Text for Magnificat, BWV 243a
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
for presentation on December 23, 2007 in Bach Vespers at Holy Trinity, New York City.
1. CORO
Magnificat anima mea Dominum.
My soul magnifies the Lord.
2. SOPRANO II ARIA
Et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo.
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
2a. CORO
Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her,
From Heaven on high I come to here,
ich bring euch gute neue Mär.
bringing you new glad tidings.
Der guten Mär bring ich so viel,
These glad tidings I bring are so great,
davon ich sing’n und sagen will.
I wish to sing and tell of them.
3. SOPRANO I ARIA
Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae;
For he has regarded the low estate of his hand-maiden;
ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent.
behold, henceforth [all generations] shall call me blessed.
4. CORO
Omnes generationes.
All generations.
5. BASSO ARIA
Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen eius.
For he that is mighty has done great things for me; and holy is his name.
5a. CORO
Freut euch und jubiliert,
Be glad and rejoice,
zu Bethlehem gefunden wird
in Bethlehem will be found
das herzeliebe Jesulein
the sweet, dear Jesus
das soll euer Freund und Wonne sein.
who shall be your joy and delight.
6. ALTO E TENOR DUETTO
Et misericordia a progenie in progenies timentibus eum.
And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
7. CORO
Fecit potentiam in brachio suo,
He has shown strength with his arm;
dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
7a. CORO
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Glory to God in the highest
Et in terra pax hominibus, bona voluntas.
and on earth peace to all people, with whom he is well pleased.
8. TENORE ARIA
Deposuit potentes de sede et exaltavit humiles.
He has put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
9. ALTO ARIA
Esurientes implevit bonis et divites dismisit inanes.
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.
9a. SOPRANO I E BASSO DUETTO
Virga Jesse floruit
The stem of Jesse has blossomed
Emanuel noster apparuit,
our Emanuel appears
induit carnem hominis
in the form of human flesh
fit puerdelectabilis. Alleluja
a boy most pleasing. Alleluia.
10. TRIO (SOPRANO I E II AND ALTO) TERZETTO
Suscepit Israel puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae suae.
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy.
11. CORO
Sicut locutus est ad Patres nostros, Abraham et semini eius in secula.
As he spoken to our fathers, to Abraham, and his seed forever.
12. CORO
Gloria, Patri, gloria Filio, gloria et Spiritui sancto!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost!
Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper et in saeculat saeculorum. Amen.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
_________________________
COMPOSED: December 25, 1723 for Christmas Day Vespers (in E-flat Major), redone Leipzig; ca. 1728-1731 (D Major).
TEXT: Luke 1:46-55; 2a. Martin Luther, verse 1 Vom Himmel hoch (1535); 5a. unknown; 7a. Luke 2:14; 9a. Paul Eber, last verse of Virga Jesse floruit (1570).
