BWV 248III Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das
Lallen (Weihnachts-Oratorium III)
Third Day of Christmas (St. John, Apostle and Evangelist). Poet unknown (Picander?); PT (Leipzig, 1734); Facs: Neumann T, p. 451. 2-3 (25-26). Lk. 2:15; 5 (28). Martin Luther, verse 7 of "Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ," 1524 (Wackernagel, III, #9); 7 (30). Lk. 2:16-19; 10 (33). Paul Gerhardt, verse 15 of "Fröhlich soll mein Herze springen," 1653 (Fischer- Tümpel, III, #405); 11 (34). Lk. 2:20; 12 (25). Christoph Runge, verse 4 of "Laßt Furcht und Pein," 1653 (Fischer-Tümpel, III, #514). 27 December 1734, Leipzig; Parody: 1 (24) ← BWV 214/9; 6 (29) ← BWV 213/11. BG 5, 2; NBA II/6. 1 (24). Chorus (S, A, T, B) Ruler of heaven, give ear to our stammer,Let these our weary refrains bring thee pleasure, As thee thy Zion with psalms doth exalt! Hear thou our hearts, though, exultant with praises, As we to thee here our homage are raising, For our salvation stands strong and secure! 2 (25). Recit. (T) Evangelist And when the angel went away from them to heaven, there spake then the shepherds among themselves: 3 (26). Chorus (S,A,T,B) The Shepherds “Let us now go quickly to Bethlehem and this event now witness which hath here taken place, that which the Lord made known to us.” 4 (27). Recit. (B) He brought his people hope, He hath his Israel redeemed, His help from Zion he hath sent us And all our suff ’ring ended. See, shepherds, this thing hath he done; Go, this thing go and see! 5 (28). Chorale (S,A,T,B) This hath he all for us achieved His great love to manifest; Rejoice thus all Christianity And thank him in eternity. Kyrieleis!(1) 6 (29). Aria (S, B) Lord, thy mercy, thy forgiveness,
Thy most wonderful affection Here make thy paternal faith Once more nigh. 7 (30). Recit. (T) Evangelist And they went forth quickly and found there both Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they, however, had ceased their looking, they spread forth the saying which had been told unto them concerning this child. And all to whom it came wondered at the story which had been reported to them by the shepherds. But Mary kept to herself then all these sayings, and she pondered them within her heart. 8 (31). Aria (A) Keep thou, my heart now, this most blessed wonder
Be a comfort And thy feeble faith support! 9 (32). Recit. (A) Oh yes, my heart shall ever cherishAll it at this most gracious time To its eternal bliss With certain signs of proof doth witness. 10 (33). Chorale (S,A,T,B) I will thee steadfastly cherish, For thy sake My life make, In thee I will perish, With thee will I one day hover Full of joy For alway There when life is over. 11 (34). Recit. (T) Evangelist And the shepherds then turned back again, glorifying and praising God for all the things which they had seen and had heard, just as it had been told to them. 12 (35). Chorale (S,A,T,B) Be glad this while, To make you whole Is here as God and as a man to you born, The one who is The Lord and Christ In David’s city, out of many chosen. 1. This Kyrieleis 'have mercy, Lord'
provides a transition to the first line of the following aria. © Copyright Z. Philip Ambrose |