KYRIE

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Revised 30 September 2008

What I am going to attempt here is to give you the words of the text in Latin and in English and then create an explanation of each piece using some citations from the participants and from experts in the field to make the words more meaningful to the neophyte. The music of Bach speak for itself, but Bach has a few tricks up his sleeve for us that are hidden in his music. If you aren't watching for it, you miss an important aspect of Bach's Mass.
I'll give a brief over-view of Bach's life here, but will not attempt to write a history of his work as others have done so many times before and they are far more knowledgeable on the subject than am I. If you wish to read more about the life and times of Johann Sebastian Bach, there are a number of books available through my bookstore. In covering the text and music itself, I want to cite several sources published on the internet, including the great article by Timothy A Smith, and will include some comments from the performers, those who work behind the scenes and friends. Rather than cite Mr. Smith directly, I will create a link over to his site so you can read the article for yourself as he has written an extensive evaluation of this work and gives some marvelous insight into the musical magic that Bach creates. Please use your back arrow to return to this cite where links do not exist or do not yet work.

"Bach's music has lasted all these years because he gave God all the glory for his musical gifts.. At the bottom of each sacred work are the words-SOLI DEO GLORIA- to God be the glory." - Grace Arrowood, music teacher, West Virginia

THE B MINOR MASS TEXT

Missa I

Kyrie

Kyrie eleison - 5 part chorus
Kyrie eleison
Lord have mercy upon us

Christe eleison - Duet for Soprano I and II
Christe eleison
Christ have mercy upon us

Kyrie eleison (II) - 4 part chorus
Kyrie eleison
Lord have mercy upon us

Gloria

Gloria in excelsis - 5 part chorus
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Glory be to God on high

Et in terra pax - 5 part chorus
Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis
And on earth, peace to men of good will

Laudamus te - Soprano II aria
Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te.
We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee

Gratias agimus tibi - 4 part chorus
Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam
We thank thee for thy great glory

Domine Deus - Duet for soprano I and tenor

Domine Deus, rex coelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens. Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe, Altissime, Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris
Lord God, heavenly King, Father almighty, O Lord, the only begotten son, Jesus Christ Highest, Lord God, Lamb of God, son of the Father

Qui tollis peccata mundi - 4 part chorus
Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram
Thou who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou who takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.

Qui sedes ad dextram Patris - Alto aria
Qui sedes ad dextram Patris, miserere nobis.
Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.

Quoniam to solis sanctus - Bass aria
Quoniam tu solus sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus Altissimus, Jesu Christe
For thou only art holy, thou only art the Lord, thou only, Christ, art most high.

Cum Sancto Spiritu - 5 part chorus
Cum Sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris. Amen
With the Holy Ghost in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Symbolum Nicenum (Credo) II

Credo

Credo in unum Deum - 5 part chorus
Credo in unum Deum.
I believe in one God.

Patrem Omnipotentem - 4 part chorus
(Credo in unum Deum) Patrem omnipotentem, factorem coeli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium.
(I believe in one God) The Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

Et in unum Dominum - Duet for Soprano I and Alto
Et in unum Dominum, Jesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum, et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula, Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero, genitum, non factum, consubstantialem Patri, per quem omnia facta sunt, qui propter nos homines et propter nostram salutem descendit de coelis.
And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, light of light, true God of true God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by who all things were made: who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven.

Et incarnatus est - 5 part chorus
Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria virgine, et homo factus est.
And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.

Crucifixus - 4 part chorus
Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato, passus et sepultus est.
And was crucified also under Pontius Pilate, suffered, and was buried.

Et resurrexit - 5 part chorus -
Et resurrexit tertia die secundum scripturas, et ascendit in coelum, sedet ad dexteram Patris, et iterum venturus est cum gloria judicare vivos et mortuos, cujus regni non erit finis.
And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father: and he shall come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

Et in Spiritum sanctum Dominum - Bass aria
Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem, qui ex Patre Filio que procedit, qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur, qui locutus est per prophetas. Et unam sanctam catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, who prodeedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spake by the Prophets. And I believe in one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Confiteor - 5 part chorus
Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum
I acknowledge baptism for the remission of sins.

Et expecto - 5 part chorus
Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen.
And I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Sanctus III

Sanctus

Sanctus - 6 part chorus
Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria ejus.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory.

Osanna, Benedictus, Agnus Dei et Dona Nobis Pacem IV

Osanna

Osanna in excelsis - 8 part double chorus
Osanna in excelsis.
Glory be to Thee, O Lord most high

Benedictus - tenor aria
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.
Blessed is he, who cometh in the name of the Lord.

Osanna in excelsis - 8 part double chorus
Osanna in excelsis.
Glory be to Thee, O Lord most high

Benedictus

Agnus Dei - alto aria
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.

Dona nobis pacem - 4 part chorus
Dona nobis pacem
Grant us peace.

Outside Bach links

Timothy A Smith article

[HOME] [CHURCH] [FAMILY] [HISTORY] [ON-LINE LIBRARY] [BACH INDEX]

What I am going to attempt here is to give you the words of the text in Latin and in English and then create an explanation of each piece using some citations from the participants and from experts in the field to make the words more meaningful to the neophyte. The music of Bach speak for itself, but Bach has a few tricks up his sleeve for us that are hidden in his music. If you aren't watching for it, you miss an important aspect of Bach's Mass. I'll give a brief over-view of Bach's life here, but will not attempt to write a history of his work as others have done so many times before and they are far more knowledgeable on the subject than am I. If you wish to read more about the life and times of Johann Sebastian Bach, there are a number of books available through my bookstore. In covering the text and music itself, I want to cite several sources published on the internet, including the great article by Timothy A Smith, and will include some comments from the performers, those who work behind the scenes and friends. Rather than cite Mr. Smith directly, I will create a link over to his site so you can read the article for yourself as he has written an extensive evaluation of this work and gives some marvelous insight into the musical magic that Bach creates. Please use your back arrow to return to this cite where links do not exist or do not yet work. "Bach's music has lasted all these years because he gave God all the glory for his musical gifts.. At the bottom of each sacred work are the words-SOLI DEO GLORIA- to God be the glory." - Grace Arrowood, music teacher, West Virginia
THE B MINOR MASS TEXT
Missa I
Kyrie
Kyrie eleison - 5 part chorus Kyrie eleison	Lord have mercy upon us
Christe eleison - Duet for Soprano I and II Christe eleison	Christ have mercy upon us
Kyrie eleison (II) - 4 part chorus Kyrie eleison	Lord have mercy upon us
Gloria
Gloria in excelsis - 5 part chorus Gloria in excelsis Deo	Glory be to God on high
Et in terra pax - 5 part chorus Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis	And on earth, peace to men of good will
Laudamus te - Soprano II aria Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te.	We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee
Gratias agimus tibi - 4 part chorus Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam	We thank thee for thy great glory
Domine Deus - Duet for soprano I and tenor Domine Deus, rex coelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens. Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe, Altissime, Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris	Lord God, heavenly King, Father almighty, O Lord, the only begotten son, Jesus Christ Highest, Lord God, Lamb of God, son of the Father
Qui tollis peccata mundi - 4 part chorus Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram	Thou who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou who takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.
Qui sedes ad dextram Patris - Alto aria Qui sedes ad dextram Patris, miserere nobis.	Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.
Quoniam to solis sanctus - Bass aria Quoniam tu solus sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus Altissimus, Jesu Christe	For thou only art holy, thou only art the Lord, thou only, Christ, art most high.
Cum Sancto Spiritu - 5 part chorus Cum Sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris. Amen	With the Holy Ghost in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Symbolum Nicenum (Credo) II
Credo
Credo in unum Deum - 5 part chorus Credo in unum Deum.	I believe in one God.
Patrem Omnipotentem - 4 part chorus (Credo in unum Deum) Patrem omnipotentem, factorem coeli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium.	(I believe in one God) The Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
Et in unum Dominum - Duet for Soprano I and Alto Et in unum Dominum, Jesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum, et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula, Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero, genitum, non factum, consubstantialem Patri, per quem omnia facta sunt, qui propter nos homines et propter nostram salutem descendit de coelis.	And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, light of light, true God of true God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by who all things were made: who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven.
Et incarnatus est - 5 part chorus Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria virgine, et homo factus est.	And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
Crucifixus - 4 part chorus Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato, passus et sepultus est.	And was crucified also under Pontius Pilate, suffered, and was buried.
Et resurrexit - 5 part chorus - Et resurrexit tertia die secundum scripturas, et ascendit in coelum, sedet ad dexteram Patris, et iterum venturus est cum gloria judicare vivos et mortuos, cujus regni non erit finis.	And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father: and he shall come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
Et in Spiritum sanctum Dominum - Bass aria Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem, qui ex Patre Filio que procedit, qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur, qui locutus est per prophetas. Et unam sanctam catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam.	And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, who prodeedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spake by the Prophets. And I believe in one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
Confiteor - 5 part chorus Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum	I acknowledge baptism for the remission of sins.
Et expecto - 5 part chorus Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen.	And I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Sanctus III
Sanctus
Sanctus - 6 part chorus Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria ejus.	Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory.
Osanna, Benedictus, Agnus Dei et Dona Nobis Pacem IV
Osanna
Osanna in excelsis - 8 part double chorus Osanna in excelsis.	Glory be to Thee, O Lord most high
Benedictus - tenor aria Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.	Blessed is he, who cometh in the name of the Lord.
Osanna in excelsis - 8 part double chorus Osanna in excelsis.	Glory be to Thee, O Lord most high
Benedictus
Agnus Dei - alto aria Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.	O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
Dona nobis pacem - 4 part chorus Dona nobis pacem	Grant us peace.
Outside Bach links
Timothy A Smith article