowly.
Let us put God's armor on,
With all true Christian running
Our heav'nly race and shunning
The devil's wiles and cunning
Amen, amen! This be done;
So sing we, Alleluia! |
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2. Jesus Christus, wohn uns bei
Und lass uns nicht verderben,
Mach uns aller Sünden frei
Und helf uns selig sterben.
Vor dem Teufel uns bewahr,
Halt uns bei festem Glauben.
Und auf dich lass uns bauen,
Aus Herzensgrund vertrauen,
Dir uns lassen ganz und gar,
Mit allen rechten Christen
Entfliehen Teufels Listen,
Mit Waffen Gotts uns rüsten.
Amen, Amen, das sei wahr,
So singen wir Alleluja. |
2. Jesus Christ, be Thou our stay;
O let us perish never!
Cleanse us from our sins, we pray,
And grant us life forever.
Keep us from the evil one;
Uphold our faith most holy;
Grant us to trust Thee solely
With humble hearts and lowly.
Let us put God's armor on,
With all true Christian running
Our heav'nly race and shunning
The devil's wiles and cunning
Amen, amen! This be done;
So sing we, Alleluia! |
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3. Der Heil'g Geiste, wohn uns bei
Und lass uns nicht verderben,
Mach uns aller Sünden frei
Und helf uns selig sterben.
Vor dem Teufel uns bewahr,
Halt uns bei festem Glauben.
Und auf dich lass uns bauen,
Aus Herzensgrund vertrauen,
Dir uns lassen ganz und gar,
Mit allen rechten Christen
Entfliehen Teufels Listen,
Mit Waffen Gotts uns rüsten.
Amen, Amen, das sei wahr,
So singen wir Alleluja. |
3. Holy Spirit, be our Stay,
O let us perish never!
Cleanse us from our sins, we pray,
And grant us life forever.
Keep us from the evil one;
Uphold our faith most holy;
Grant us to trust Thee solely
With humble hearts and lowly.
Let us put God's armor on,
With all true Christian running
Our heav'nly race and shunning
The devil's wiles and cunning
Amen, amen! This be done;
So sing we, Alleluia! |
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Source of German Text: Bach Digital | Hymnary.org | Die Christliche Liederdatenbank | Monarchieliga
English Translation: Richard Massie (1854) | Source of English Translation: Richard Massie: Martin Luther’s Spiritual Songs (1854), p 26 on Hymnary.org & Lutheran Hymnal. No. 147
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (September 2018 - October 2018), William Hoffman (February 2018): |
