US Thanksgiving: With Countless Gifts of Love...

Now thank we all our God

With hearts and hands and voices,

Who wondrous things has done,

In whom His world rejoices;

Who from our mothers' arms

Has blest us on our way

With countless gifts of love

And still is ours today.

Oh, may this bounteous God

Through all our life be near us,

With ever joyful hearts

And blessed peace to cheer us

And keep us in His grace

And guide us when perplexed

And free us from all ills

In this world and the next!

All praise and thanks to God

The Father now be given,

The Son, and Him who reigns

With them in highest heaven,

The one eternal God,

Whom earth and heav'n adore;

For thus it was, is now,

And shall be evermore.

Indulging in a little Distler: Oh, Bless the House, Whate'er Befall

Scoping out youtube for Hugo Distler's choral arrangement of "Wachet Auf" didn't yield the desired results, but it did yield this interesting little piece.

It falls into the "theme and variations" genre.  There is a simple, hymn-like playing of the theme, followed by a number of variations.

This is a live recording, with coughs and a few mistakes thrown in for good measure.  Otherwise, it would sound canned ;)  Ten Table Talk Radio points to the person who can identify the word that is spoken at the very end of the recording.  It's probably in Dutch.

Southern Lutheran Kantor: the first variation is for you!  I think you could rock it out on the Mighty Capra.

Mom and Dad: stanza 3 below is for you!  I think we all turned out OK.

Oh, blest the house, whate'er befall,

Where Jesus Christ is all in all!

A home that is not wholly His -

How sad and poor and dark it is!

Oh, blest that house where faith is found

And all in hope and love abound;

They trust their God and serve Him still

And do in all His holy will!

Oh, blest the parents who give heed

Unto their children's foremost need

And weary not of care or cost.

May none to them and heaven be lost!

Oh, blest the house, it prospers well,

In peace and joy the parents dwell,

And in their children's lot is shown

How richly God can bless His own.

Then here will I and mine today

A solemn promise make and say:

Though all the world forsake Thy Word,

I and my house will serve the Lord!

Text from LSB 862

Gloria sei, drei! Glory be, three!

The text of verse three of "Wachet Auf" below is not the same as the one in Bach's cantata setting.

Here is the one that is sung below. You will notice the "close approximation" in translating the second-last line :) Perhaps this consumation of bride and groom has no particular translation! Feel free to drop your own translation in the comment section.  

Also, I mistranslated Line 2 before, and it is corrected here.

Gloria sei dir gesungen

Glory to thee be sung

Mit Menschen- und englischen Zungen,

With human and angelic tongues,

Mit Harfen und mit Zimbeln schon.

With harp and with beautiful cymbals.

Von zwölf Perlen sind die Pforten,

Of twelve pearls are the portals,

An deiner Stadt sind wir Konsorten

In Thy city we are in concert with

Der Engel hoch um deinen Thron.

The angel high upon Thy throne.

Kein Aug hat je gespürt,

No eye has yet seen,

Kein Ohr hat je gehört

No ear has yet heard

Solche Freude!

Such joy!

Des sind wir froh,

Therefore we are extatic,

io, io!

yaHOOOOoo!

Ewig in dulci jubilo.

Forever in sweet jubilation.

Introducing Prime Time America

I like to think of Prime Time America as a Christian media alternative to All Things Considered.  If segments on crucial differences between Christianity and Islam are more relevant to you than a segment on the invasion Asiatic bittersweet vines in New England forests, this program is worth checking out.

If you've ever tuned in to Sound of Majesty, you'll recognize that the two shows share the same host, Greg Wheatley.

Last Monday the show featured both a discussion on Christianity and Islam as well as the author of the book, "This Is Your Brain on Music."  You can catch the first hour here, and the second hour here.

Prime Time America airs weekdays on Christian radio stations around the country.  For a station list, try this link.  It is also broadcast over the internet on wmbi.fm beginning at 4:00 PM Central.

Unable to catch the streaming broadcast?  The show is archived for your convenience.

Gloria sei, wieder! Glory be, again!

Gloria sei dir gesungen

Glory to Thee be sung

Mit Menschen- und mit Engelzungen,

With singing folk and singing angels,

Mit Harfen und mit Zimbeln schön.

With harp and beautiful cymbals.

Von zwölf Perlen sind die Tore

Of twelve pearls are the doors

An deiner Stadt, wir stehn im Chore

In Thy city, we stand with the choir

Der Engel hoch um deinen Thron.

of angels high on the throne.

Kein Aug hat je gespürt,

No eye has yet seen,

Kein Ohr hat mehr gehört

No ear has ever heard

Solche Freude!

Such joy!

Des jauchzen wir und singen dir

So we rejoice and sing to Thee

Das Halleluja für und für!

That Alleluja forever and ever!

Gloria sei! Glory Be!

Now let all the heavens adore Thee,

Let saints and angels sing before Thee,

With harp and cymbal’s clearest tone;

Of one pearl each shining portal,

Where, joining with the choir immortal,

We gather round Thy radient throne;

No eye has seen the light,
No ear has heard the might

Of Thy glory;

Therefore will we
Eternally
Sing hymns of praise and joy to Thee!

Zion hört! Zion hears!

Zion hears the watchmen singing,

And all her heart with joy is springing;

She wakes, she rises from her gloom;

For her Lord comes down all glorious,

The strong in grace, in truth victorious.

Her Star is risen, her Light is come.

Now come, Thou Blessèd One,
Lord Jesus, God's own Son:

Hail! hosanna!
We enter all
The wedding hall

To eat the Supper at Thy call.