Die Himmel erzahlen die Ehre Gottes
(The Heavens declare His Glory)
Winifred Radford (soprano)
Esther Coleman (contralto)
John Armstrong (tenor)
Arthur Brough (bass)
The Wireless Chorus (Section E)
Marie Wilson (solo violin)
Ernest Lush (harpsichord)
Berkeley Mason (organ)
The BBC Orchestra (Section C)
(Led by Marie Wilson)
(Trumpet, Oboes, Oboe d'Amore, Viola da Gamba, and Strings)
Conducted by Leslie Woodgate
I. Chorus: The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.
II. Recitative and Arioso (Tenor): Ev'n so is God to men revealed! His grace, His glory, in all the world displayed; And all things, all things that the Lord hath made, The earth, the shining heaven, The soul, to man that He hath given, The light that He hath ne'er concealed From eyes that look, in faith, above, All these are nought but tokens of His love!
III. Aria (Soprano): Hear ye people, God doth call you, haste unto His throne of grace! Man's redemption cometh through Him, who for us before His face intercedeth; turn ye to Him.
IV. Recitative (Bass): His word is spurn'd, and of His people many to other gods have turn'd. Temptation overcometh all, they yield and weakly fall. The prophets speak but foolishness, And false idolatry they all profess; None may He call His own; He hath not any.
V. Aria (Bass): Begone, unholy delight ! Though all the world were o'erturned, I ne'er by Him shall be spurned, And I shall walk in His sight.
VI. Recitative and Arioso (Alto): Lo, all the earth and ev'ry nation hath heard Thy voice, And they that were beset by sore temptation, Thou makest to rejoice As Thou dost shed Thy light upon the world where darkness reigned. Lo, all that listen to Thy voice that calleth, On them Thy spirit falleth, thereby their soul shall be sustained; Then let our lowly pray'r be pleasing in Thy sight.
VII. Choral: Upon us, God, Thy mercy send, Thy grace to men be given; Thy countenance upon us bend, And light us into Heaven; Thy wond'rous works that we may know, On Thee who have believed, And Jesu's love to them may shew, His grace who ne'er received, And unto Thee may bring them.
VIII. Sinfonia.
IX. Recitative (Bass): O bless Thy faithful few, that they Thy glory still may show forth, That knowledge, mercy, Thy light To ev'ry land may go forth. O send from Heav'n Thy holy spirit, To gird man for the fight With sin and vanity, Till all the world Thy grace inherit.
X. Aria (Tenor): Vilify, do me despite, haters of light! Jesu's way of life who taketh, Ev'ry worldly joy forsaketh.
XI. Recitative and Arioso (Alto): My spirit hath rejoic'd in Christ my Lord His blessed love my soul doth crown. 'Tis He sends manna down, That all mankind with one accord, In brotherhood may praise Him, And one great anthem raise Him.
XII. Aria (Alto): Love thy Lord as He hath done; Jesu died for man, His brother, Love ye therefore one another; In His love all men are one.
XIII. Recitative (Tenor): All Christianity the Love of Jesu knoweth And His way ever goeth : to all eternity The heav'ns and mankind lowly, shall praise the Lord most holy.
XIV. Choral: Our thanks to God, our praises show, His faith always professing; Our lands with milk and honey flow, So giveth God His blessing. Be with us Father and the Son, Be with us, God, the Holy Ghost, Lo, all the world doth worship Thee, Thy people and the heav'nly Host, So sing we gladly, Amen !
(English text by D. Millar Craig. Copyright B C.C., 1930.)
Cantatas for the next four Sundays are: January 21 - No. 2, Wer weiẞ, wie nahe (Who knows how near); February 4 - No. 65, Sie werden aus Saba (The Sages of Sheba); February 18 - No. 144, Nimm, was dein (Take what thine is, and go thy way); March 4 - No. 112, Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt (The Lord is my Shepherd).