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Chorales BWV 250-438: Details and Recordings
Individual Recordings: Hilliard - Morimur | Chorales - N. Matt | Chorales - H. Rilling | Preludi ai Corali - Quartetto Italiani di Viola Da Gamba
Discussions: Motets & Chorales for Events in the LCY / Chorales by Theme | General Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Chorales in Bach Cantatas: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Passion Chorale
References: Chorales BWV 250-300 | Chorales BWV 301-350 | Chorales BWV 351-400 | Chorales BWV 401-438 | 371 4-Part Chorales sorted by Breitkopf Number | Texts & Translations of Chorales BWV 250-438
Chorale Texts: Sorted by Title | Chorale Melodies: Sorted by Title | Explanation
MIDI files of the Chorales: Cantatas BWV 1-197 | Other Vocal Works BWV 225-248 | Chorales BWV 250-438
Articles: The Origin of the Texts of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Origin of the Melodies of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Chorale in the Church Service [A. Schweitzer] | Choral / Chorale [C.S. Terry] | Hidden Chorale Melody Allusions [T. Braatz] | The History of the Breitkopf Collection of J. S. Bach’s Four-Part Chorales [T. Braatz] | The World of the Bach Chorale Settings [W.L. Hoffman]
Hymnals: Hymnals used by Bach | Wagner Hymnal 1697 | Evangelisches Gesangbuch 1995 | Dietel Chorale List c1734
Abbreviations used for the Chorales | Links to other Sites about the Chorales


Chorale Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works
Wo Gott zum Haus nicht gibt sein Gunst
Text and Translation of Chorale

Ref. in hymnals/hymn books: NLGB 268; ELK 193; ELKG 379
Author: Johann Kolrose (1525), after Psalm 127
Chorale Melody: Wo Gott zum Haus gibt nicht sein Gunst (Zahn 305) | Composer: Anon (1525)
Theme: Christian Life and Conduct

Description:

The hymn "Wo Gott zum Haus nicht gibt sein Gunst" is a versified paraphrase of of Psalm 127 by Johann Kolrose, written in 1525; 1st published in Geistliche Lieder, Wittenberg 1529. A five-stanza English translation of “Wohl dem, der in Gottes Furcht steht” (http://www.lutheranchoralebook.com/texts/happy-the-man-who-feareth-god/) is set to the melody “Wo Gott zum Haus gibt nicht sein Gunst” (If God will not the building bless), a Johann Kolrose paraphrase of Psalm 127, Nisi Dominus http://matthaeusglyptes.blogspot.com/2015/08/wo-gott-zum-haus-nicht-gibt-sein-gunst.html. This became a popular wedding hymn. It is found in the NLGB 268, Zahn 305, which J.S. Bach set as plain chorales, BWV 438 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhisdvHI-Eo), and BWV 1123 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUOcx76hJvI).
Source: Chorales: Psalms, Christian Life, Troubles, Thanks, Weddings (William Hoffman, July 28, 2017)

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Chorale Wo Gott zum Haus nicht gibt sein Gunst, BWV 438
Ref: RE 157; Br 157; KE 389; Birnstiel 161; AmB 46II p.87 & p.121; Penzel 151; BGA 185; BC F213.1; CST 405

Chorale Wo Gott zum Haus gibt nicht sein Gunst, BWV 1123
Ref: Dietel 50; AmB 46II p.263; BWV Deest; BC F213.2

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1. Wo Gott zum Haus nicht gibt sein Gunst,
So arbeit' jedermann umsonst;
Wo Gott die Stadt nicht selbst bewacht,
So ist umsonst der Wächter Macht.

I. Is God withdrawing? all the Cost
And Pains that built the House are lost.
If God the City doth not keep,
The watchful Guards as well may sleep.

2. Vergebens, dass ihr früh aufsteht,
Dazu mit Hunger schlafen geht
Und esst eur Brot mit Ungemach;
Denn wems Gott gönnt, gibt ers im Schlaf.

2. What if you rise before the Sun,
And work and toil when Day is done,
Careful and sparing eat your Bread,
To shun that Poverty you dread.

3. Nun sind sein Erben unsre Kind',
Die uns von ihm gegeben sind;
Gleichwie die Pfeil ins Starken Hand,
So ist die Jugend Gott bekannt.

3. 'Tis all in vain, till God has blest:
He can make Rich, yet give us Rest;
Children and Friends are Blessings too,
If God our Sov'reign makes them so.

4. Es soll und muss dem gschehen wohl,
Der dieser hat sein' Köcher voll;
Sie werden nicht zu Schand noch Spott,
Vor ihrem Feind bewahrt sie Gott.

4. Happy the Man to whom he sends
Obedient Children, faithful Friends.
How sweet our daily Comforts prove
When they are season'd with his Love!

5. Ehr sei Gott Vater und dem Sohn
Samt Heilgem Geist in einem Thron,
Welchs ihm auch also sei bereit'
Von nun an bis in Ewigkeit.

5. To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
The God, whom Heav'n's triumphant Host,
And suff'ring Saints on Earth adore,
Be Glory now and evermore.

   

Source of German Text: Bach Digital | Hymnary.org | Christliche Gedichte & Lieder | Hymnoglypt
English Translation: Johann Christian Jacobi | Source of English Transalation: Psalmodia Germanica: or, The German Psalmody: translated from the high Dutch together with their proper tunes and thorough bass (1st edition, London, 1722; 2nd edition, corrected and enlarged, London, 1756), No. 60, on Hymnary.org
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (October 2018)


Chorales BWV 250-438: Details and Recordings
Individual Recordings: Hilliard - Morimur | Chorales - N. Matt | Chorales - H. Rilling | Preludi ai Corali - Quartetto Italiani di Viola Da Gamba
Discussions: Motets & Chorales for Events in the LCY / Chorales by Theme | General Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Chorales in Bach Cantatas: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Passion Chorale
References: Chorales BWV 250-300 | Chorales BWV 301-350 | Chorales BWV 351-400 | Chorales BWV 401-438 | 371 4-Part Chorales sorted by Breitkopf Number | Texts & Translations of Chorales BWV 250-438
Chorale Texts: Sorted by Title | Chorale Melodies: Sorted by Title | Explanation
MIDI files of the Chorales: Cantatas BWV 1-197 | Other Vocal Works BWV 225-248 | Chorales BWV 250-438
Articles: The Origin of the Texts of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Origin of the Melodies of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Chorale in the Church Service [A. Schweitzer] | Choral / Chorale [C.S. Terry] | Hidden Chorale Melody Allusions [T. Braatz] | The History of the Breitkopf Collection of J. S. Bach’s Four-Part Chorales [T. Braatz] | The World of the Bach Chorale Settings [W.L. Hoffman]
Hymnals: Hymnals used by Bach | Wagner Hymnal 1697 | Evangelisches Gesangbuch 1995 | Dietel Chorale List c1734
Abbreviations used for the Chorales | Links to other Sites about the Chorales




 

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Last update: Monday, November 05, 2018 13:25