CCLXXXVIII. BACH, J.S.: Cantata #140: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140

CCLXXXVIII. BACH, J.S. (1685-1750)

Cantata #140: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140 (1731)
1. Coro: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
2. Recitativo (Tenore): Er kommt, der Bräutgam kommt
3. Aria (Duetto: Soprano/Seele, Basso/Jesus): Wann kömmst du, mein Heil?
4. Choral (Tenore): Zion hört die Wächer singen
5. Recitativo (Basso): So geh herein zu mir
6. Aria (Duetto: Soprano, Basso): Mein Freund ist mein! Und ich bin sein!
7. Choral (Coro): Gloria sei dir gesungen
Netherlands Bach Society
(28:57)

Bach's autograph of the piccolo violin part in
the first soprano/bass aria

One of Bach's most beautiful cantatas (and most frequently performed), BWV 140 is another fine example of the Master's fluency with marrying text and music, glorifying God and Man's relationship to the divine.

1. Coro: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme

Philipp Nicolai's original Lutheran hymn (1599)

The chorale fantasia uses the first verse of the hymn, the cantus firmus in the soprano (red arrow):

In this fugato section, the orchestra plays in the dotted-eighth style of the French overture, while the altos begin a melisma on the word alleluia (blue arrow):

John Eliot Gardiner:

"As this rising syncopated figure emerges, the altos enter with the alleluia figure, which is adopted by all the other singers. If anyone in the posh world of classical music ever doubted that J.S. Bach could also be considered the father of jazz, here is the proof."

2. Recitativo (Tenore): Er kommt, der Bräutgam kommt

Er kommt
Der Bräutgam kommt
Ihr Töchtre Zions, komm heraus

He comes
The Bridegroom comes!
And Zion's daughter shall rejoice

3. Aria (Duetto: Soprano/Seele, Basso/Jesus): Wann kömmst du, mein Heil?

A duet between the Soul and Jesus -- accompanied by the flowing obligatto piccolo violin:

Wann kömmst du, mein Heil?
Ich komme, dein Teil.
Ich warter mit brennendem Öle
Eröffne den Saal

Come quickly, now come
Yea quickly I come
We wait thee with lamps all alighted!
The doors wide open

4. Choral (Tenore): Zion hört die Wächer singen

Zion hört die Wächer singen
Das Herz tut ihr vor Freuden springen

Zion hears the watchmen calling
The Faithful hark with joy enthralling

This famous melody -- played in unison with the violins and viola -- accompanies the tenors singing the cantus firmus, which often begins in the middle of the strings' melodic phrase ...

5. Recitativo (Basso): So geh herein zu mir

So geh herein zu mir
Du mir erwählte Braut!

So come thou unto me
My fair and chosen bride

Picturing the unity of the bridegroom and the "chosen bride."

6. Aria (Duetto: Soprano, Basso): Mein Freund ist mein! Und ich bin sein!

Mein Freund ist mein!
Und ich bin sein!

Die Liebe soll nichts scheiden!
Ich will mit mir in Himmels Rosen weiden

Thy love is mine
And I am thine!
True lovers ne'er are parted
Now I with thee, and thou with me

Notice how they alternate phrases and then sing together ... very beautiful duet:

7. Choral (Coro): Gloria sei dir gesungen

Gloria sei dir gesungen
Mit Menschen und englischen Zungen

Gloria sing all our voices
With Angels all mankind rejoices