Duccio di Buoninsegna, Nativity, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1308-11Johann Sebastian Bach
Cantata for the First Day of Christmas
December 25(Weihnachts-Oratorium I)
Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage
Shout for joy, exult, rise up, glorify the day
1st Performance: December 25, 1734 - Leipzig
Click to read a brief commentary by Simon Crouch.
Click for explanation.
Unfortunately there is no one recording available for universal, free online listening:
1) Soprano: Arleen Augér; Alto: Julia Hamari; Tenor: Peter Schreier; Bass: Wolfgang Schöne; Echo-soprano: Christa Muckenheim; Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart / Bach-Collegium Stuttgart; Helmuth Rilling (1) conducting; 1st recording of Weihnachts-Oratorium BWV 248 by H. Rilling. Recorded at Gedächtniskirche Stuttgart, Germany. (NML search: CD94.010)
2) Soprano: Hampe, Christine; Soprano: Cuccaro, Costanza; Soprano: Bargen-Meister, Martina von; Alto: Browner, Alison; Alto: Schiml, Marga; Alto: Georg, Mechthild; Tenor: Kraus, Adalbert, Bass: Heldwein, Walter; Bass: Schone, Wolfgang; Stuttgart Gachinger Kantorei; Stuttgart Bach Collegium; Rilling, Helmuth (3) conducting. (NML search: CD94.018)
3) Soprano: Krisztina Láki; Alto: Gisela Pohl; Tenor: Karl Markus, Bass: Berthold Possemeyer; Stuttgarter Hymnus-Chorknaben / Ensemble '76 Stuttgart; Gerhard Wilhelm conducting. (NML search: CD94.031)
4) Soprano: Monika Frimmer; Counter-tenor: Yoshikazu Mera; Tenor: Gerd Türk; Bass: Peter Kooy; Bach Collegium Japan; Masaaki Suzuki conducting. (NML search: BIS-CD-941-42)
5) Soprano: Lynda Russell; Contralto: Catherine Wyn-Rogers; Tenor: Mark Padmore; Bass: Michael George; Soprano [Angel, Echo]: Libby Crabtree; The Sixteen Choir and Orchestra; Harry Christophers conducting. (NML search: COR16017)
6) Soprano: Ingrid Kertesi; Alto: Judit Németh; Tenor: Jozsef Mukk; Bass: Janos Tóth; Hungarian Radio Chorus / Failoni Chamber Orchestra; Géza Oberfrank conducting. (NML search: 8.550428-30)
"Beethoven on Demand" (BOD) members click here to login before clicking to listen. Be sure to complete the login by clicking on "Click to enter Beethoven On Demand." Once BOD is open, if there is difficulty in accessing music, close this window and then open it again and try.
N.B.: Signing up for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's e-mail newsletter brings free access to the Symphony's "Beethoven on Demand" programme and the entire catalogue of the Naxos Music Library. Click here.
La Bibliothèque nationale du Québec (BNQ) card-holders should login when prompted after they click to listen.
Click for availability to borrow from la Bibliothèque nationale du Québec (BNQ).
Christmas Oratorio - Cantata for the First Day of Christmas
To listen to the entire cantata or an individual movement, click on underlined conductors' names.
To listen to the entire cantata for the First Day of Christmas:
BNQ - NML: Rilling-1; Rilling-2; Rilling-3; Wilhelm; Suzuki; Christophers; Oberfrank
BOD: Rilling-1; Rilling-2; Rilling-3; Wilhelm; Suzuki; Christophers; Oberfrank
To listen to individual movements:
1) Chorus [S, A, T, B]Tromba I-III, Tamburi, Flauto traverso I/II, Oboe I/II, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo
BNQ - NML: Rilling-1; Rilling-2; Rilling-3; Wilhelm; Suzuki; Christophers; Oberfrank
BOD: Rilling-1; Rilling-2; Rilling-3; Wilhelm; Suzuki; Christophers; Oberfrank
Jauchzet, frohlocket! auf, preiset die Tage,
Shout for joy, exult, rise up, glorify the day,
Rühmet, was heute der Höchste getan!
praise what today the highest has done
Lasset das Zagen, verbannet die Klage,
Abandon hesitation, banish lamentation,
Stimmet voll Jauchzen und Fröhlichkeit an!
begin to sing with rejoicing and exaltation!
Dienet dem Höchsten mit herrlichen Chören,
Serve the highest with glorious choirs,
Laßt uns den Namen des Herrschers verehren!
let us honour the name of our ruler!
2) Recitative [Tenor]Violoncello, Fagotto, Continuo, Organo
BNQ - NML: Rilling-1; Rilling-2; Rilling-3; Wilhelm; Suzuki; Christophers; Oberfrank
BOD: Rilling-1; Rilling-2; Rilling-3; Wilhelm; Suzuki; Christophers; Oberfrank
,+Mus%C3%A9es+Royaux+des+Beaux-Arts,+Brussels,+1566.jpg)
Pieter Breugel the Elder, The Census at Bethlehem (detail), Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, 1566Evangelist:
Es begab sich aber zu der Zeit,
It happened at that time
dass ein Gebot von dem Kaiser Augusto ausging,
that an order went out from Caesar Augustus
dass alle Welt geschätzet würde.
that all the world should be assessed.
Und jedermann ging, dass er sich schätzen ließe,
And everyone went, so that he might be assessed,
ein jeglicher in seine Stadt.
each to his own city.
Da machte sich auch auf Joseph aus Galiläa,
Joseph went up out of Galilee
aus der Stadt Nazareth, in das jüdische Land zur Stadt David,
from the city of Nazareth, into the land of Judah to the city of David
die da heißet Bethlehem;
which is called Bethlehem;
darum, dass er von dem Hause und Geschlechte David war:
for he was of the house and race of David:
auf dass er sich schätzen ließe mit Maria,
so that he might be assessed with Mary,
seinem vertrauten Weibe, die war schwanger.
his betrothed wife, who was pregnant. Und als sie daselbst waren, kam die Zeit, dass sie gebären sollte.
And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
3) Recitative [Alto]Oboe d'amore I/II, Violoncello, Fagotto, Continuo, Organo
BNQ - NML: Rilling-1; Rilling-2; Rilling-3; Wilhelm; Suzuki; Christophers; Oberfrank
BOD: Rilling-1; Rilling-2; Rilling-3; Wilhelm; Suzuki; Christophers; Oberfrank
,+Metropolitan+Museum+of+Art,+New++York,c.+1435.jpg)
Sassetta, Journey of the Magi (detail), Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, c. 1435Now my dearest bridegroom,
Nun wird der Held aus Davids Stamm
now the hero from the race of David
Zum Trost, zum Heil der Erden
for the consolation and salvation of the Earth
Einmal geboren werden.
shall at last be born.
Nun wird der Stern aus Jakob scheinen,
Now the star that comes from Jacob shall shine,
Sein Strahl bricht schon hervor.
its rays already burst forth.
Auf, Zion, und verlasse nun das Weinen,
Rise up, Zion, and abandon your weeping,
Dein Wohl steigt hoch empor!
your well-being climbs aloft!
Bereite dich, Zion, mit zärtlichen Trieben,
Make yourself ready, Zion,with tender desires
Den Schönsten, den Liebsten bald bei dir zu sehn!
to see with you soon him who is most beautiful, most dear!
Deine Wangen
Your cheeks
Müssen heut viel schöner prangen,
must today befar more beautifully resplendent,
Eile, den Bräutigam sehnlichst zu lieben!
hasten, to love your bridegroom with the greatest longing!
5) Chorale [S, A, T, B]Flauto traverso I/II in octava e Oboe I/II e Violino I col Soprano, Violino II coll'Alto, Viola col Tenore, Violoncello col Basso, Fagotto, Continuo, Organo
BNQ - NML: Rilling-1; Rilling-2; Rilling-3; Wilhelm; Suzuki; Christophers; Oberfrank
BOD: Rilling-1; Rilling-2; Rilling-3; Wilhelm; Suzuki; Christophers; Oberfrank
How should I receive you
Und wie begegn' ich dir?
and how should I meet you?
O aller Welt Verlangen,
O longing of the whole world
O meiner Seelen Zier!
O adornment of my soul!
O Jesu, Jesu, setze
O Jesus, Jesus, place
yourself your lamp by me
Damit, was dich ergötze,
so that what gives you delight
Mir kund und wissend sei!
I may know and understand!
,+Cappella+Scrovegni,+Padua,+1304-06.jpg)
Giotto di Bondone, Birth of Jesus (detail), Cappella Scrovegni, Padua, 1304-06Und sie gebar ihren ersten Sohn
und wickelte ihn in Windeln und legte ihn in eine Krippen,
and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger
denn sie hatten sonst keinen Raum in der Herberge.
for they had otherwise no room in the inn.
7) Chorale [Soprano] and Recitative [Bass]Oboe d'amore I/II, Violoncello, Fagotto, Continuo, Organo
BNQ - NML: Rilling-1; Rilling-2; Rilling-3; Wilhelm; Suzuki;Christophers; Oberfrank
BOD: Rilling-1; Rilling-2; Rilling-3; Wilhelm; Suzuki; Christophers; Oberfrank
Er ist auf Erden kommen arm, He came to earth poor,
Wer will die Liebe recht erhöhn,
Who can rightly exalt this love,
Die unser Heiland vor uns hegt?
that our Savior harbors for us?
Daß er unser sich erbarm,
So that He might have sympathy for us,
Ja, wer vermag es einzusehen,
Indeed, who could possibly have predicted
Wie ihn der Menschen Leid bewegt?
how the sorrow of humanity moved Him?
Und in dem Himmel mache reich,
And make us rich in heaven,
Des Höchsten Sohn kömmt in die Welt,
The Son of the Highest came into the world,
Weil ihm ihr Heil so wohl gefällt,
since its salvation pleased Him so much,
Und seinen lieben Engeln gleich.
and like His dear angels.
So will er selbst als Mensch geboren werden.
thus He Himself will be born a human.
Kyrieleis!
Kyrie eleison!
8) Aria [Bass] Tromba I, Flauto traverso I, Violino I/II, Viola, Violoncello, Fagotto, Continuo, Organo
BNQ - NML: Rilling-1; Rilling-2; Rilling-3; Wilhelm; Suzuki; Christophers; Oberfrank
BOD: Rilling-1; Rilling-2; Rilling-3; Wilhelm; Suzuki; Christophers; Oberfrank
Lorenzo Costa, Nativity, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Lyon
Great Lord, O mighty king,
Liebster Heiland, o wie weni
dearest saviour, O how little
Achtest du der Erden Pracht!
you regard earthly splendour
Der die ganze Welt erhält,
He who maintains the whole world
Ihre Pracht und Zier erschaffen,
and created its glory and adornment
Muss in harten Krippen schlafen.
must sleep in a hard crib.
9) Chorale [S, A, T, B]Tromba I-III, Tamburi, Flauto traverso I/II in octava e Oboe I/II e Violino I col Soprano, Violino II col Tenore, Viola col Tenore, Violoncello, Fagotto, Continuo, Organo
BNQ - NML: Rilling-1; Rilling-2; Rilling-3; Wilhelm; Suzuki; Christophers; Oberfrank
BOD: Rilling-1; Rilling-2; Rilling-3; Wilhelm; Suzuki; Christophers; Oberfrank
Ach mein herzliebes Jesulein,
Ah little Jesus dear to my heart,
Mach dir ein rein sanft Bettelein,
make for yourself a clean, soft bed,
Zu ruhn in meines Herzens Schrein,
to rest in the shrine of my heart
Dass ich nimmer vergesse dein!
so that I may never forget you!
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.
