BWV 11 Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen
(Himmelfahrts-Oratorium) Ascension.
Poet unknown (Picander? See Dürr, p. 289). 2. Lk. 24:50-51; 5. based on Acts 1:9 and Mk. 16:19; 6. Johann Rist, verse 4 of "Du Lebensfürst, Herr Jesu Christ," 1641 (Fischer-Tümpel, II, #188); 7. Acts 1:10-11; 9. based on Lk. 24:52a, Acts 1:12, and Lk. 24:52b; 11. Gottfried Wilhelm Sacer, verse 7 of "Gott fähret auf gen Himmel," 1697 (Fischer-Tümpel, IV, #599). 19 May 1735, Leipzig; Parody: 1 ← III, BWV Anhang 18/1; 4, 10 ← I/3, 5; 4: cf. Mass in B Minor, BWV 232/24 (IV,4). BG 2; NBA II/7. Ascension Oratorio 1. Chorus (S, A, T, B) Laud to God in all his kingdoms,
When ye with assembled choirs Make a song to praise his name! 2. Recit. (T) Evangelist The Lord Jesus then lifted up his hands in blessing on his disciples, and thereupon, as he was blessing them, he parted from them. 3. Recit. (B) Ah, Jesus, is thy parting now so near? 4. Aria (A) Ah, stay with me, my dearest life thou,
Bring me the most egregious suff'ring, Ah yes, then stay yet here awhile; Else shall I be with pain surrounded. 5. Recit. (T) Evangelist And was lifted up manifestly and went up toward heaven, and a cloud did bear him off before their eyes, and he siteth at the right hand of God. 6. Chorale (S, A, T, B) Now lieth all beneath thy feet, 7. Recit. (T, B) Evangelist and Two Men in White Robes (Evangelist) And as they looked at him going up to heaven, lo, there standing beside them were two men in shining raiment, and they were saying: (Both Evangelist and the Two Men) Ye men of Galilee, why do ye stand and gaze up to heaven? For this Jesus, who hath from you been lifted up unto heaven, shall come again as ye have seen him going up to heaven. 8. Recit. (A) Ah yes! so come thou soon again: 9. Recit. (T) Evangelist And thereupon they prayed to him, turned around toward Jerusalem from that mountain which is called Mount of Olives, that which is not far from Jerusalem and lies only one Sabbath's day(1) away, and they went up again into Jerusalem filled with great gladness. 10. Aria (S) Jesus, thy dear mercy's glances
That I here within these days For that future majesty Even now my soul may nurture, When we'll there before thee stand. 11. Chorale (S, A, T, B) When shall it ever happen, 1. I.e. "one Sabbath's journey away." © Copyright Z. Philip Ambrose |