XXV Auf zum Scherzen, auf! zur Lust!
Dialogue Birthday of Mr. J. W. C. D (15 August 1726). Christian Friedrich Henrici (Picander), Ernst-Schertzhaffte und Satyrische Gedichte, Teil II (Leipzig, 1729; 2nd ed., 1734); Facs: Neumann T, p. 319; A composition by Bach uncertain. 15 August 1726, Leipzig. [1.] Aria (Tutti) Auf zum Schertzen, [2. Recit.] (Mercurius) Die Götter sagen an [3.] Aria Seyd ihr da, ihr schönen Stunden, Da Capo. [4. Recit.] Ich bin erfreut, [5.] Aria (Astraea) Mit Tantzen und Springen, [6.] (Mercurius) Was seh ich hier [7.] (Astraea) Die geschäfftigen Gedancken, Da Capo. [8. Recit. (Mercurius, Astraea)] (Mercurius) (Astraea) (Mercurius) (Astraea) [9.] Aria Duetto D ... soll leben, Er soll blühen, Da Capo. [10. Recit. (Astraea, Mercurius)] (Astraea) (Mercurius) [11.] Chor der Gratien: (Tutti) Aria Kommt ihr angenehmen Blicke Da Capo.
1. Aria (Tutti) Rise, be merry!Rise, be glad! A happy beginning Our thoughts would be winning, Our hearts brings contentment, Brings joy to our breast. Rise, be merry! Rise, be glad! 2. Recit. (Mercury) The gods have here declared This day, this happy day, today appearing, To serve with spotless off’ring. Ye Graces, ye have done well That ye in this place have assembled And have your heads with flowers now encircled. 3. Aria (Mercury) Are ye here, ye lovely Hours, Charming moments, are ye here? With you have Good Luck and Health As an undivided boon To contentment here assembled.(2) Da Capo 4. Recit. (Astraea?) I am made gladThis altogether joyful time With happy wishes here to honor. 5. Aria (Astraea) With dancing and leaping, With jovial singing, With laughter and mirth I’ll fill now my heart. 6. Recit.? (Mercury) What see I here, Astraea next to me? Doth she intend to spoil my pleasure? 7. Recit.? (Astraea) All conceptions of my business, Trials, quarrels, suits and wrangling I for this day shall postpone. Da Capo (Movement 5). 8. Recit. (Mercury, Astraea) (Mercury) So may it be at last! Astraea, know that this thy pleasure Doth now as well With my intention quite agree. (Astraea) My friend, The day which now appears, On which D . . . was born into this world here, For me alone Was chosen as a feast-day. (Mercury) No, no! The gods who love his heart so dearly Have sent me hither for this purpose, That I his glad prosperity With lively triumph should extol. (Astraea) Well, come! Let’s both go forth now Upon one path! 9. Aria Duetto (Astraea, Mercury) D . . . shall live long, he shall flourish And in increase firmly rest! His year’s number shall be rising, And good fortune will assure him That he must be ever blest. Da Capo. 10. Recit. (Astraea, Mercury) (Astraea) Now I’ll go forth And heaven bring petition Its blessing’s bounteous flow On D . . . and his house, As though a heavy fall of rain, Unceasingly to shower. (Mercury) I have in this with thee one mind; Ye Graces now, Belovéd troop, Come, kneel with us before the altar low, And cry out joyfully: 11. Chorus of Graces (Tutti) Aria Come, O ye enchanting glances, Evermore content returning, Come yet oft, O welcome day! That, O worthy, thy good fortune Long yet, long yet may bring gladness And thee, too, may bring delight. Da Capo. 1. The god Mercury as patron of merchants and Astraea as goddess of justice suggest that Mr. J. W. C. D was prominent in the field of commerce and law in Leipzig. The Graces are not only patrons of charm and music but suit well the spirit of goodwill and pardon implied in movement 7. 2. Here the Hours seem to be associated with the
Graces. Originally the Graces (= Greek Charites) were like the
Hours, unlimited in number. The first representation of their
popular form, three embracing (cf. "undivided boon") nudes, was
probably in the Hellenistic period. Three common Greek names for
them were Thalia (The Flourishing), Aglaia (The Radiant), and
Euphrosyne (Joy). © Copyright Z. Philip Ambrose |