Johann Sebastian Bach

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BWV 140
Title Wake, arise, the voices call us
Composed 25th November 1731, Leipzig
Scoring

Choir for 4 voices
Soprano solo
Tenor solo
Bass solo
Horn
Oboe I + II
Taille
Violin piccolo
Violin I + II
Viola
Bassoon
Organ
Basso continuo

Movements Choir: Wake, arise, the voices call us
Recitative (Tenor): He comes, the bridegroom comes
Aria (Duetto, Soprano, Bass): When com'st thou, my Savior?
Chorale (Tenor): Zion hears the watchmen singing
Recitative (Bass): So come within to me
Aria (Duetto, Soprano, Bass): My friend is mine
Chorale: Gloria to thee be sung now
Category Spiritual Cantata
Event Twentyseventh Sunday after Trinity
Author of text Philipp Nicolai 1599
Text
Choir:
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Horn
Oboe I + II
Taille
Violin piccolo
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo





Recitative:
Tenor solo
Basso continuo











Aria (Duetto):
Soprano solo, Bass solo
Violin piccolo
Basso continuo







Chorale: Tenor solo
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo









Recitative: Bass solo
Violin piccolo
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo








Aria (Duetto):
Soprano solo, Bass solo
Oboe solo
Basso continuo






Chorale: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Horn
Oboe I + II
Taille
Violin piccolo
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo


Wake, arise, the voices call us
Of watchmen from the lofty tower;
Arise, thou town Jerusalem!
Midnight's hour doth give its summons;
They call to us with ringing voices;
Where are ye prudent virgins now?
Make haste, the bridegroom comes;
Rise up and take your lamps!
Alleluia!
Prepare to join
The wedding feast,
Go forth to meet him as he comes!

He comes, he comes,
The bridegroom comes! (1.)
O Zion's daughters, come ye forth, (2.)
His journey hieth from the heavens (3.)
Into your mother's house. (4.)
The bridegroom comes, who to a roebuck
And youthful stag is like, (5.)
Which on the hills doth leap; (6.)
To you the marriage meal he brings.
Rise up, be lively now
The bridegroom here to welcome!
There, look now, thence he comes to meet you.

Soprano (Soul): When com'st thou, my Savior?
Bass (Jesus): I'm coming, thy share.
Soprano:
I'm waiting with my burning oil. (7.)
Soprano, Bass: Now open
the hall
I open
For heaven's rich meal.
Soprano: Come, Jesus!
Bass: Come, O lovely soul!

Zion hears the watchmen singing,
Her heart within for joy is dancing,
She watches and makes haste to rise.
Her friend comes from heaven glorious,
In mercy strong, in truth most mighty,
Her light is bright, her star doth rise.
Now come, thou precious crown,
Lord Jesus, God's own Son!
Hosannah pray!
We follow all
To joy's glad hall
And join therein the evening meal.

So come within to me,
Thou mine elected bride!
I have myself to thee
Eternally betrothed. (8.)
I will upon my heart,
Upon my arm like as a seal engrave thee (9.)
And to thy troubled eye bring pleasure.
Forget, O spirit, now
The fear, the pain
Which thou hast had to suffer;
Upon my left hand shalt thou rest,
And this my right hand shall embrace thee. (10.)

Soprano: My friend is mine,
Basso: And I am thine, (11.)
Soprano, Basso: Let love bring no division.
Soprano, Basso: I will thee
with on heaven's roses pasture, (12.)
Thou shalt me
Where pleasure in fullness, where joy will abound. (13.)


Gloria to thee be sung now
With mortal and angelic voices,
With harps and with the cymbals, too.
Of twelve pearls are made the portals;
Amidst thy city we are consorts
Of angels high around thy throne.
No eye hath yet perceived,
No ear hath e'er yet heard
Such great gladness.
Thus we find joy,
Io, io,
Ever in dulci jubilo!

Epistle

2 Corinthians 5: 1-10; 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11

Gospel Matthew 25: 1-13
Bibletext 1. Matthew 25:6; 2. Song of Salomon 11; 3. Luke 1:78; 4. Song of Salomon 3:4; 8:2; 5. Song of Salomon 2:9 and 17; 8:14; 6. Song of Salomon 2:8; 7. Matthew 25:4; 8. Hosea 2:20; 9. Song of Salomon 8:6; 10. Song of Salomon 2:6; 11. Song of Salomon 2:16; 6:3; 12. Song of Salomon; 6:3; 13. Psalms 16:11
Manuscript Singing Academy, Berlin; Bodleian library, Oxford; Estate Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy; Universitäty library, Warzawa, Thomasschool, Leipzig; Music Sciences Institute, Halle; National library, Paris; Central library, Zurich

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