Johann Sebastian Bach

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BWV 645
Title Wake, awake, for night is flying
Composed 1747, Leipzig
Scoring

Organ

Key E-flat-Major
Movements Chorale
Category Schuebler Chorales
Event First Sunday in Advent
Author of text Philipp Nicolai, 1599
Text

Wake, awake, for night is flying,
The watchmen on the heights are crying:
Awake, Jerusalem at last!
And at the thrilling cry rejoices:
Come forth, ye virgins, night is past!
The Bridegroom comes, awake.
Your lamps with gladness take;
Alleluia!
And for his marriage feast prepare,
For ye must go to meet him there.

Zion hears the watchmen singing,
And all her heart with joy is springing;
She wakes, she rises from her gloom;
For her Lord comes down all glorious,
The Strong in grace, in truth Victorious.
Her Star is risen, her light is come!
Ah, come Thou blessed Lord,
O Jesu, Son of God,
Alleluia!
We follow till the halls we see
Where Thou hast bid us sup with Thee.

YouTube Video 1
Manuscript Estate Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy; Bodleian library, Oxford; Music library, Leipzig; Yale University, New Haven

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