Johann Sebastian Bach

back

BWV 134
Title A heart which doth its Jesus clearly know
Composed 11th April 1724, Leipzig
Scoring

Choir for 4 voices
Alto solo
Tenor solo
Oboe I + II
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo

Movements

Recitative (Alto, Tenor): A heart which doth its Jesus clearly know
Aria (Tenor): Rise, ye of faith
Recitative (Tenor): Well thee, God hath remembered thee
Aria (Alto, Tenor): We thank thee and praise thee for thy warm affection
Recitative (Tenor): But rouse, thyself, the thanks within our voices
Choir: O echo, ye heavens
Category Spiritual Cantata
Event Third Day of Easter
Author of text Unknown
Text
Recitative:
Alto solo, Tenor solo
Basso continuo



Aria:
Tenor solo
Oboe I + II
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo


Recitative:
Alto solo, Tenor solo
Basso continuo






















Arie: Alto solo, Tenor solo
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo


Recitative: Alto solo, Tenor solo
Basso continuo




















Choir: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Oboe I + II
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo


Tenor:
A heart which doth its Jesus clearly know
Perceiveth Jesus' new compassion
And fashions nought but for his Savior praise.
Alto:
How happy is a faithful heart and spirit!

Rise, ye of faith, sing ye the songs of rejoicing,
Upon you now glorious a new light doth shine.
The living Redeemer bestows times of blessing;
Rise, spirits, ye must now a sacrifice offer
And pay to the Highest your duty with thanks.


Tenor:
Well thee, God hath remembered thee,
O thou, God's hallowed property;
The Savior lives and wins with might,
To bring thee health, to his own praise
Here now must Satan fear and tremble
And even hell itself be shaken.
The Savior dieth for thy sake
And for thy sake to hell doth journey;
He even poureth out his precious blood,
That thou within his blood prevail,
For this is what the foe shall vanquish,
And whene'er strife about thy soul doth press,
That thou e'en then not be o'ercome and fall.
Alto: The pow'r of love, this shall my standard be
For bravery, for strength amidst the battle:
To gain for me the crown of triumph
Didst thou the crown of thorns accept,
My Lord, my God, my Savior now aris'n,
And now no foe on me may work his harm.
Tenor: The foes, indeed, are past all counting.
Alto: God guards the souls to him e'er faithful.
Tenor: The final foe is tomb, and death. (1.)
Alto: God maketh it the end of all our woe.

We thank thee and praise thee for thy warm affection
And bring now an off'ring from our lips to thee.
The victor awakens the songs of rejoicing,
The Savior appeareth and comforts us further (2.)
And strengthens the church, now divided, himself.

Tenor: But rouse, thyself, the thanks within our voices,
When they too much to earth are bound;
Yea, bring to pass that ev'ry moment
Thee and thy work no mortal heart forget;
Yea, let in thee refreshment of our breasts
And joy and comfort of all hearts
Which trust in thy protecting mercy
Both perfect and unending be.
And may thy hand now us embrace,
That we the end may clearly witness
Which us thy death and triumph win,
And that we after thine own resurrection
Not die, although we die in time,
And we thereby to thy great majesty now enter.
Alto: All in our pow'r exalts thee, mighty God,
And lauds thee for thy grace and faith;
Thy resurrection hath these now renewed,
Thy mighty triumph us from foe doth free
And into life doth bring us;
To thee, thus, praise and thanks be given.


O echo, ye heavens, O earth, be thou gladdened,
Sing praise to the Highest, thou throng of great faith!
Now seeth and tasteth each spirit among us
The infinite kindness of our living Savior;
With comfort he comes as a victor to us.

Epistle

Acts 13: 26-33

Gospel

Luke 24: 36-47

Bibletext 1. 1 Corinthians 15:26; 2. Luke 24:36
Manuscript Estate C. Ph. E. Bach Singing Academy Berlin

Top of page