O God of Loveliness, BWV 466 (Johann Sebastian Bach)

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• (Posted 2019-10-18)  CPDL #55645:       

Editor: Patrick Williams (submitted 2019-10-18).   Score information: Letter, 1 page, 42 kB   Copyright: Public Domain

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: O God of Loveliness
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Lyricist: Alfonso Maria de' Liguori

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB

Genre: Sacred, Hymn   Meter: 66. 66. D

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella or keyboard

First published: 1736 in Musicalisches Gesängbuch, no. 657
    2nd published: 1892 in Bach-Gesellschaft Ausgabe, Volume 39
Opus: BWV 466

Description: Latin contrafactum of "Ich halte treulich still" from G.C. Schemelli's Musicalisches Gesangbuch, 1736, originally for unison voice and organ, arranged here in 19th-century "hymn" style for SATB voices with keyboard.

External websites:

• Schola Cantorum in Phoenix

Original text and translations

English text 1. O God of loveliness, O Lord of heav’n above, How worthy to possess My heart’s devoted love! So sweet Thy countenance, So gracious to behold, That one, one only glance To me were bliss untold.

2. Thou art blest Three in One, Yet undivided still; Thou art that One alone Whose love my heart can fill. The heav’ns and earth below, Were fashioned by Thy Word; How amiable art Thou, My everdearest Lord.

3. To think Thou art my God— Oh, thought for ever blest! My heart has overflowed With joy within my breast. My soul, so full of bliss Is plunged as in a sea, Deep in the sweet abyss Of holy charity.

4. O loveliness supreme, And beauty infinite; O everflowing stream And ocean of delight; O Life by which I live, My truest life above, To Thee alone I give My undivided love.