Cantata BWV 140 - Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Johann Sebastian Bach)

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Movement 1: Chorus (SATB) Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (verse 1)

• CPDL #4946:

Editor: Kelvin Smith (submitted 2003-05-02).   Score information: Letter, 7 pages   Copyright: Public Domain

Edition notes: First movement of Cantata #140, choral parts only

• CPDL #505: Encore

Editor: Pier Mario Piturro (submitted 1999-11-11).   Score information: 316 kbytes   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Possible error(s) identified. Error summary: PDF contents clipped on some pages (See discussion page for full description)

Movement 2: Recitative (Tenor) Er kommt, er kommt, der Bräut'gam kommt!

Movement 3: Aria Duet (Soprano and Bass) Wann kommst du, mein Heil? / Ich komme, dein Theil

Movement 4: Chorale (Tenors) Zion, hört die Wächter singen (verse 2)

• CPDL #5131: Encore

Editor: Pablo Rosario (submitted 2003-05-23).   Score information: A4, 3 pages, 108 kbytes   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Transposed into Bb (down a fourth from original)

Movement 5: Recitative (Bass) So geh' herein zu mir, du mir erwählte Braut!

Movement 6: Aria Duet (Soprano and Bass) Mein Freund is mein! / Und ich bin dein!

Movement 7: Chorale (SATB) Gloria sei dir gesungen

• CPDL #18295: Sibelius 4

Editor: John Henry Fowler (submitted 2008-11-13).   Score information:Letter, 37 kbytes   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Choral parts only.

• CPDL #15538: PDF files available.

Editor: Christian Hofius (submitted 2007-11-26).   Score information: 107 kbytes   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Transposed in d major, with all verses of the choral and instrumental sheets. Also available instrumental parts.

• CPDL #543: Finale 1998

Editor: Rafael Ornes (submitted 1999-11-19).   Score information: 92 kbytes   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Organ accompaniment.

• CPDL #552: PDF file available.

Editor: Andrea Angelini (submitted 1999-11-21).   Score information:    Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Italian text.

• CPDL #760: Encore

Editor: Pier Mario Piturro (submitted 2000-03-16).   Score information: 56 kbytes   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes:

Arrangements

• CPDL #3324: PDF and PostScript files available.

Editor: Helmut Kickton (submitted 2002-03-08).   Score information: 140 kbytes   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: score of choral movements, in A4 format, parts available in PDF and Postscript. no continuo realization, in C major. This edition consists of: (a) the 4th movement (trio) with the words of the 1st stanza, and (b) the harmonization of the 7th movement Gloria sei dir gesungen (final movement).

General Information

Title: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB and STB soli
Genre: Sacred, Cantata, Hymn

Language: German
Instruments: orchestra: 2 oboes, English horn, violins I (solo violino piccolo in 3rd movement), violins II, violas, basso continuo (violoncello, double bass, harpsichord/organ)
Published: Description: Liturgical use, for the 27th Sunday after Trinity, also often used in Advent.

This cantata/choral setting of the hymn Wachet aur, ruft uns die Stimme by Johann Sebastian Bach is especially famous. The first stanza is set in the opening movement in an elaborate choir-orchestra setting. The second stanza appears in the 4th movement as a trio for unison tenors and strings. This part became particularly well known because Bach himself arranged this trio for organ and published it in his six Schübler Chorales. Although many people associate this trio with the text Wachet auf, Bach's original music was written with the second stanza Zion hört die Wächter singen (Zion hears the watchmen singing) in mind. The final (third) stanza is a typical Bach-harmonization for SATB choir and forms the final movement of the cantata.

Text and translations

Original text and translations may be found at Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme.