Froxfield Choir

Johann Sebastian Bach: Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied BWV 225 (1726)

A motet is any one of a number of highly varied choral musical compositions. According to Margaret Bent (1997), a piece of music in several parts with words is as precise a definition of the motet as will serve from the thirteenth to the late sixteenth century and beyond. Bach wrote seven surviving works that he called motets, they are all relatively long pieces in German on sacred themes, for choir and basso continuo. BWV 225 was composed in Leipzig sometime between June 1726 and April 1727, but it is not known what occasion it was written for.

The German words for BWV 225 combine texts from verses of two Psalms (149 v1-3 and 150 v2,6) and an adaptation of a stanza from a chorale (Lutheran hymn) by Johann Gramann (“Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren,” c. 1530). It is not known who did this adaptation, it may have been written specifically for the motet.

With its many layers and contrasting techniques and textures, it is considered by many to be a pinnacle of vocal music. As Mozart remarked upon hearing a performance “Now that is something one could learn from.”

Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, die Gemeine der Heiligen sollen ihn loben.
Israel freue sich des, der ihn gemacht hat. Die Kinder Zion sei’n fröhlich über ihrem Könige,
Sie sollen loben seinen Namen im Reihen; mit pauken und mit Harfen sollen sie ihm spielen.
Wie sich ein Vater erbarmet
Gott, nimm dich ferner unser an,
Über seine junge Kinderlein,
So tut der Herr uns allen,
So wir ihn kindlich fürchten rein.
Er kennt das arm Gemächte,
Gott weiß, wir sind nur Staub,
Denn ohne dich ist nichts getan
Mit allen unsern Sachen.
Gleichwie das Gras vom Rechen,
Ein Blum und fallend Laub.
Der Wind nur drüber wehet,
So ist es nicht mehr da,
Drum sei du unser Schirm und Licht,
Und trügt uns unsre Hoffnung nicht,
So wirst du’s ferner machen.
Also der Mensch vergehet,
Sein End, das ist ihm nah.
Wohl dem, der sich nur steif und fest
Auf dich und deine Huld verlässt.
Lobet den Herrn in seinen Taten, lobet ihn in seiner großen Herrlichkeit!
Alles, was Odem hat, lobe den Herrn
Halleluja!

O sing unto the Lord a new song : let the congregation of saints praise him.
Let Israel rejoice in him that made him : and let the children of Sion be joyful in their King.
Let them praise his Name in the dance : let them sing praises unto him with timbrel and harp.
As a father is merciful
to his young infants,
so is the Lord to us all,
as long as we fear Him purely like a child.
He knows our frailty,
knows we are just dust,
like the grass and flower
and leaf under the rake.
The wind just blows over it
and it is gone.
Thus man passes away,
his end is near.
God, continue to care for us,
for without You
all our affairs come to nothing.
Be our shield and light,
and if our hope does not deceive us,
You shall continue to be so.
Happy is he who firmly and solidly
puts his trust in You and your bounty.
Praise him in his noble acts : praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Let every thing that hath breath : praise the Lord.
Hallelujah!