Bohemian Bach
Texts and Translations
J.S. BACH: Christ lag in Todes Banden, BWV 4
1. Sinfonia
2. Versus 1: Choral
Christ lag in Todesbanden
Für unsre Sünd gegeben,
Er ist wieder erstanden
Und hat uns bracht das Leben;
Des wir sollen fröhlich sein,
Gott loben und ihm dankbar sein
Und singen halleluja,
Halleluja!
Christ lay in death's bonds
given over for our sins,
he has risen again
and brought us life;
therefore we should be joyful,
praise God and be thankful to him
and sing Hallelujah,
Hallelujah!
3. Versus 2: Duet
Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt
Bei allen Menschenkindern,
Das macht' alles unsre Sünd,
Kein Unschuld war zu finden.
Davon kam der Tod so bald
Und nahm über uns Gewalt,
Hielt uns in seinem Reich gefangen.
Halleluja!
No one could defeat death
among all humanity,
this was all because of our sins,
no innocence was to be found.
Therefore death came so soon
and took power over us,
held us captive in his kingdom.
Hallelujah!
4. Versus 3: Solo
Jesus Christus, Gottes Sohn,
An unser Statt ist kommen
Und hat die Sünde weggetan,
Damit dem Tod genommen
All sein Recht und sein Gewalt,
Da bleibet nichts denn Tods Gestalt,
Den Stach'l hat er verloren.
Halleluja!
Jesus Christ, God's son,
has come in our place,
and has done away with sin,
thereby taking from death
all his rights and power,
nothing remains but death's form;
he has lost his sting.
Hallelujah!
5. Versus 4: Choral
Es war ein wunderlicher Krieg,
Da Tod und Leben rungen,
Das Leben behielt den Sieg,
Es hat den Tod verschlungen.
Die Schrift hat verkündigt das,
Wie ein Tod den andern fraß,
Ein Spott aus dem Tod ist worden.
Halleluja!
It was a strange battle,
that death and life waged,
life claimed the victory,
it devoured death.
The scripture had prophesied this,
how one death gobbled up the other,
a mockery has been made out of death.
Hallelujah!
6. Versus 5: Aria
Hier ist das rechte Osterlamm,
Davon Gott hat geboten,
Das ist hoch an des Kreuzes Stamm
In heißer Lieb gebraten,
Das Blut zeichnet unsre Tür,
Das hält der Glaub dem Tode für,
Der Würger kann uns nicht mehr schaden.
Halleluja!
Here is the true Passover lamb,
offered up by God,
which was, high on the cross' stalk
roasted in hot love,
the blood marks our door,
faith holds it against death,
the strangler can no longer harm us.
Hallelujah!
7. Versus 6: Duet
So feiern wir das hohe Fest
Mit Herzensfreud und Wonne,
Das uns der Herre scheinen läßt,
Er ist selber die Sonne,
Der durch seiner Gnade Glanz
Erleuchtet unsre Herzen ganz,
Der Sünden Nacht ist verschwunden.
Halleluja!
So we celebrate the high festival
with joy of heart and delight,
which the Lord radiates upon us,
he himself is the sun,
that through the splendor of his grace
illuminates our hearts completely,
the night of sin has disappeared.
Hallelujah!
8. Versus 7: Choral
Wir essen und leben wohl
In rechten Osterfladen,
Der alte Sauerteig nicht soll
Sein bei dem Wort der Gnaden,
Christus will die Koste sein
Und speisen die Seel allein,
Der Glaub will keins andern leben.
Halleluja!
We eat and live well
on the true Easter bread,
the old leaven shall not
exist next to the word of grace,
Christ will be our food
and nourish the soul alone,
faith will live in no other way.
Hallelujah!
"Christ lag in Todes Banden," Martin Luther, 1524
J.D. Zelenka: Missa Votiva, ZWV 18
Kyrie
1. Kyrie eleison I (Chorus)
Kyrie eleison.
Lord, have mercy.
2. Christe eleison (Solo)
Christe eleison.
Christ, have mercy.
3. Kyrie eleison II (Chorus)
Kyrie eleison.
Lord, have mercy.
4. Kyrie eleison III (Chorus)
Kyrie eleison.
Lord, have mercy.
Gloria
5. Gloria in excelsis Deo (Chorus & Solos)
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis.
Laudamus te. Benedicimus te.
Adoramus te. Glorificamus te.
Glory be to God on high,
and on earth peace, good will towards men.
We praise thee, we bless thee,
we worship thee, we glorify thee.
6. Gratias agimus (Chorus & Solos)
Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam.
Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens.
Domine Fili unigenite, Iesu Christe.
Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris.
We give thanks to thee for thy great glory,
O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ;
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father.
7. Qui tollis (Solo)
Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram.
Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.
8. Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris (Chorus)
Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis.
Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.
9. Quoniam tu solos Sanctus (Solo)
Quoniam tu solus Sanctus. Tu solus Dominus.
Tu solus Altissimus, Iesu Christe.
For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord;
thou only art most high, O Christ.
10. Cum Sancto Spiritu I (Chorus)
Cum Sancto Spiritu, in gloria Dei Patris.
Amen.
With the Holy Ghost, in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
11. Cum Sancto Spiritu II (Chorus)
Cum Sancto Spiritu, in gloria Dei Patris.
Amen.
With the Holy Ghost, in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
CREDO
12. Credo in unum Deum (Chorus & Solos)
Credo in unum Deum.
Patrem omnipotentem,
factorem caeli et terrae,
visibilium omnium et invisibilium.
Et in unum Dominum
Jesum Christum,
Filium Dei unigenitum,
Et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula.
Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine,
Deum verum de Deo vero.
Genitum, non factum,
consubstantialem Patri:
per quem omnia facta sunt.
Qui propter nos homines
et propter nostram salutem
descendit de caelis.
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord,
Jesus Christ,
Only begotten Son of God,
Begotten of his Father before all worlds.
God of God, light of light,
Very God of very God.
Begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father:
by whom all things were made.
Who for us men
and for our salvation
came down from heaven.
13. Et incarnatus est (Solo)
Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto
ex Maria Virgine:
Et homo factus est.
And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost
of the Virgin Mary:
And was made man.
14. Crucifixus (Chorus)
Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato:
passus, et sepultus est.
And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate:
suffered, and was buried.
15. Et resurrexit (Chorus & Solos)
Et resurrexit tertia die,
secundum scripturas.
Et ascendit in caelum:
sedet ad dexteram Patris.
Et iterum venturus est
cum gloria judicare vivos et mortuos:
Cujus regni non erit finis.
Et in Spiritum sanctum Dominum,
et vivificantem:
Qui ex Patre, Filioque procedit.
Qui cum Patre, et Filio simul adoratur,
et conglorificatur:
Qui locutus est per Prophetas.
Et unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam.
Confiteor unum baptisma
in remissionem peccatorum.
Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum
Et vitam venturi saeculi.
Amen.
And the third day He rose again
according to the scriptures.
And ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of the Father
And He shall come again
with glory to judge the living and the dead:
His kingdom shall have no end.
And (I believe in) the Holy Ghost, Lord
and giver of life:
Who proceedeth from the Father and Son.
Who with the Father and Son
together is worshipped and glorified:
Who spake by the Prophets.
And in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
I acknowledge one baptism
for the remission of sins.
And I look for the resurrection of the dead
And the life of the world to come.
Amen.
SANCTUS
16. Sanctus (Chorus)
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus,
Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua.
Osanna in excelsis.
Holy, holy, holy
Lord God of Hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
17. Benedictus (Solo)
Benedictus qui venit
in nomine Domini.
Blessed is he that cometh
in the name of the Lord.
18. Osanna (Chorus)
Osanna in excelsis.
Hosanna in the highest.
AGNUS DEI
19. Agnus Dei (Chorus & Solos)
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi…
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world…
20. Dona nobis pacem (Chorus)
Dona nobis pacem.
Grant us peace.