Johann Sebastian Bach

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BWV 1
Title How beauteous beams the morning star
Composed 25th March 1725, Leipzig
Scoring

Choir for 4 voices
Soprano solo
Tenor solo
Bass solo
Horn I
Horn II
Oboe da caccia I
Oboe da caccia II
Violin concertante I
Violin concertante II
Violin in ripieno I
Violin in ripieno I
Viola
Basso continuo

Movements 1. Choir: How beauteous beams the morning star
2. Recitative (Tenor): O thou true Son of Mary and of God
3. Aria (Soprano): O fill now, ye flames, both divine and celestial
4. Recitative: No earthly gloss, no fleshly light
5. Aria: Let our voice and strings resounding
6. Chorale: I am, indeed, so truly glad
Category Spiritual Cantata
Event Mariae Annunciation
Author of text Philipp Nicolai 1599
Text

1. Choir:
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Horn I + II
Oboe da caccia I + II

Violin concertante I + II
Violin in ripieno I + II

Viola
Basso continuo
(Cantus firmus in soprano)


How beauteous beams the morning star
With truth and blessing from the Lord,
The darling root of Jesse!
Thou, David's son of Jacob's stem,
My bridegroom and my royal king,
Art of my heart the master,
Lovely,
Kindly,
Bright and glorious, great and righteous, rich in blessings,
High and most richly exalted.
2. Recitative: Tenor solo
Basso continuo

O thou true Son of Mary and of God,
O thou the king of all the chosen,
How sweet to us this word of life,
By which e'en earliest patriarchs
Both years and days did number,
Which Gabriel with gladness there
In Bethlehem did promise!
O sweet delight, O heav'nly bread,
Which neither grave, nor harm, nor death
From these our hearts can sunder.

3. Aria: Soprano solo
Oboe da caccia
Basso continuo
O fill now, ye flames, both divine and celestial,
The breast which to thee doth in faith ever strive!
The souls here perceive now the strongest of feelings
Of love most impassioned
And savor on earth the celestial joy.
4. Recitative: Bass solo
Basso contininuo
No earthly gloss, no fleshly light
Could ever stir my soul;
A sign of joy to me from God has risen,
For now a perfect gift,
The Savior's flesh and blood,
Is for refreshment here.
So must, indeed,
This all-excelling blessing,
To us eternally ordained
And which our faith doth now embrace,
To thanks and praise bestir us.
5. Aria: Tenor solo
Violine concertante I + II
Violine in ripieno I + II
Viola
Basso continuo
Let our voice and strings resounding
Unto thee
Evermore
Thanks and sacrifice make ready.
Heart and spirit are uplifted,
All life long
And with song,
Mighty king, to bring thee honor.

6. Chorale: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Horn I + II
Oboe da caccia I + II
Violin in ripieno I + II
Viola
Basso continuo


I am, indeed, so truly glad
My treasure is the A and O,
Beginning and the ending;
He'll me, indeed, to his great praise
Receive into his paradise,
For this I'll clap my hands now.
Amen!
Amen!
Come, thou lovely crown of gladness, be not long now,
I await thee with great longing.

Epistle

Isaiah 7: 10-16

Gospel

Luke 1: 26-38

YouTube Video 1 Ton Koopman, 1. Chorus; 2. Recitative
Video 2 Ton Koopman, 3. Aria; 4. Recitative
Video 3 Ton Koopman, 5. Aria; 6. Chorale
Manuscript Leipzig Thomasschule 1803; Warszawa University library (Breslau 1846)

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