Johann Sebastian Bach
| BWV | 4 |
| Title | Christ lay in Death`s grim prison |
| Composed | 1707 or 1708, Weimar |
| Scoring | Choir
for 4 voices |
| Movements | 1. Sinfonia:
Instrumental 2. Choir: Christ lay in Death`s grim prison 3. Versus 2 (Soprano, Alto): That death no one could subdue 4. Versus 3 (Tenor): Jesus Christ is God's own Son 5. Choir: It was an awesome thing that strife 6. Versus 5 (Bass): Here is the spotless Easter lamb 7. Versus 6 (Soprano, Tenor): So let us keep the great high feast 8. Chorale: We eat now and live indeed |
| Category | Spiritual Cantata |
| Event | 1st Day of Easter |
| Author of text | Martin Luther 1524 |
| Text 1. Sinfonia: Violin I + II Viola Basso continuo |
|
| 2. (Choir)
Versus 1: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass Horn Trumpet I + II + III Violin I + II Viola Basso continuo (Cantus firmus in Soprano) |
Christ lay in Death`s grim prison For all our sin was given; He is once more arisen And hath us brought true life now; For this shall we joyful be, God giving praise and gratitude And singing hallelujah. Hallelujah! |
| 3. Versus
2: Soprano solo, Alto solo Horn Trumpet I Basso continuo |
That death no one could subdue Amongst all mankind's children; This was all caused by our sin, No innocence was found then. From this came, then, death so quick And seized power over us, Held us in his realm as captives. Hallelujah! |
| 4. Versus
3: Tenor solo Violin I + II Basso continuo |
Jesus Christ is God's own Son, To our abode he cometh And hath all sin now set aside, Whereby from death is taken All his rule and all his might; Here bideth nought but death's mere form, His sting hath fully perished. Hallelujah! |
| 5. (Choir)
Versus 4: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass Basso continuo (Cantus firmus in Alto) |
It was an awesome thing that strife, When death and life did wrestle; And life did the vict'ry win, For it hath death devoured. The Scripture foretold it so, How one death the other ate; To scorn has now death been given. Hallelujah! |
| 6. Versus
5: Bass solo Violin I + II Viola Basso continuo |
Here is the spotless Easter lamb, Whereof God hath commanded; It is high on the cross's branch In ardent love now burning; The blood signeth now our door, Our faith doth it to death display, The strangler can now no more harm us. Hallelujah! |
| 7. Versus
6: Soprano solo, Tenor solo Basso continuo |
So let us keep the great high feast With heartfelt joy and pleasure, Which us the Lord makes manifest; He is himself the sunlight, And through his own shining grace He filleth all our hearts with light; The sin-filled night now hath vanished. Hallelujah! |
| 8. (Chorale)
Versus 7: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass Horn Trumpet I + II + III Violin I + II Viola Basso continuo |
We eat now and live indeed |
| Epistle | 1 Corinthians 5: 6-8 |
| Gospel | Mark 16: 1-8 |
| YouTube | Video 1; Ton Koopman, 1. Sinfonia; 2. Versus 1; 3. Versus 2 Video 2; Ton Koopman, 4. Versus 3; 5. Versus 4; 6. Versus 5; 7. Versus 6; 8. Versus 7 |
| Manuscript | Thomasschool Leipzig; Estate Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, University library Warszawa; Country and University library Hamburg |