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Cantata BWV 1
Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
English Translation in Parallel Format
Cantata BWV 1 - How beautifully shines the morning star

Event: Choral Cantata for the Feast of Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Readings: Epistle: Isaiah 7: 10-16; Gospel: Luke 1: 26-38
Text: Philipp Nicolai (Mvts. 1, 6); Anon (Mvts. 2-5)
Chorale Text: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

 

Original German Text

 

English Translation

1

Coro

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

 

Corno I/II, Oboe da caccia I/II, Violino concertante I/II, Violino ripieno I/II, Viola, Continuo

 

Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
Voll Gnad und Wahrheit von dem Herrn,
Die süße Wurzel Jesse!
Du Sohn Davids aus Jakobs Stamm,
Mein König und mein Bräutigam,
Hast mir mein Herz besessen,
Lieblich,
Freundlich,
Schön und herrlich, groß und ehrlich, reich von Gaben,
Hoch und sehr prächtig erhaben.

 

How beautifully shines the morning star
full of grace and truth from the Lord,
the sweet root of Jesse!
You son of David from the line of Jacob,
my king and my bridegroom,
have taken posession of my heart,
[you who are] lovely,
friendly
,
beautiful and glorious, great and honest, rich in gifts,
lofty and exalted in splendour.

       

2

Recitativo T

2

Recitative [Tenor]

 

Continuo

   
 

Du wahrer Gottes und Marien Sohn,
Du König derer Auserwählten,
Wie süß ist uns dies Lebenswort,
Nach dem die ersten Väter schon
So Jahr' als Tage zählten,
Das Gabriel mit Freuden dort
In Bethlehem verheißen!
O Süßigkeit, o Himmelsbrot,
Das weder Grab, Gefahr, noch Tod
Aus unsern Herzen reißen.

 

You true son of God and Mary,
you king of those you have chosen,
how delightful is your word of life,
by which our earliest fathers already
counted both years and days,
[the word] which Gabriel with joy there
in Bethlehem promised!
O sweetness, o bread of heaven,
that neither grave nor danger nor death
can tear from our hearts.

       

3

Aria S

3

Aria [Soprano]

 

Oboe da caccia, Continuo

   
 

Erfüllet, ihr himmlischen göttlichen Flammen,
Die nach euch verlangende gläubige Brust!
Die Seelen empfinden die kräftigsten Triebe
Der brünstigsten Liebe
Und schmecken auf Erden die himmlische Lust.

 

Fill, you divine flames of heaven,
the faithful hearts that long for you!
Our souls feel the mightiest impulses
of the most ardent love
and taste on earth the delight of heaven.

       

4

Recitativo B

4

Recitative [Bass]

 

Continuo

   
 

Ein irdscher Glanz, ein leiblich Licht
Rührt meine Seele nicht;
Ein Freudenschein ist mir von Gott entstanden,
Denn ein vollkommnes Gut,
Des Heilands Leib und Blut,
Ist zur Erquickung da.
So muss uns ja
Der überreiche Segen,
Der uns von Ewigkeit bestimmt
Und unser Glaube zu sich nimmt,
Zum Dank und Preis bewegen.

 

A glitter from the earth, a light from the body
does not move my soul;
there is a gleam of joy that comes to me from God,
for a perfect good,
the saviour's body and blood,
is there to give refreshment/new life.
Therefore we must
by this abundant blessing,
which was intended for us from eternity
and is acquired by our faith,
be moved to thanks and praise.

       

5

Aria T

5

Aria [Tenor]

 

Violino concertante I/II, Violino ripieno I/II, Viola, Continuo

 

Unser Mund und Ton der Saiten
Sollen dir
Für und für
Dank und Opfer zubereiten.
Herz und Sinnen sind erhoben,
Lebenslang
Mit Gesang,
Großer König, dich zu loben.

 

Our mouths and the sound of strings
should for you
for ever and ever
prepare thanks and sacrifice.
Our hearts and minds are lifted up
throughout our lives
with song,
great king, to praise you.

       

6

Choral

6

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 

Corno I e Violino I col Soprano, Corno II, Oboe I e Violino II coll'Alto, Oboe II e Viola col Tenore, Continuo

 

Wie bin ich doch so herzlich froh,
Dass mein Schatz ist das A und O,
Der Anfang und das Ende;
Er wird mich doch zu seinem Preis
Aufnehmen in das Paradeis,
Des klopf ich in die Hände.
Amen!
Amen!
Komm, du schöne Freudenkrone, bleib nicht lange,
Deiner wart ich mit Verlangen.

 

How full I am therefore of heartfelt joy
that my treasure is the alpha and the omega,
the beginning and the end;
To his reward he will
take me up to paradise,
and so I clap my hands
Amen!
Amen!
Come, you sweet crown of joy, do not long delay,
I wait for you with longing.

       

This Translation in Interlinear Format + Note on the Text

English Translation by Francis Browne (November 2002, January 2007)

Contributed by Francis Browne (November 2002, January 2007)

Cantata BWV 1: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern for Feast of Annunciation of Mary (1725)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

BWV 1 Text: German-1 | German-2 | German-6 | German-7 | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-10 | English-14
Arabic-1 | Catalan-1 | Chinese-1 | Chinese-2 | Danish-1 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-2 | Dutch-3 | French-1 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-1 | Italian-2 | Japanese-6 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Polish-2 (version 2) | Portuguese-1 | Romanian-2 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-1 | Spanish-2 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern [BWV 1,6]

English Translations in Interlinear/Parallel Format (English-3): Sorted by BWV Number | Sorted by Title | Sorted by Event | Note on English Translations


Texts & Translations: Main Page | Cantatas BWV 1-50 | Cantatas BWV 51-100 | Cantatas BWV 101-150 | Cantatas BWV 151-200 | Cantatas BWV 201-224 | Other Vocal BWV 225-249 | Chorales BWV 250-438 | Geistliche Lieder BWV 439-507 | AMN BWV 508-524 | Other Vocal 1081-1164 | BWV Anh | Chorale Texts | Emblemata | Sources | Poets & Composers
Discussions: Texts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Translations: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4




 

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Last update: Monday, January 09, 2023 14:21