Inauguration of the New Town Council.

Poet unknown.

25 August ?1727, Leipzig; Parody: 1, 3, 5 ← BWV 193a/ 1, 7, 9.

BG 41; NBA I/32.

1. Aria (S, A, T, B)

Ye gateways /portals/ to Zion, ye dwellings of Jacob, be ye glad!(1)

God is of our hearts' the pleasure,
We're the people of his pasture,
Ever is his kingdom's realm.

2. Recit. (S)

The guard of Israel doth sleep and slumber not;(2)
For till now is his countenance
The shadow over our right hand;(3)
And therefore all the land
Hath given forth its harvest with abundance.
Who can, O Lord, enough for this exalt thee?

3. Aria (S)

God, we thank thee for thy kindness,
For thy fatherly devotion
Shall endure for evermore.

Thou forgivest trespasses,
Thou attendest what we pray for,
Thus shall come all flesh to thee.(4)

4. Recit. (A)

O Leipzig, New Jerusalem, content be thou on this thy feast day!
For peace is still within thy towers,
Secure stand yet the benches of judgment,(5)
And in the palaces hath justice found a dwelling.
Ah, grant that thy great fame and light
Be thus steadfast and last forever!

5. Aria (A)

Send down, Lord, thy blessing here,
Let them increase and find favor
Who for thee now justice steward
And who guard thy humble folk!
Send down, Lord, thy blessing here!(6)

6. Recit. (Lost?)

7. (Repetition of the First Movement)

1. Cf. Ps. 87:2.

2. Ps. 121:4.

3. Ps. 121:5. The 1928 Book of Common Prayer has "defense" instead of "shadow."

4. Ps. 65:3.

5. Cf. Ps.. 9:8.

6. After this follows the notation: Recit tacet/ Chorus ab initio repetatur.

© Copyright  Z. Philip Ambrose

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