WebFacts 1
Bach wrote an entire cantata for choir, soloists, and small orchestra based on this
chorale. It is his Cantata #140, written for the twenty-seventh Sunday after the liturgical season
of Trinity (eighth Sunday after Easter) begins. The hymn text is from about 1731 and was written
by Philipp Nicolai. What does the "Awake" in the title mean? Here is one translation of the first
verse of the chorale, as used in movement 1 of the cantata (New York: Dover, 1976).
"Awaken!" calls to us the voice of the guards high up on the battlements:
"Awake, city of Jerusalem!" Midnight, this hour is called; they summon us in
a clear voice: where are you, wise virgins? Up now! the Bridegroom is
coming; arise! take the lamps. Hallelujah! make yourselves ready for the
wedding; you must go to meet Him.
This text draws on the ancient Christian symbolism of Jesus as the bridegroom and the wedding
as the joining of Jesus with people on earth. The chorale, exhorting humanity to wake up and
prepare for Christ's coming, is often associated with the liturgical season of Advent-the weeks
immediately preceding Christmas when Christians prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
|
|