BWV 198 Laß, Fürstin, laß noch einen Strahl
Trauerode
Funeral of Queen Christiane Eberhardine of Saxony, wife of the Elector Augustus II. Johann Christoph Gottsched; PT (Leipzig, 1727); Facs: Neumann T, p. 396; Reprint (Leipzig, 1728); also in Sicul, Das Thränende Leipzig, (Leipzig, 1727); Annales Lipsienses, Sectio XXXI (1730); Oden der Deutschen Gesellschafft (new ed. 1728); Facs: Neumann T, p. 366. 17 October 1727, Leipzig; Parody: 1, 3, 5, 8, 10 → St. Mark Passion, BWV 247/1, 49, 27, 59, 131; 1, 10 → BWV 244a/1, 7. BG 13, 3: NBA I/38. First Part 1. Chorus (S, A, T, B) Let, Princess, let still one more beam 2. Recit. (S) Thy Saxons, like thy saddened Meissen,(1) 3. Aria (S) Be mute, be mute, ye lovely lyres!
At their dear cherished mother's death, O painful word!, give meet expression. 4. Recit. (A) The tolling of the trembling bells 5. Aria (A) How died our heroine content!
For her the arm of death did vanquish Before it did her breast subdue. 6. Recit. (T) Her living let the art of dyingWith ever steadfast skill be seen; It would have been impossible Before her death that she grow pallid. Ah, blesséd he whose noble soul Doth raise itself above our nature, At crypt and coffin doth not tremble, When him his maker calls to part. 7. Chorus (S,A,T,B) In thee, thou model of great women, In thee, illustrious royal queen, In thee, thou keeper of the faith, The form of kindness was to witness. 8. Aria (T) Eternity’s sapphiric house,O Princess, these thy cheerful glances From our own low estate are taking And blot out earth’s corrupted form. A brilliant light a hundred suns make, Which doth our day to mid of night And doth our sun to darkness turn, Hath thy transfigured head surrounded. 9. Recit.—Arioso —Recit. (B) What wonder this? This thou hast earned, Thou model of all queens forever! For thou wast meant to win the glory Which hath transfigured now thy head. Before the lamb’s own throne thou wearest Instead of purple’s vanity A pearl-white robe of purity And scornest now the crown forsaken. As far the brimming Vistula, The Dniester and the Warth are flowing, As far the Elb’ and Muld’ are streaming, They praise thee / both the / town and land. Thy Torgau(3) walketh now in mourning, Thy Pretzsch(4) is weary, pale and weak; For with the loss it hath in thee, It loseth all it vision's rapture. 10. Chorus ultimus (S, A, T, B) No, royal queen! Thou shalt not die; 1. The southernmost of three towns on the Elbe with its tributary Mulde. 2. Pronounce with the accent on the second syllable, as in German. 3. A town of Saxony on the Elbe. 4. Another town on the Elbe, down river from
Torgau, halfway to Wittenberg. © Copyright Z. Philip Ambrose |