BWV 249 Kommt, eilet und laufet, ihr
flüchtigen Füßen (Oster-Oratorium)
Easter. Poet unknown (probably Picander). 1 April 1725, Leipzig; revised, ca. 1735; Parody: 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 ← BWV 249a. BG 21, 3; NBA II/7. Mary, daughter of James (S), Mary Magdalene (A), Peter (T), John (B) 1. Sinfonia 2. Adagio 3. Aria (T, B) (1) Come, hasten and hurry,(2) ye fleet-footed
paces,
Attend ye our spirits, For he our Savior is raised up. 4. Recit. (A, S, T, B) (A) 5. Aria (S) Mary, daughter of James My soul, these thy costly spices
Crowned with laurel wreaths resplendent, Thou wilt calm thy anxious longing(3). 6. Recit. (T, B, A) (T)Here is the crypt (B) And here the stone Which kept it tightly closed. But where, then, is my Savior gone? (A) He is from death now risen up! We met, before, an angel here Who brought to us report of this. (T) I see now with great rapture The napkin all unwound here lying. 7. Aria (T) Gentle shall my dying labor,
And the tears of all my pain From my cheeks wipe dry with comfort. 8. Recit. and Arioso (S, A) And meanwhile, we sigh here 9. Aria (A) Tell me, tell me, tell me quickly,
For my heart is, lacking thee, Left an orphan and distressed. 10. Recit. (B) We now rejoiceThat this our Jesus lives again, And these our hearts, Which once in sadness were dissolved and in suspense, Forget their pain And turn to joyful anthems, For this our Savior once more liveth. 11. Chorus (S,A,T,B) Laud and thanks Bide, O Lord, thy song of praise. Hell and devil are now vanquished, And their portals are destroyed. Triumph, O ye ransomed voices, Till ye be in heaven heard. Spread open, ye heavens, your glorious arches, The Lion of Judah with triumph doth enter!
1. In the revised version: Chorus (S, A, T, B). 2. In the earlier version: Kommt, fliehet und eilet "Come, fleeing and running, ..." (so, Dürr, 238), Kommt, gehet und eilet "Come, go ye and hasten, (so Neumann T). 3. In the earlier version Sich mit Lorbeerkränzen schmücken, Schicket sich vor dein Erquicken "Self with laurel wreaths bedecking maketh ready thy refreshment." 4. I.e., in heaven. © Copyright Z. Philip Ambrose |