Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140 (Johann Sebastian Bach)

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All movements

  • (Posted 2017-04-30)  CPDL #44301:  Network.png
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)

  • (Posted 2011-07-20)  CPDL #23935:     
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
  • (Posted 2011-05-09)  CPDL #23507:       
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.
  • (Posted 2003-05-02)  CPDL #04946:  Network.png
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
  • (Posted 1999-11-11)  CPDL #00505:         
Editor: Pier Mario Piturro (submitted 1999-11-11).   Score information: Letter, 16 pages, 139 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes:
Error.gif 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)
  • (Posted 2003-05-23)  CPDL #05131:         
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

  • (Posted 2020-06-03)  CPDL #59022:     
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.
  • (Posted 2020-06-03)  CPDL #59021:     
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.
  • (Posted 2016-12-01)  CPDL #42163:         
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
  • (Posted 2008-11-13)  CPDL #18295:        (Sibelius 4)
Editor: John Henry Fowler (submitted 2008-11-13).   Score information: Letter, 3 pages, 38 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Choral parts only.
  • (Posted 2007-11-26)  CPDL #15538:  Network.png PDF files available.
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.
  • (Posted 2000-03-16)  CPDL #00760:         
Editor: Pier Mario Piturro (submitted 2000-03-16).   Score information: A4, 1 page, 50 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes:
  • (Posted 1999-11-21)  CPDL #00552:   
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
  • (Posted 1999-11-19)  CPDL #00543:        (Finale 1998)
Editor: Rafael Ornes (submitted 1999-11-19).   Score information: Letter, 3 pages, 84 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Organ accompaniment.

Arrangements

  • (Posted 2019-01-12)  CPDL #52884:       
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.
  • (Posted 2014-12-11)  CPDL #33659:     
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.
  • (Posted 2002-03-08)  CPDL #03324:  Network.png PDF and PostScript files available.
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: SacredCantata   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:

Original text and translations

German.png 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.png 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.