Watchmen in the tower

I love “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme”. It’s the first chorus in J.S. Bach’s cantata of the same name, BWV 140. I just love the way the various parts flow into and around one another, like the waters of a stately river.

This chorus is based on a Lutheran hymn that predates Bach by about 125 years, and it’s about being both alert and prepared for the arrival of the Messiah. (It references the parable of the wise and foolish virgins waiting to greet the bridegroom at a wedding. The wise virgins have brought both lamps and oil; the foolish ones only lamps, so when the bridegroom arrives, they are unready and thus left out of the celebration.)

Here’s the text:

Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme,

der Wächter sehr hoch auf der Zinne,

wach auf, du Stadt Jerusalem.

Mitternacht heisst diese Stunde,

sie rufen un smit hellem Munde,

wo seid ihr klugen Jungfrauen?

Wohlauf, der Bräut’gam kömmt,

steht auf, die Lampen nehmt,

Allelulia!

Macht euch bereit

zu der Hochzeit,

ihr musset ihm entgegen gehn.

Zion hört die Wächter singen,

das Herz tut ihr vor Freuden springen,

sie wachet und steht eilend auf.

Nun komm, du werte Kron’,

Herr Jesu, Gottes Sohn,

Hosianna!

Wir folgen all

zum Freudensaal

und halten mit das Abendmahl

Gloria sei dir gesungen,

mit Menschen- und englischen Zungen,

mit Harfen und mit Zimbeln schon.

Von zwölf Perlen sind die Pforten,

an deiner Stadt sind wir Konsorten

der Engel hoch um deine Thron.

Kein Aug’ hat je gespürt,

kein Ohr hat je gehört

solche Freude,

des sind wir froh,

io, io,

ewig in dulci jubilo!

In English:

Awake, calls the voice to us

of the watchmen high up in the tower;

awake, you city of Jerusalem.

Midnight the hour is named;

they call to us with bright voices;

where are you, wise virgins?

Indeed, the Bridegroom comes;

rise up and take your lamps,

Alleluia!

Make yourselves ready

for the wedding,

you must go to meet him.

Zion hears the watchmen sing,

her heart leaps for joy within her,

she wakens and hastily arises.

Her glorious Friend comes from heaven,

strong in mercy, powerful in truth,

her light becomes bright, her star rises.

Now come, precious crown,

Lord Jesus, the Son of God!

Hosanna!

We all follow to the hall of joy

and hold the evening meal together.

Let Gloria be sung to You

with mortal and angelic tongues,

with harps and even with cymbals.

Of twelve pearls the portals are made,

in Your city we are companions

of the angels high around Your thrown.

No eye has ever perceived,

no ear has ever heard

such joy

like our happiness,

io, io,

Eternally in dulci jubilo!

I’ll give you two versions, this first by a brass ensemble performing at a church near the District They Call Columbia. Note the piccolo trumpet; it’s not something you see every day.

And here’s the Munich University choir singing it:

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