20 December 2011

The beginning of the Bach Christmas Oratorio

simply nails what the Church invites us into on the threshold of the Christmas Feast:

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,
Leave timidity, banish complaining,
Stimmet voll Jauchzen und Fröhlichkeit an!
Sing out 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!


Time to leave behind all fear, all grousing, all our discontent and enter into the joy of our Lord's great deeds on our behalf, shouting for joy, singing with the choirs of heaven the honor of Him who took on flesh for us.

1 comment:

Andrew said...

There is a video available on YouTube of a performance by John Eliot Gardiner and his Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists that is superb. Should be easy enough to find.