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 |
Lord, when our arrogant enemies snort with rage, |
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: |
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. |
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. |
57. Aria - Soprano
Nur ein Wink von seinen Händen stürzt ohnmächtger Menschen Macht. |
Just a wave of your hand casts down the powerless strength of men. |