Johann Sebastian Bach

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BWV 31
Title The heavens laugh! The earth doth ring with glory
Composed 21st April 1715, Weimar
Scoring

Choir for 4 voices
Soprano solo
Tenor solo
Bass solo

Trumpet
I + II + III
Bassoon
Oboe I + II
Taille
Violine I + II
Viola
Basso continuo

Movements Sonata
Choir: The heavens laugh! The earth doth ring with glory
Recitative (Basso): O welcome day! O soul, again be glad!
Aria (Bass): Prince of being, mighty warrior
Recitative (Tenor): So therefore now, O soul to God devoted
Aria (Tenor): Adam must in us now perish
Recitativ (Soprano): For since the head his limbs
Aria (Soprano): Final hour, break now forth
Chorale: So forth I'll go to Jesus Christ
Category Spiritual Cantata
Event Easter Sunday
Author of text Salomo Franck 1715
Text
Sonata:
Trumpet I + II + III
Bassdrum
Oboe I + II
Taille
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo


Choir:
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Trumpet I + II + III
Bassdrum
Oboe I + II
Taille
Bassoon
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo


Recitative:
Bass solo
Violoncello
Basso continuo










Arie:
Bass solo
Violoncello
Basso continuo






Recitative:
Tenor solo
Violoncello
Basso continuo












Aria:
Tenor solo
Violin I + II
Viola I + II
Violoncello
Basso continuo



Recitative:
Soprano solo
Violoncello
Basso continuo





Aria:
Soprano solo
Oboe I
Violin I + II
Viola I + II
Violoncello
Basso continuo



Chorale:
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
TrumpetI + II + III
Bassdrum
Oboe I + II
Taille
Bassoon
Violine I + II
Viola
Basso continuo










The heavens laugh! The earth doth ring with glory,
And all she bears within her lap;
Our Maker lives! The Highest stands triumphant
And is from bonds of death now free.
He who the grave for rest hath chosen,
The Holy One, sees not corruption. (1.)




O welcome day! O soul, again be glad!
The A and O, (2.)
The first and also last one,
Whom our own grievous guilt in death's own prison buried,
Is now torn free of all his woe!
The Lord was dead,
And lo, again he liveth;
As lives our head, so live as well his members.
The Lord hath in his hand
Of death and also hell the keys now! (3.)
He who his cloak
Blood-red did splash within his bitter passion, (4.)
Today will put on finery and honor.

Prince of being, mighty warrior,
High-exalted Son of God!

Lifteth thee the cross's ladder
To the highest honor's throne?
Will what thee once held in bondage
Now thy finest jewel be?
Must all these thy wounds of purple
Of thy radiance be the beams?

So therefore now, O soul to God devoted,
With Christ in spirit rise!
Set out upon the new life's course!
Rise, leave the works of dying!
Make thine own Savior in the world
Be in thy life reflected!
The grape vine which now blooms
Puts forth no lifeless berries!
The tree of life now lets its branches flourish!
A Christian flees
Full speed the tomb and dying!
He leaves the stone,
He leaves the shroud of error
Behind him
And would with Christ alive abide.

Adam must in us now perish, (5.)
If the new man shall recover,
Who like God created is.
Thou in spirit must arise now
And from sin's dark cavern exit
If of Christ the limbs thou art.

For since the head his limbs
By nature takes with him,
So can me nought from Jesus sever.
If I with Christ must suffer,
So shall I also in due time
With Christ again be risen
To glorious majesty
And God in this my flesh then witness. (6.)

Final hour, break now forth,
These mine eyes to close in darkness!
Let me Jesus' radiant joy
And his brilliant light behold then,
Let me angels then be like!
Final hour, break now forth!

So forth I'll go to Jesus Christ,
My arm to him extending;
To sleep I'll go and rest so fine,
No man could ever wake me,
For Jesus Christ, of God the Son,
He will the heav'nly door unlock,
To life eternal lead me.

Epistle

1 Corinthians 5: 6-8

Gospel

Mark 16: 1-8

Bibletext 1. Psalms 16:10; 2. Revelation 1:8; 3. Revelation 1:18; 4. Isaiah 13:1-2; 5. Ephesians 4:24; 1 Corinthians 15:42ff; 6. Job 19:26
YouTube Video 1; Video 2; Video 3
Manuscript Estate C.Ph.E. Bach; Singing Academy, Berlin

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