New Year's Day (Feast of the Circumcision and the Naming of Christ).

Perhaps Picander (See BWV 190a).

1. Ps. 149:1, 150:6, 150:4; Martin Luther, beginning of the German Te Deum, 1529 (Wackernagel, III, 31); 2. Martin Luther, same text with interpolated recitative; 7. Johannes Herman, verse 2 of "Jesu, nun sei gepreiset," 1593.

1 January 1724, Leipzig; Parody: 1, 2, 3, 5 → BWV 190/1, 2, 3, 5.

BG 37; NBA I/4.

1. Chorus [Dictum] and Chorale (S, A, T, B)

Sing ye the Lord a new refrain! The assembly of saints should sing to him praises!
Honor him with timbrels and dancing, honor him with strings and with piping!
       Lord God, we give thee praise!
All that which breath doth own, honor the Lord!
       Lord God, we give thee thanks!
Alleluia!

2. Chorale (S, A, T, B) and Recit. (B, T, A)

    (S, A, T, B)
    Lord God, we give thee praise,

(B)
That thou with this the newborn year
Us newfound joy and newborn blessing grantest
And still with favor on us thinkest.

    (S, A, T, B)
    Lord God, we give thee thanks,

(T)
That thy dear gentleness
Throughout the time now past
Both all our land and our own city fair
From famine, pestilence and war protected hath.

    (S, A, T, B)
    Lord God, we give thee praise,

(A)
For thy paternal faith
Hath yet no limits,
It is still with us is every morning new(1)
Thus do we fold,
Forgiving God, for this
In humbleness our hands
And say throughout our lives
With mouth and heart our praise and thanks.

    (S, A, T, B)
    Lord God, we give thee thanks!

3. Aria (A)

Honor, Zion, this thy God,
Honor this thy God with gladness,
Rise! And tell abroad his fame,
Who within his holy shrine
As thy shepherd evermore
Will to verdant pastures lead thee.(2)

4. Recit. (B)

Now let the world desire
What flesh and blood with pleasure fills;
Just this, this ask I of the Lord,(3)
Just this one thing I seek,
That Jesus, my true pleasure,(4)
My shepherd true, my strength and health,
And of my soul the finest part,
Should as a lamb of his own pasture
Again this year within his care embrace me
And nevermore from his dear arms release me.
His kindly will,
Which me the way to life doth show,
Now rule and lead me on an even course,
And I shall this new year in Jesus' name begin.

5. Aria (T, B)

Jesus shall be all to me,
Jesus ever my beginning,
Jesus is my sign of joy.
Jesus’ care I would commit me.
Jesus helps me through his blood,
Jesus makes my ending good.

6. Recit. (T)

Now, Jesus grant me
That with the newborn year, e’en his anointed flourish;
May he bless both the trunk and branches,
So that their fortune to the clouds be rising.
May Jesus bless both church and school,
May he bless all there faithful teachers,
May he bless those who hear their teaching;
May he bless council and the court;
May he pour, too, upon each house
Within our town the springs of blessing forth;
May he grant that again
Both peace and trust
Within our borders kiss each other.(5)
Thus live we shall throughout the year in blessing.

7. Chorale (S, A, T, B)

Let us the year accomplish
For glory to thy name,
That we to it be singing
In Christian company;
Wouldst thou our life be sparing
Through thine almighty hand,
Keep, then, thy beloved Christians
And our own fatherland.
Thy blessing to us sending,
Give peace in every quarter;
Give unalloyed this country
Thy grace-inspiring word.
To hypocrites bring ruin
Both here and ev’rywhere!

1. Cf. Lam. 3:23.

2. Cf. Ps. 23:2.

3. Cf. Ps. 27:4.

4. A citation of the hymn of Johann Franck.

5. Cf. Ps. 85:11.

© Copyright  Z. Philip Ambrose

Back to top