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Part 6     The Adoration of the Magi

Scoring: 3 trumpets, timpani, 2 oboes, 2 oboes d'amore, 2 violins, viola, continuo.

54. Chorus

Part 6 brings a return to the celebratory sound of trumpets and drums, and another dancing, opening, imitative chorus in triple time and in a major key, this time asking God for a strong faith with which to resist all enemies. The music for movements 54, 56, 57, 61, 62, 63 and 64 are from BWV 248a (a church cantata which is lost).

Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben
so gib, daß wir im festen Glauben
nach deiner Macht und Hülfe sehn!
Wir wollen dir allein vertrauen,
so können wir den scharfen Klauen
des Feindes unversehrt entgehn.

Lord, when our arrogant enemies snort with rage,
then grant that we in firm faith
may look to your power and help!
We want to trust you alone,
then we can escape the sharp claws
of the enemy unhurt.

55. Evangelist and Herod - Bass    Text: St Matthew 2: v 7 - 8

Da berief Herodes die Weisen heimlich und erlernet mit Fleiß von ihnen, wenn der Stern erschienen wäre? Und weiset sie gen Bethlehem und sprach:
“Ziehet hin und forschet fleißig nach dem Kindlein, und wenn ihr's findet, sagt mir's wieder, dass ich auch komme und es anbete.”

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said: “Go and search diligently for the young child: and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.”

56. Arioso or Accompanied Recitative - Soprano

This recitative, accompanied by strings, is full of angst and venom. Bach writes a number of difficult and non- diatonic intervals for the soprano to negotiate.

Du Falscher, suche nur den Herrn zu fällen, nimm alle falsche List, dem Heiland nachzustellen; der, dessen Kraft kein Mensch ermißt, bleibt doch in sichrer Hand.
Dein Herz, dein falsches Herz ist schon, nebst aller seiner List, des Höchsten Sohn, den du zu stürzen suchst, sehr wohl bekannt.

You cheat, you only seek the Lord to bring him down, you use all your false cunning to hunt after the Saviour; but he, whose power no man can measure, still remains in safe hands.
Your heart, your false heart, is already very well-known, with all your treachery, by the son of the Highest, whom you seek to cast down.

57. Aria - Soprano

Nur ein Wink von seinen Händen stürzt ohnmächtger Menschen Macht.
Hier wird alle Kraft verlacht!
Spricht der Höchste nur ein Wort, seiner Feind
Stolz zu enden, O, so müssen sich sofort
Sterblicher Gedanken wenden.

Just a wave of your hand casts down the powerless strength of men.
Here all might is derided if the highest speaks one word to put an end to the pride of his enemies, Oh, then at once must thoughts of mortals be changed.

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Dec 2017

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