Johann Sebastian Bach

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BWV 151
Title Comfort sweet, my Jesus comes
Composed 27th December 1725, Leipzig
Scoring

Choir for 4 voices
Soprano solo
Alto solo
Tenor solo
Bass solo
Travers flute
Oboe d`amore
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo

Movements Aria (Soprano):Comfort sweet, my Jesus comes
Recitative (Bass): Rejoice then, O my heart
Aria (Alto): In Jesus' meekness can I strength
Recitative (Tenor): Thou precious Son of God
Chorale: Today he opens new the door
Category Spiritual Cantata
Event 3rd Christmasday
Author of text Georg Christian Lehms 1711
Text
Aria:
Soprano solo
Travers flute
Oboe d`amore
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo


Recitative: Bass solo
Basso continuo












Aria: Alto solo
Oboe d`amore
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo



Recitative: Tenor solo
Basso continuo








Chorale: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Travers flute
Oboe d`amore
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo


Comfort sweet, my Jesus comes,
Jesus now is born amongst us!

Heart and soul with joy are filled,
For my dearest God hath me
Now for heaven's prize elected.


Rejoice then, O my heart,
For now shall yield the pain
Which hath so long a time oppressed thee.
God hath his precious Son,
Whom he so high and dear doth hold,
Into this world committed.
He leaves the heav'nly throne
And would now all the world
From its own chains of slav'ry
And its own servitude deliver.
O deed most wonderful!
God is made man and on earth desires
E'en lowlier than we to live and much more humbly.

In Jesus' meekness can I strength,
Within his poverty find riches.

To me doth this his poor estate
Nought but pure health and wealth reveal,
Yea, his own wonder-working hand
Shall nought but wreathes of blessing make me.

Thou precious Son of God,
Thou hast for me now heaven opened wide
And through thy humble life
The light of blessedness o'er us now brought.
Since thou now, thou alone,
The Father's keep and throne,
Because thou didst love us, relinquished,
We would in turn as well
For this within our hearts now hold thee.

Today he opens new the door
To that fair paradise;
The cherub stands no more in front,
God be laud, grace and praise.

Epistle

Hebrews 1: 1-14; Ecclesiastes 15: 1-8

Gosple John 1: 1-14
Manuscript University library Warzawa; National Research and Memorial place; Leipzig

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