Baciccio, The Preaching of St. John the Baptist, Musée du Louvre, Paris, c. 1690 Ihr Menschen, rühmet Gottes Liebe
You people, sing the praises of God's love
1st performance:June 24, 1723 - Leipzig
Readings: Epistle: Isaah 40: 1-5; Gospel: Luke 1: 57-80
Text: Johann Gramann (Mvt. 5); Anon (Mvts. 1-4)
Chorale Text: Nun lob, mein' Seel', den Herren Possible Liturgical Use According to the Revised Common Lectionary: The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist; the 2nd & 3rd Sundays of Advent
Click to read brief commentaries by Simon Crouch for Classical Net, James Leonard for All Music and Craig Smith for Emmanuel Music.
Cantata 167 performed by Soprano: Joanne Lunn; Alto: Wilke te Brummelstroete; Tenor: Paul Agnew; Bass: Dietrich Henschel; Monteverdi Choir / English Baroque Soloists; John Eliot Gardiner directing.
Library Access: Those with online library access to Classical Music Library, for the Rilling version, search: Cantata 167; for the Naxos Music Library, search: BWV 167, then select desired available version.
Cantata 167
1) Aria [Tenor] Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo
Ihr Menschen, rühmet Gottes Liebe
You people, sing the praises of God's love
Und preiset seine Gütigkeit!
and extol his graciousness !
Lobt ihn aus reinem Herzenstriebe,
Glorify him with a pure impulse of your heart
Daß er uns zu bestimmter Zeit
that at the appointed time
Das Horn des Heils, den Weg zum Leben
the horn of salvation,the way to life
An Jesu, seinem Sohn, gegeben.
he has given to us in Jesus, his son.
2) Recitative [Alto] Continuo
Gelobet sei der Herr Gott Israel,
Praised be the Lord God of Israel
Der sich in Gnaden zu uns wendet
who in his mercy turns to us
Und seinen Sohn
and sends his son
Vom hohen Himmelsthron
from heaven's high throne
Zum Welterlöser sendet.
to be the world's redeemer.
Erst stellte sich Johannes ein
First John appeared
Und mußte Weg und Bahn
and had to make ready
Dem Heiland zubereiten;
the way and path for the saviour;
Hierauf kam Jesus selber an,
thereupon Jesus himself came
Die armen Menschenkinder
to make glad the poor children of mankind
Und die verlornen Sünder
and the lost sinners
Mit Gnad und Liebe zu erfreun
with his grace and love
Und sie zum Himmelreich in wahrer Buß zu leiten
and to lead them to the kingdom of heaven in true repentance.
3) Aria (Duet) [Soprano, Alto] Oboe da caccia, Continuo
Gottes Wort, das trüget nicht,
God's word does not deceive,
Es geschieht, was er verspricht.
what he promises happens.
Was er in dem Paradies
What in Paradise
Und vor so viel hundert Jahren
and so many hundreds of years ago
Denen Vätern schon verhieß,
he promised to our fathers
Haben wir gottlob erfahren.
we -God be praised - have experienced
Des Weibes Samen kam,
The woman's seed came,
Nachdem die Zeit erfüllet;
when the time was fulfilled;
Der Segen, den Gott Abraham,
the blessing that God promised
Dem Glaubensheld, versprochen,
to Abraham,the hero of faith,
Ist wie der Glanz der Sonne angebrochen,
has broken upon us like the sun's brightness,
Und unser Kummer ist gestillet. and our grief is stilled.
Ein stummer Zacharias preist
Zacharias , who was speechless, praises
Mit lauter Stimme Gott vor seine Wundertat,
God with loud voice for the miracle
Die er dem Volk erzeiget hat.
which he has produced for his people.
Bedenkt, ihr Christen, auch, was Gott an euch getan
Consider also, you Christians, what God has done for you
Und stimmet ihm ein Loblied an!
and begin to sing to him a song of praise!
5) Chorale [S, A, T, B] Clarino, Oboe, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo
Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren
Praise and glory with honour be
Gott Vater, Sohn, Heiligem Geist!
to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
Der woll in uns vermehren,
May he increase in us
Was er uns aus Genad verheißt,
what he promised to us in his mercy
Daß wir ihm fest vertrauen,
so that we may trust firmly in him
Gänzlich verlassn auf ihn,
depend completely on him,
Von Herzen auf ihn bauen,
sincerely rely on him,
Daß unsr Herz, Mut und Sinn
so that our heart, spirit and mind
Ihm festiglich anhangen;
may cling to him resolutely;
Darauf singn wir zur Stund:
Therefore we now sing:
Amen, wir werdns erlangen,
Amen, we shall achieve this,
Gläubn wir aus Herzens Grund.
we shall believe from the depths of our heart.
The German Text: http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/~wfb/bach.html. The English Translation is by Francis Browne: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Intro.htm. Both used by permission.
