Johann Sebastian Bach

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BWV 45
Title It hath thee been told, Man, what is good
Composed 11th August 1726, Leipzig
Scoring

Choir for 4 voices
Soprano solo
Alto solo
Tenor solo
Bass solo

Travers fluteI + II
Oboe I
Oboe d`amore II
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo

Movements Choir: It hath thee been told, Man, what is good
Recitative (Tenor): The Highest lets me know his will and purpose
Aria (Tenor): I know God's true justice
Arioso (Bass): There will be many who will say unto me
Aria (Alto): Who God doth own
Recitative (Alto): Thus will the heart and mouth themselves my judges be
Chorale: Grant that I do with care
Category Spiritual Cantata
Event Eighth Sunday after Trinity
Author of text Unknown
Text
Choir:
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Travers flute I + II
Oboe I + II
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo


Recitative: Tenor solo
Basso continuo







Aria:
Tenor solo
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo







Arioso:
Bass solo
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo




Aria:
Alto solo
Travers flute I
Basso continuo



Recitative:
Alt solo
Basso continuo







Chorale: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Travers flute I + II
Oboe I + II
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo


Part 1
It hath thee been told, Man, what is good and what the Lord of thee asketh, namely:
God's word to hold fast and love to practise, to be humble before this thy God.





The Highest lets me know his will and purpose
And what him pleaseth well;
His word he gave to be a guide for life,
By which my foot shall be most careful
At all times to proceed
With fear, with rev'rence and with love now
As tests of the obedience which I practise,
That I his servant true in days to come be proved.

I know God's true justice,
What it is which me can help
When from me as his own servant
He demands strict reckoning.
Spirit, ponder thy salvation,
To obedience comes reward;
Pain and scorn
Threaten thee in thy transgression!

Part 2

There will be many who will say unto me on that day:
Lord, Lord, have we then not in thine own name been prophesying,
have we then not in thine own name been exorcising devils,
have we then not in thine own name performed many labors?
Then unto them all shall I say this: I recognize not one of you,
get ye all hence from me, ye evildoers.

Who God doth own
With honest heart's intent
Will he in turn acknowledge. (1.)
For he shall burn forever
Who merely with the mouth
Doth call him Lord.

Thus will the heart and mouth themselves my judges be,
And God will the reward which I have sought allot me:
Should now my conduct his commandments not fulfill,
Who would thereafter heal my soul's misfortune?
Why do I make mine own impediment?
The Lord's desire must be fulfilled,
But his support is also sure,
That he his work through me might see in full accomplished.

Grant that I do with care
What I to do am given,
To that which thy command
Me in my station leadeth!
Grant that I do it quick,
Just at the time I ought;
And when I do, then grant
That it may prosper well!

Epistle

Romans 8: 12-17

Gospel

Matthew 7: 15-23

Bibletext Micah 6:8; Matthew 7:22-23; 1. Matthew 10:32
Manuscript Singing Academy, Berlin; Estate C.Ph.E. Bach; Universitäty and Town library, Cologne; Singing Academy Grell, Berlin

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