Chorale Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works
Gott des Himmels und der Erden
Text and Translation of Chorale |
Ref. in hymnals/hymn books: NLGB 1769; OB 143; EG 445; Feiern & Loben 458; Gemeindelieder 461; Jesus unsere Freude! 635; Lebenslieder 310; Singt zu Gottes Ehre 376; Wacht auf! (1974) 7; KGUG (1940) 55
Author: Heinrich Albert (1643), based on Psalm 7:17
Chorale Melody 2: Gott des Himmels und der Erden (Zahn 3614a) | Composer: Heinrich Albert (1642)
Theme: Morning |
Description: |
“Gott des Himmels und der Erden” (God of Earth and Heaven) is a popular Morning Hymn (1643, Ob 143) of organist and pietist hymn writer Heinrich Albert (1604-1651), who composed the associated melody (Zahn 3614). J.S. Bach set the H. Albert melody to the pietist poet Johann Franck (1618-1677) 1655, Nativity Hymn text, “Ihr Gestirn, ihr hohlen Lüfte” (Her stars, her high airs), closing ninth stanza, “Zwar ist solche Herzensstube” (Indeed such a room in my heart) as a plain chorale (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss84pubvUwk) which closes Part 5, The Wise Men and Herod, Matthew 2:13-23) of the Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248) for the Sunday after New Year, January 2, 1735). “Gott des Himmels und der Erden” is found in. the NLGB as No. 1769 with a setting of Johann Crüger, and is listed in the in the Orgelbüchlein as Ob. 143 but not set.
J.S. Bach also set the Johann Franck text to the associated melody (Zahn 3703, http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Texts/Chorale476-Eng3.htm) of Christoph Peter 1655 in the 1736 Schemelli Song Book as BWV 476 (NBA No. 15; Schemelli No. 197), under the rubric “Birth of Jesus Christ.” The two J.S. Bach settings are found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqB0GGtJ9Vg.
H. Albert “published in eight Parts his Arien oder Melodeyen Etlicher theils Geistlicher theils Weltlicher (Konigsberg, 1638-50), says Charles S. Terry. The Hymn “Gott des Himmels,” says Terry, “was first published in Part v. of that collection in 1642. For all but the last two bars (which are closer to the Darmstadt Cantional of 1687) J.S. Bach gives the tune (with modifications necessitated by the rhythm of the words) as it appears in Daniel Vetter’s Leipzig Hymn-Book (1713). J.S. Bach has not used the melody elsewhere” (BWV 248/53, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avddCwcDo7k).
Devotional Hymns: Morning, Evening Songs (William Hoffman, December 14, 2017) |
Vocal Works by J.S. Bach: |
Not used by J.S. Bach in his vocal works. |
German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach) |
English Translation |
1. Gott des Himmels und der Erden,
Vater, Sohn und Heil'ger Geist,
der es Tag und Nacht läßt werden,
Sonn' und Mond uns scheinen heißt,
dessen Starke Hand die Welt
und was drinnen ist, erhält, |
1. God who madest earth and heaven,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Who the day and night hast given,
Sun and moon and starry host,
All things wake at Thy command,
Held in being by Thy hand. |
2. Gott, ich danke dir von Herzen,
daß du mich in dieser Nacht
vor Gefahr, Angst, Not und Schmerzen
hast behütet und bewacht,
daß des bösen Feindes List
mein nicht mächtig worden ist. |
2. God, I thank Thee! In Thy keeping
'Safely have I slumber'd here;
Thou hast guarded me while sleeping
From all danger, pain, and fear;
And the cunning of my foe
Hath not wrought my overthrow. |
3. Laß die Nacht auch meiner Sünden
jetzt mit dieser Nacht vergehn!
o Herr Jesu, laß mich finden
deine Wunden offen stehn,
da alleine Hülf' und Rat
ist für meine Missetat! |
3. Let the night of sin that shrouded
All my life, with this depart;
Shine on me with beams unclouded,
Jesu! In Thy loving heart
Is my help and hope alone,
For the evil I have done, |
4. Hilf, daß ich mit diesem Morgen
geistlich auferstehen mag,
und für meine Seele sorgen,
daß, wenn nun dein großer Tag
uns erscheint und dein Gericht,
ich davor erschrecke nicht. |
4. Help me as the morn is breaking,
In the spirit to arise,
So from careless sloth awaking,
That when o'er the aged skies
Shall the morn of Doom appear,
I may see it free from fear. |
5. Führe mich, o Herr, und leite
meinen Gang nach deinem Wort!
Sei und bleibe du auch heute
mein Beschützer und mein Hort!
Nirgends als von dir allein
kann ich recht bewahret sein. |
5. Lead me, and forsake me never,
Guide my wand'ring by Thy Word;
As Thou hast been, be Thou ever
My defence, my refuge, Lord.
Never safe except with Thee,
Thou my faithful Guardian be! |
6. Meinen Leib und meine Seele,
samt den Sinnen und Verstand,
großer Gott, ich dir befehle
unter deine starke Hand.
Herr, mein Schild, mein Ehr' und Ruhm,
nimm mich auf dein Eigentum. |
6. O my God, I now commend me
Wholly to Thy mighty hand;
All the powers that Thou dost lend me
Let me use at Thy command;
Thou my boast, my strength divine,
Keep me with Thee, I am Thine. |
7. Deinen Engel zu mir sende,
der des bösen Feindes Macht,
List und Anschläg' von mir wende,
und mich halt' in guter Acht,
der auch endlich mich zur Ruh'
trage nach dem Himmel zu. |
7. Thus afresh with each new morning
Save me from the power of sin,
Hourly let me feel Thy warning
Ruling, prompting me within,
Till my final rest be come,
And Thine angel bear me home. |
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Source of German Text: Hymnay.org | Die Christliche Liederdatenbank
English Translation: Catherine Winkworth (1855) | Source of English Translation: Catherine Winkworth: Chorale Book for England (London: Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts and Green, 1865), No. 160, on Hymnary.org | Lutheran Hymnal
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (October 2018 - November 201`8) |