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Chorales BWV 250-438: Details and Recordings
Individual Recordings: Hilliard - Morimur | Chorales - N. Matt | Chorales - H. Rilling | Preludi ai Corali - Quartetto Italiani di Viola Da Gamba
Discussions: Motets & Chorales for Events in the LCY / Chorales by Theme | General Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Chorales in Bach Cantatas: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Passion Chorale
References: Chorales BWV 250-300 | Chorales BWV 301-350 | Chorales BWV 351-400 | Chorales BWV 401-438 | 371 4-Part Chorales sorted by Breitkopf Number | Texts & Translations of Chorales BWV 250-438
Chorale Texts: Sorted by Title | Chorale Melodies: Sorted by Title | Explanation
MIDI files of the Chorales: Cantatas BWV 1-197 | Other Vocal Works BWV 225-248 | Chorales BWV 250-438
Articles: The Origin of the Texts of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Origin of the Melodies of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Chorale in the Church Service [A. Schweitzer] | Choral / Chorale [C.S. Terry] | Hidden Chorale Melody Allusions [T. Braatz] | The History of the Breitkopf Collection of J. S. Bach’s Four-Part Chorales [T. Braatz] | The World of the Bach Chorale Settings [W.L. Hoffman]
Hymnals: Hymnals used by Bach | Wagner Hymnal 1697 | Evangelisches Gesangbuch 1995 | Dietel Chorale List c1734
Abbreviations used for the Chorales | Links to other Sites about the Chorales


Chorale Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works
Verzage nicht, o Häuflein klein
Text and Translation of Chorale

Ref. in hymnals/hymn books: ELG 249
Author: Jakob Fabricius (attributed to Michael Altenburg, 1632); may have originated as a marching song of King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden.
Chorale Melody: Kommt her zu mir, spricht Gottes Sohn (Zahn 2496c) | Composer: Anon (Nürnberg, 1534), based on an earlier melody c1504
Theme:

Description:

The hymn by Johann Michael Altenburg’s “Verzage nicht, du Häuflein klein,” was first published (to no specified tune) as a broadsheet c1632 (Leipzig), and later in Andächtige Hertz- und Seelen-Musica (Nordhausen, c. 1635). The Hymn is also attributed, on doubtful evidence, to Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden.
Translations of the Hymn into English are noted in the Dictionary of Hymnology, pp. 55, 1721.

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Aria (Chorale) - Duet for Soprano & Tenor Verzage nicht, o Häuflein klein (Mvt. 4) from Cantata BWV 42 (1725) (verse 1)

Form. A Soprano and Tenor Duetto (Fagotto, Violoncello, Organ, Continuo). Though marked “Choral,” J.S. Bach does not use the Hymn melody.

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1. Verzage nicht, o Häuflein klein,
obschon die Feinde Willens sin't,
dich gänzlich zu verstören
und suchen deinen Untergang,
davor dir recht wird angst und bang;
es wird nicht lange währen.

O little flock, fear not the foe
Who madly seeks your overthrow;
Dread not his rage and pow'r.
And though your courage sometimes faints,
His seeming triumph o'er God's saints
Lasts but a little hour.

2. Dich tröste nur, daß deine Sach
ist Gottes, dem besiehl die Nach,
laß ihn allein walten.
Er wird durch seinen Gideon,
den er wohl kennt, der helfen schon,
dich und sein Wort erhalten.

Be of good cheer; your cause belongs
To Him who can avenge your wrongs;
Leave it to Him, our Lord.
Though hidden yet from mortal eyes,
His Gideon shall for you arise,
Uphold you and His Word.

3. So wahr Gott Gott ist und sein Wort,
muß Teufel, Welt und Höllenpfort
und was dem thut anhangen,
endlich werden zu Hohn und Spott.
Gott ist mit uns und wir mit Gott,-
wir werden Sieg erlangen!

As true as God's own Word is true,
Not earth nor hell's satanic crew
Against us shall prevail.
Their might? A joke, a mere facade!
God is with us and we with God—
Our vict'ry cannot fail.

[3]. So wahr Gott Gott ist und sein Wort,
Muß Teufel, Welt und Höllenpfort';
Und was dem will anhangen,
Endlich werden zu Hohn und Spott;
Gott ist mit uns und wir mit Gott,
Den Sieg woll'n wir erlangen!

 

4. Amen, das hilf, Herr Jesu Christ,
Dieweil du unser Schutzherr bist,
Hilf uns durch deinen Namen:
So wollen wir, deine Gemein',
Dich loben und dir dankbar sein
Und fröhlich singen Amen.

Amen, Lord Jesus, grant our prayer;
Great Captain, now Thine arm make bare,
Fight for us once again!
So shall Thy saints and martyrs raise
A mighty chorus to Thy praise
Forevermore. Amen.

   

Source of German Text: Lutheran Hymnal [verse 1-4] | Hymnary.org (verses 1-3)
Source of English Translation: Hymnary.org
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (September 2018 - November 2018); William Hoffman (July 2024)


Chorales BWV 250-438: Details and Recordings
Individual Recordings: Hilliard - Morimur | Chorales - N. Matt | Chorales - H. Rilling | Preludi ai Corali - Quartetto Italiani di Viola Da Gamba
Discussions: Motets & Chorales for Events in the LCY / Chorales by Theme | General Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Chorales in Bach Cantatas: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Passion Chorale
References: Chorales BWV 250-300 | Chorales BWV 301-350 | Chorales BWV 351-400 | Chorales BWV 401-438 | 371 4-Part Chorales sorted by Breitkopf Number | Texts & Translations of Chorales BWV 250-438
Chorale Texts: Sorted by Title | Chorale Melodies: Sorted by Title | Explanation
MIDI files of the Chorales: Cantatas BWV 1-197 | Other Vocal Works BWV 225-248 | Chorales BWV 250-438
Articles: The Origin of the Texts of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Origin of the Melodies of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Chorale in the Church Service [A. Schweitzer] | Choral / Chorale [C.S. Terry] | Hidden Chorale Melody Allusions [T. Braatz] | The History of the Breitkopf Collection of J. S. Bach’s Four-Part Chorales [T. Braatz] | The World of the Bach Chorale Settings [W.L. Hoffman]
Hymnals: Hymnals used by Bach | Wagner Hymnal 1697 | Evangelisches Gesangbuch 1995 | Dietel Chorale List c1734
Abbreviations used for the Chorales | Links to other Sites about the Chorales




 

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Last update: Wednesday, August 07, 2024 05:04