"Wachet Auf" new translation (all three verses)
  • NihilNominisNihilNominis
    Posts: 986
    Nothing I've seen yet does the German of the last verse justice and makes it ring (as a good Advent tune ought) with the Nativity and the eschaton at once.

    Originally I translated just that verse, but I decided to keep going. Debts to Winkworth, of course, but really its own thing:

    Wake, O wake! a voice of gladness
    calls from above to end our sadness:
    Awake, Jerusalem, arise!
    Midnight’s gloom bright joy is breaking
    For lo! the Bridegroom now is making
    His way to greet the virgins wise.
    Arise, for it is He!
    Take up your lamps & see:
    Halleluja.
    Do not delay,
    Ye cannot stay:
    Behold! It is the wedding day.

    Sion hears the watchmen singing
    And lo! her heart with joy is springing:
    She leaps for Him for Whom she pined.
    See her Bridegroom run to meet her,
    Girt up with grace & truth to greet her,
    Her risen Star -- how bright He shines!
    O priceless Crown, now come:
    Lord Jesus, God’s own Son.
    Hosianna.
    Now lead us where
    Thou dost prepare
    The wedding feast for us to share.

    Let the Gloria keep ringing
    as tongues of men and angels singing
    Join with the harp, Thy praise to tell.
    Through those gates, where angels never
    Cease praising round Thy throne, forever,
    O Bridegroom, take Thy Bride to dwell.
    No eye hath ever gazed,
    or ear yet been amazed
    at such gladness.
    Our hearts aglow,
    io, io!
    we sing in dulci jubilo.

    Thanked by 10CHGiffen LauraKaz Anna_Bendiksen JacobFlaherty Brian Michael Page Aristotle Esguerra Magdalene Kathy Chrism m_r_taylor
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,368
    I'm glad at the allusion to I. Corinthians 2.9 -
    ....Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard....
    Neither hath it entered into the heart of man
    What things God hath prepared for them that love him.
    Your entire translation is both beautiful and exciting.
    It should certainly appear in The Musica Sacra Hymnal if it ever happens.

    a
    Thanked by 3CHGiffen LauraKaz NihilNominis
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,151
    This is splendid!!
    Thanked by 1NihilNominis
  • JacobFlahertyJacobFlaherty
    Posts: 328
    Bravo! Wonderfully done!
    Thanked by 1NihilNominis
  • NihilNominisNihilNominis
    Posts: 986
    Sang this tonight as the closer at the Musical Oratory of Advent. Followed up with Leo Sowerby’s
    “In dulci jubilo” as the postlude to really connect the dots for folks.

    It was very well received! Thanks for the confidence boost I needed to use it.
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen ServiamScores
  • Kathy
    Posts: 5,500
    Beautiful!!
    Thanked by 1NihilNominis
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