Johann Sebastian Bach
| BWV | 7 |
| Title | Christ did our Lord to Jordan come |
| Composed | 24th June 1724, Leipzig |
| Scoring | Choir
for 4 voices |
| Movements | 1. Choir:
Christ did our Lord to Jordan come 2. Aria (Bass): Mark and hear, O mankind's children 3. Recitative (Tenor): This hath God shown 4. Aria (Tenor): The Father's voice itself resounded 5. Recitative (Bass): When Jesus there endured his passion 6. Aria (Alto): Mankind, trust now in this mercy 7. Chorale: The eye alone the water sees |
| Category | Spiritual Cantata |
| Event | St. John the Baptist |
| Author of text | Martin Luther 1524 |
| Text 1. Choir: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass Oboe d`amore I + II Violin concertante I + II Violin I + II Viola Basso continuo |
Christ did our Lord to Jordan come, His Father's will fulfilling, And from Saint John baptism took, His work and charge to accomplish; Here would he found for us a bath To wash us clean from error, To drown as well our bitter death In his own blood and anguish; A life restored it gave us. |
| 2. Aria: Bass solo Basso continuo |
Mark and hear, O mankind's children, What God did baptism call. True, there must be water here, But mere water not alone. God's word and Holy Ghost Bathes and purifies the sinners. |
| 3. Recitative: Tenor solo Basso continuo |
This hath God shown In words and in examples clear to all; At Jordan's bank the Father plainly let His voice resound while Christ was being baptized; He said: This is my own dear Son, In whom I have now found great pleasure;(1.) He is from heaven's lofty throne To help the world In meek and humble form descended And hath the flesh and blood Of mankind's children to him taken; Him take ye now as your Redeemer true And listen to his precious teaching! |
| 4. Aria: Tenor solo Violin concertante I + II Basso continuo |
The Father's voice itself resounded, The Son, who us with blood did buy, Was as a very man baptized. The Spirit came, a dove appearing, So that our faith would never doubt that It was the Holy Trinity Which gave baptism unto us. |
| 5. Recitative: Bass solo Violin I + II Viola Basso continuo |
When Jesus there endured his passion And had been raised again, And from this world would to his Father go, Spake he to his disciples: Go forth to all the world and preach to all the gentiles, He who believes and is baptized on earth now Shall then be justified and blessed.(2.) |
| 6. Aria: Alto solo Oboe d`amore I + II Violin I + II Viola Basso continuo |
Mankind, trust now in this mercy, That ye not in error die, Nor in hell's foul pit decay! Human works and sanctity Never count before God's throne. Sins are ours innately given, We are lost by our own nature; Faith and baptism make them clean That they not perdition bring. |
| 7. Chorale: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass Oboe d`amore I + II Violin I + II Viola Basso continuo |
The eye alone the water sees, |
| Epistle | Isaiah 40: 1-5 |
| Gospel | Luke 1: 57-80 |
| Bibletext | 1. Matthew 3:17, Mark 1:11, and Luke. 3:22; 2. Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:6 |
| YouTube | Video 1; Gustav Leonhardt, 1. Choir Video 2; Gustav Leonhardt, 2. Aria; 3. Recitative Video 3; Gustav Leonhardt, 4. Aria; 5. Recitative Video 4; Gustav Leonhardt, 6. Aria; 7. Chorale |
| Manuscript | Thomasschool, Leipzig; Bodleian library, Oxford; Johann Sebastian Bach Institute, Göttingen; Hessische Country and Highschool library, Darmstadt; University library, Warszawa |