BWV 248IV Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben (Weihnachts-Oratorium IV)

New Year's Day (Feast of the Circumcision).

Poet unknown (Picander?); PT (Leipzig, 1734); Facs: Neumann T, p. 452.

2 (37). Lk. 2:21; 3 and 5 (38 and 40). Johann Rist, the second half of verse 1 of "Jesu, du mein liebstes Leben," 1642 (Fischer-Tümpel, II, #206); 7 (42). Johann Rist, verse 15 of "Hilf, Herr Jesu, laß gelingen," 1642 (Fischer-Tümpel, II, #194).

1 January 1735, Leipzig; Parody: 1, 4, 6 ← BWV 213/1, 5, 7.

BG 5, 2; NBA II/6.

1 (36). Chorus (S, A, T, B)

Fall and thank him, fall and praise him
At the Highest's grace and throne!

    God's own Son
    Will of earth the
    Savior and Redeemer made be,
    God's own Son
    Stems our foe's great wrath and fury.

2 (37). Recit. (T) Evangelist

And when eight days were accomplished that the child be circumcised, his name was then called Jesus, which was so named by the angel, before he was conceived within his mother’s womb.

3 (38). Recit. (B) and Chorale (S)

Immanuel, O sweetest word!
My Jesus is my shield,
My Jesus is my being.
My Jesus is to me devoted,
My Jesus shall I ever hold
Before my eyes suspended.
My Jesus is my joyful rest,
My Jesus soothes my heart and breast.

    Jesus, thou, my life Belovéd,
    Of my soul the bridegroom true,
Come! I would now with joy embrace thee,
My heart shall nevermore release thee,
    Who thyself hath given for me
    To the bitter cross's tree!
Ah! Take me to thyself!
E’en in my dying shalt thou my
Most cherished treasure be;
In need, in dread and sore distress
I’ll look and yearn for thee.
What cruelty at last can death then hound me with?
My Jesus! When I die here,
I know that I shall never perish.
Thy name is written deep within me,
It hath the fear of death now banished.

4 (39). Aria (S)

Doth, my Savior, doth thy name have
E’en the very smallest kernel
Of that awful terror now?
No, thyself thou sayest “No.” (No!)
Ought I now of death be wary?
No, the gentle word is here!
Rather, ought I greet it gladly?
Yes, O Savior, thou say’st “Yes.” (Yes!)

5 (40). Recit. (B) and Chorale (S)

O joy, thy name shall now alone
Within my bosom dwell!

    Jesus, my true joy and pleasure,
    My true treasure, share and hope,
Thus will I call thy name with rapture
When breast and heart for thee with love are burning.
    My salvation, crown and health,
But, dearest, tell me now:
How thee to praise, how thee to thank.
    King and shepherd, sun and radiance,
    Ah, how shall I worthily,
    My Lord Jesus, give thee praise?

6 (41). Aria (T)

My life is just to give thee honor,
My Savior, give me strength of will,
That this my heart with zeal may do.

    Strengthen me
    Thy mercy worthily
    And with gratitude to honor!

7 (42). Chorale (S, A, T, B)

Jesus order my beginning,
Jesus biding with me e'er,
Jesus bridle all my meaning, 
Jesus be my sole desire,
Jesus be in all my thinking,
Jesus, let me ne'er be shrinking.

© Copyright  Z. Philip Ambrose


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