Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140 (Johann Sebastian Bach)
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All movements
- Contributor: Paolo Pandolfo (submitted 2017-04-30). Score information: A4, 59 pages, 2.93 MB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: A scan of the piano-vocal score by Berhard Todt.
Movement 1: Chorus (SATB) Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (verse 1)
- Editor: Maxim Vladimiroff (submitted 2011-07-20). Score information: Letter, 20 pages, 467 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes: SATB Chorus with Piano Four-Hands Accompaniment
- Editor: Robert McCauley (submitted 2011-05-09). Score information: Letter, 16 pages, 182 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: Files submitted are editorial corrections to original submission of CPDL #505 to correct clipping at top of pages. Page boundaries were changed. There were no musical changes.
- Editor: Kelvin Smith (submitted 2003-05-02). Score information: Letter, 8 pages, 1001 kB Copyright: Public Domain
- Edition notes: First movement of Cantata #140, choral parts only
- Editor: Pier Mario Piturro (submitted 1999-11-11). Score information: Letter, 16 pages, 139 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes:
- Possible error(s) identified. Error summary: PDF contents clipped on some pages See the discussion page for full description.
Movement 2: Recitative (Tenor) Er kommt, er kommt, der Bräut'gam kommt!
Movement 3: Aria Duet (Soprano and Bass) Wann kommst du, mein Heil? / Ich komme, dein Theil
Movement 4: Chorale (Tenors) Zion, hört die Wächter singen (verse 2)
- For a re-arrangement of this movement with a hymn-tune superimposed, see For the beauty of the earth (J. Ashley Hall)
- Editor: Pablo Rosario (submitted 2003-05-23). Score information: A4, 3 pages, 108 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: Transposed into B flat (down a fourth from original)
Movement 5: Recitative (Bass) So geh' herein zu mir, du mir erwählte Braut!
Movement 6: Aria Duet (Soprano and Bass) Mein Freund is mein! / Und ich bin dein!
Movement 7: Chorale (SATB) Gloria sei dir gesungen
- Editor: Gary D. Cannon (submitted 2020-06-03). Score information: Letter, 7 pages, 99 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: Includes verse 7 harmonization as in the cantata, preceded by same harmonization as set to verse 1 text. Identical to CPDL #59021, but with keyboard reduction.
- Editor: Gary D. Cannon (submitted 2020-06-03). Score information: Letter, 5 pages, 78 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: Includes verse 7 harmonization as in the cantata, preceded by same harmonization as set to verse 1 text.
- Editor: Johannes Becker (submitted 2016-12-01). Score information: A4, 1 page, 65 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: Lyrics according to contemporary hymn books. See https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wachet_auf,_ruft_uns_die_Stimme
- Editor: John Henry Fowler (submitted 2008-11-13). Score information: Letter, 3 pages, 38 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: Choral parts only.
- Editor: Christian Hofius (submitted 2007-11-26). Score information: A4, 1 page, 105 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes: Transposed in d major, with all verses of the choral and instrumental sheets. Also available instrumental parts.
- Editor: Pier Mario Piturro (submitted 2000-03-16). Score information: A4, 1 page, 50 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes:
- Editor: Andrea Angelini (submitted 1999-11-21). Score information: A4, 2 pages, 24 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes: Italian text: Ecco viene a te la luce
- Editor: Rafael Ornes (submitted 1999-11-19). Score information: Letter, 3 pages, 84 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: Organ accompaniment.
Arrangements
- Editor: Andrew Sims (submitted 2019-01-12). Score information: A4, 1 page, 50 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: Arranged by Andrew Sims. English translation of "Wachet auf" by Frances E. Cox (1812-1897). Harmony based on Bach and Mendelssohn.
- Editor: Robin Doveton (submitted 2014-12-11). Score information: A4, 4 pages, 108 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: An a cappella arrangement in 3 verses/movements based on Bach's harmonisation.
- Editor: Helmut Kickton (submitted 2002-03-08). Score information: A4, 4 pages, 133 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes: score of choral movements, in A4 format, parts available in PDF and Postscript. no continuo realization, in C major. This edition consists of: (a) the 4th movement (trio) with the words of the 1st stanza, and (b) the harmonization of the 7th movement Gloria sei dir gesungen (final movement).
General Information
Title: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Composers: Johann Sebastian Bach and Philipp Nicolai
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB, and STB soli
Genre: Sacred, Cantata Meter: 898. 898. 664. 448
Language: German
Instruments: Orchestra: 2 oboes, English horn, (bassoon), strings (solo violino piccolo in 3rd movement), basso continuo
First published: 1881 in Bach-Gesellschaft Ausgabe, Band 28
Opus: BWV 140, 7 movements
Description: First performed 25 November 1731, the 27th Sunday after Trinity (also apt for Advent.This cantata/choral setting of the hymn Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme by Johann Sebastian Bach is especially famous.
The first stanza is set in the opening movement in an elaborate choir-orchestra setting. The second stanza appears in the 4th movement as a trio for unison tenors and strings. This part became particularly well known because Bach himself arranged this trio for organ and published it in his six Schübler Chorales. Although many people associate this trio with the text Wachet auf, Bach's original music was written with the second stanza Zion hört die Wächter singen (Zion hears the watchmen singing) in mind. The third stanza is a typical Bach-harmonization for SATB choir and forms the final movement of the cantata.
External websites:
- Free choir training aids for this work are available at Choralia.
- Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140 at the Petrucci Music Library (IMSLP)
- Please support CPDL with a donation! All major credit cards as well as checks are accepted. Please visit this page for details.
View the Wikipedia article on BWV 140.
- Bach-cantatas site, with links to libretto and translations.
Original text and translations
German text
1. Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Der Wächter sehr hoch auf der Zinne,
Wach auf, du Stadt Jerusalem!
Mitternacht heißt diese Stunde;
Sie rufen uns mit hellem Munde:
Wo seid ihr klugen Jungfrauen?
Wohl auf, der Bräutgam kömmt;
Steht auf, die Lampen nehmt! Alleluja!
Macht euch bereit
Zu der Hochzeit,
Ihr müsset ihm entgegen gehn!
2. Recitativo T
Er kommt, er kommt,
Der Bräutgam kommt!
Ihr Töchter Zions, kommt heraus,
Sein Ausgang eilet aus der Höhe
In euer Mutter Haus.
Der Bräutgam kommt, der einem Rehe
Und jungen Hirsche gleich
Auf denen Hügeln springt
Und euch das Mahl der Hochzeit bringt.
Wacht auf, ermuntert euch!
Den Bräutgam zu empfangen!
Dort, sehet, kommt er hergegangen.
3. Aria Duetto S B
Seele (S), Jesus (B)
Sopran
Wenn kömmst du, mein Heil?
Bass
Ich komme, dein Teil.
Sopran
Ich warte mit brennendem Öle.
Sopran, bass:
Eröffne/Ich öffne den Saal
beide:
Zum himmlischen Mahl
Sopran:
Komm, Jesu!
Bass:
Komm, liebliche Seele!
4. Choral T
Zion hört die Wächter singen,
Das Herz tut ihr vor Freuden springen,
Sie wachet und steht eilend auf.
Ihr Freund kommt vom Himmel prächtig,
Von Gnaden stark, von Wahrheit mächtig,
Ihr Licht wird hell, ihr Stern geht auf.
Nun komm, du werte Kron,
Herr Jesu, Gottes Sohn!
Hosianna!
Wir folgen all
Zum Freudensaal
Und halten mit das Abendmahl.
5. Recitativo B
So geh herein zu mir,
Du mir erwählte Braut!
Ich habe mich mit dir
Von Ewigkeit vertraut.
Dich will ich auf mein Herz,
Auf meinem Arm gleich wie ein Siegel setzen
Und dein betrübtes Aug ergötzen.
Vergiß, o Seele, nun
Die Angst, den Schmerz,
Den du erdulden müssen;
Auf meiner Linken sollst du ruhn,
Und meine Rechte soll dich küssen.
6. Aria Duetto S B
Seele (S), Jesus (B)
Seele
Mein Freund ist mein,
Bass:
Und ich bin dein,
beide
Die Liebe soll nichts scheiden.
Seele, Bass:
Ich will, du sollst} mit {dir, mir} in Himmels Rosen weiden,
beide:
Da Freude die Fülle, da Wonne wird sein.
7. Choral
Gloria sei dir gesungen
Mit Menschen- und englischen Zungen,
Mit Harfen und mit Zimbeln schon.
Von zwölf Perlen sind die Pforten,
An deiner Stadt; wir sind Konsorten
Der Engel hoch um deinen Thron.
Kein Aug hat je gespürt,
Kein Ohr hat je gehört
Solche Freude.
Des sind wir froh,
Io, io!
Ewig in dulci jubilo.
English translation
1.
Sleepers, wake! the watch cry pealeth,
While slumber deep each eyelid sealeth:
Awake, Jerusalem, awake!
Midnight’s solemn hour is tolling,
And seraph-notes are onward rolling;
They call on us our part to take.
Come forth, ye virgins wise:
The Bridegroom comes, arise!
Alleluia!
Each lamp be bright
With ready light
To grace the marriage feast tonight.
2.
Zion hears the voice that singeth,
With sudden joy her glad heart springeth,
At once she wakes, she stands arrayed.
See her Light, her Star ascending,
Lo, girt with truth, with mercy blending,
Her Bridegroom there, so long delayed.
All hail! God’s glorious Son,
All hail! our joy and crown.
Alleluia!
The joyful call
We answer all,
And follow to the bridal hall.
3.
Praise to him who goes before us!
Let men and angels join in chorus,
Let harp and cymbal add their sound.
Twelve the gates, a pearl each portal:
We haste to join the choir immortal
Within the Holy City’s bound.
Ear ne’er heard aught like this,
Nor heart conceived such bliss.
Alleluia!
We raise the song,
We swell the throng,
To praise thee ages all along.
- Paolo Pandolfo editions
- Editions with large score files
- Keyboard version
- Maxim Vladimiroff editions
- Robert McCauley editions
- Kelvin Smith editions
- Pier Mario Piturro editions
- Sheet music errors
- Pablo Rosario editions
- Gary D. Cannon editions
- Johannes Becker editions
- John Henry Fowler editions
- Christian Hofius editions
- Andrea Angelini editions
- Rafael Ornes editions
- Andrew Sims editions
- Andrew Sims arrangements
- Robin Doveton editions
- Helmut Kickton editions
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