Monday, December 26, 2011

The Complete Weihnachts-oratorium of JS Bach, Part V:II-V


2. Recitativo (T)

[Evangelist]
 Da Jesus geboren war zu Bethlehem

im jüdischen Lande

zur Zeit des Königes Herodis, 

siehe, da kamen die Weisen vom Morgenlande

gen Jerusalem und sprachen.

~

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem
in the land of Judea
in the days when Herod was the king, 
behold, there came the wise from the East
to Jerusalem, who said:

~~~~~

3. Coro (S, A, T, B) e Recitativo (A)

[Die Weisen]
Wo ist der neugeborne König der Jüden?

[Alto]
Sucht ihn in meiner Brust,
Hier wohnt er, mir und ihm zur Lust!

[Die Weisen]
Wir haben seinen Stern gesehen im Morgenlande und sind kommen, ihn anzubeten.


[Alto]
Wohl euch, die ihr dies Licht gesehen,
Es ist zu eurem Heil geschehen!
Mein Heiland, du, du bist das Licht,
Das auch den Heiden scheinen sollen,
Und sie, sie kennen dich noch nicht,
Als sie dich schon verehren wollen.
Wie hell, wie klar muss nicht dein Schein,
Geliebter Jesu, sein!

~

[The Wise Men]
Where doth the newborn babe, the king of the Jews, lie?

[Alto]
Seek him within my breast,
He dwells here, mine and his the joy!

[The Wise Men]
We have indeed his star now witnessed where morning riseth [1] 
and are come now to give him worship.

[Alto]
Blest ye, who have this light now witnessed,
It is for your salvation risen!
My Savior, thou, thou art that light,
Which to the nations shall shine also,
And they, they do not know thee yet,
As they e'en now would pay thee honor.
How bright, how clear must then thy rays,
Belove'd Jesus, be!

~~~~~

4. Choral  (S, A, T, B)


Dein Glanz all Finsternis verzehrt,
Die trübe Nacht in Licht verkehrt.
Leit uns auf deinen Wegen,
Dass dein Gesicht
Und herrlichs Licht
Wir ewig schauen mögen!

~

Thy light all darkness doth consume,
The gloomy night to day transform.
Lead us upon thy pathways,
That we thy face
And glorious light
For evermore may witness!

~~~~~

5. Aria (B)

Erleucht auch meine finstre Sinnen,
Erleuchte mein Herze
Durch der Strahlen klaren Schein!

Dein Wort soll mir die hellste Kerze
In allen meinen Werken sein;
Dies lässet die Seele nichts Böses beginnen.

~

Illumine, too, my gloomy spirit,
Illumine my bosom
With the beams of thy clear light!

Thy word shall be my brightest candle
In all the works which I shall do;
My soul shall this keep from all wicked endeavor.

~~~~~


~~~~~

[1] i.e., "in the East."


The complete Christmas Oratorio is featured on All for Hymn
beginning at 6:00 PM ET on December 24, 2011
and running every 3 hours.

English Translation and Footnote © Z. Philip Ambrose, translator, 
Web publication: http://www.uvm.edu/~classics/faculty/bach.
Used by permission.

Special thanks to counterpoint85 over on youtube
for posting the complete work.

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