Relayed from the Guildhall School of Music
'O Ewiges Feuer, O Ursprung der Liebe'
(O Light Everlasting, O Love never failing)
Doris Owens (Contralto)
Tom Purvis (Tenor.)
Stanley Riley (Bass)
Leslie Woodgate (Organ)
The Wireless Chorus and The Wireless Orchestra
(Trumpets, Tympani, Flutes, Oboes and Strings)
Conducted by Stanford Robinson

We know from a set of older parts in existence, that this Cantata must be founded on another with the same title. The music, besides, for the alto aria hardly seems to be born from its present text in the way that Bach leads us to expect. But it is a splendidly impressive work, and the opening chorus, in aria form, is on a very big scale. The German text means Eternal Fire, rather than Light, and the vivid leaping figures in the orchestral Introduction and the accompaniment to the first great chorus suggest the tongues of flame that are to set the worshippers' hearts on fire. The whole of the first chorus is worked out with lavish adornment and was clearly one on which Bach worked with enthusiasm.
There are two short recitatives, one for Tenor and one for Bass, and between them is a beautiful aria for Alto in which the music, both for the voice and the orchestra, has a wonderful sense of peace and soothing. Instead of the usual simple chorale, there is another big imposing chorus, fully accompanied, and with an orchestral Interlude in the middle of it, to close the Cantata. Big though it is, Schweitzer assumes that this last chorus has been cut down from a fuller original form.
The orchestra used is a larger one than in many of the Cantatas: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 3 trumpets and drums are all called on, besides the usual strings and continuo.
The text is reprinted from the Novello edition by permission of Messrs. Novello and Co... Ltd.
I. - Chorus.
O Light everlasting, O Love never failing,
Our darkness illumine and draw us to Thee.
May we from Thy spirit receive inspiration
And grant us, most Highest,
Thy temple to be.
In Thee may our souls find their peace and salvation.
II. - Recitative (Tenor):
Lord, in our inmost hearts we hold Thy word the truth to be.
With us Thou dost vouchsafe to dwell,
O knit our hearts to Thee: Lord, ever near us be! If Thou within us but abide, we need not aught beside.
III. - Aria (Alto):
Rejoice, ye souls, elect and holy, Whom God His dwelling deigns to make.
He doth His great salvation send us,
And all from God's own hand we take.
Unnumbered mercies still attend us.
IV. - Recitative (Bass):
The Lord doth choose a holy dwelling, whereon to shed His peace; His boundless grace our lips would fail in telling ; how He to bless His chosen doth not cease. It is our Father's everlasting will to bless His children still.
V. - Chorus:
Peace be unto Israel.
Thank the Lord whose love attends us,
Thank Him who on us hath thought.
Yea, His love this grace hath brought.
Peace and rest our Saviour sends us,
Peace be unto Israel.