Johann Sebastian Bach
| BWV | 20 |
| Title | Eternity, thou thundrous word |
| Composed | 11th June 1724, Leipzig |
| Scoring | Choir
for 4 voices |
| Movements | 1. Choir:
Eternity, thou thundrous word 2. Recitative (Tenor): No sorrow can in all the world be cited 3. Aria (Tenor): Endless time, thou mak'st me anxious 4. Recitative (Bass): Suppose the torture of the damned should last 5. Aria (Bass): The Lord is just in all his dealings 6. Aria (Alto): O man, deliver this thy spirit 7. Chorale: So long a God in heaven dwells 8. Aria (Bass): Wake up, wake up, ye straying sheep now 9. Recitative (Alto): Forsake, O man, the pleasure of this world 10. Duetto (Alto, Tenor): O child of man 11. Chorale: Eternity, thou thundrous word |
| Category | Spiritual Cantata |
| Event | First Sunday after Trinity |
| Author of text | Johann Rist 1642 |
| Text 1. Choir: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass Pulling trumpet Oboe I + II + III Violin I + II Viola Basso continuo |
Part
1 Eternity, thou thundrous word, O sword that through the soul doth bore, Beginning with no ending! Eternity, time lacking time, I know now faced with deepest grief Not where to seek my refuge. So much my frightened heart doth quake That to my gums my tongue is stuck. |
| 2. Recitative: Tenor solo Basso continuo |
No sorrow can in all the world be cited Which lasts eternally. It must indeed at last in course of time one day end. Ah! Ah, alas! Eternity hath pain which hath no end; It carries on and on its torment's game; Yea, as e'en Jesus saith, From it there is redemption none. |
| 3. Aria: Tenor solo Violin I + II Viola Basso continuo |
Endless time, thou mak'st me anxious, Endless, endless passeth measure! Ah, for sure, this is no sport. Flames which are forever burning Are all fires past comparing; It alarms and shakes my heart When I once this pain consider And my thoughts to hell have guided. |
| 4. Recitative: Bass solo Basso continuo |
Suppose the torture of the damned should last As many years as is the sum Of grass on earth and stars above in heaven; Suppose that all their pain were just as long to last As men within the world Have from the first existed; There would have been at last To this an end and limit set: It would have been at last concluded. But now, though, when thou hast the dread, Damned creature, of a thousand million years With all the demons borne and suffered, Yet never shall the end be present; The time which none could ever count Each moment starts again, To this thy soul's eternal grief and woe, Forevermore anew. |
| 5. Aria: Bass solo Oboe I + II + III Basso continuo |
The Lord is just in all his dealings: The brief transgressions of this world He hath such lasting pain ordained. Ah, would that now the world would mark it! Short is the time and death so quick, Consider this, O child of man! |
| 6. Aria: Alto solo Violin I + II Viola Basso continuo |
O man, deliver this thy spirit, Take flight from Satan's slavery And make thyself of sin now free, So that within that pit of sulfphur The death which doth damned creatures plague Shall not thy soul forever hound. O man, deliver this thy spirit! |
| 7. Chorale: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass Pulling trumpet Oboe I + II + III Violin I + II Viola Basso continuo |
So long a God in heaven dwells And over all the clouds doth swell, Such torments shall not be finished: They will be plagued by heat and cold, Fear, hunger, terror, lightning's bolt And still be not diminished. For only then shall end this pain When God no more eternal reign. |
8. Aria: Bass solo Pulling trumpet Oboe I + II + III Violin I + II Viola Basso continuo |
Part 2 Wake up, wake up, ye straying sheep now, Arouse yourselves from error's slumber And better this your life straightway! Wake up before the trumpet sounds, Which you with terror from the grave Before the judge of all the world to judgment calls! |
| 9. Recitative: Alto solo Basso continuo |
Forsake, O man, the pleasure of this world, Pride, splendor, riches, rank and gold; Consider though Within thy present time, While thee the tree of life hath vigor, What lendeth to thy peace most service! Perhaps this is the final day, No man knows when his death may come. How quick, how soon Are many dead and cold! One could this very night To thine own door the coffin carry. Hence keep before all matters Thy soul's salvation in thy thoughts. |
| 10. Duetto: Alto solo, Tenor solo Basso continuo |
O child of man, Now cease forthwith Both sin and world to cherish, So that the pain Where chatt'ring teeth and howling reign Thee not forever sadden! See in thyself the wealthy man Who in his pain Not even once A drop of water could receive! (1.) |
| 11. Chorale: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass Pulling trumpet Oboe I + II + III Violin I + II Viola Basso continuo |
Eternity, thou thundrous word, |
| Epistle | 1 John 4: 16-21 |
| Gospel | Luke 16: 19-31 |
| Bibletext | 1. Luke 16:19-31 |
| YouTube | Video 1; Nikolaus Harnoncourt, 1. Choir; 2. Recitative; 3. Aria; 4. Recitative Video 2; Nikolaus Harnoncourt, 5. Aria; 6. Aria; 7. Chorale Video 3; Nikolaus Harnoncourt, 8. Aria, 9. Recitative; 10. Duetto; 11. Chorale |
| Manuscript | Austrian National library, Vienna; Paul Sacher Foundation, Basel; Thomasschool, Leipzig |