In my extreme haste to post this cantata , Wachtet auf, by Bach, only because I want to post it, I am going to say very little about it. It is from a Lutheran hymn written by Phillip Nicolai in 1598. Several musicians have set it to music, including Johann Sebastian Bach (March 31, 1685 – July 28, 1750) . His birthdate varies on whether you use the old style (that is, Julian) or new style (Gregorian) calendars. Bach wrote a cantata to the hymn called Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140. It is truly wonderful, although I have a hard time finding oratorio singers whom I can listen to. I am posting the two choruses from this cantata. The choruses are very famous. I am posting the words to the first chorus. If anyone asks, I will post the words to the second chorus. These excerpts are from Helmut Rilling’s recording with the Bach-Collegium Stuttgart.
Chorus 1
Chorus 2
The words to the first chorus are:
Deutsch | Englisch |
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, | Wake, arise, the voices call us |
der Wächter sehr hoch auf der Zinne, | Of watchmen from the lofty tower
|
wach auf, du Stadt Jerusalem. | Arise, thou town Jerusalem! |
Mitternacht heißt diese Stunde, | Midnight’s hour doth give its summons; |
sie rufen uns mit hellem Munde, | They call to us with ringing voices; |
wo seid ihr klugen Jungfrauen? | Where are ye prudent virgins now? |
Wohlauf, der Bräut’gam kömmt, | Make haste, the bridegroom comes; |
steht auf, die Lampen nehmt, | Rise up and take your lamps! |
Alleluia! | Alleluia! |
Macht euch bereit | Prepare to join |
zu der Hochzeit | The wedding feast, |
, ihr müsset ihm entgegen gehn.
|
Go forth to meet him as he comes! |