Jauchzet, frohlocket!

For your listening pleasure and prayerful reflection this Christmas Day, I am happy to present the opening chorus of Johann Sebastian Bach's Weihnachts-Oratorium, BWV 248, performed here by Concentus Musicus Wien and the Tölzer Knabenchor under the direction of Nikolaus Harnoncourt. For readers interested in such things, this is a 1981 recording (hence all the shaggy hair) made at the Stiftskirche in Waldhausen im Strudengau, Austria.

Here are the words to the chorus Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage, first in German and then in an English translation provided by the indispensable Bach Cantatas Website:

Jauchzet, frohlocket! auf, preiset die Tage,
Rühmet, was heute der Höchste getan!
Lasset das Zagen, verbannet die Klage,
Stimmet voll Jauchzen und Fröhlichkeit an!
Dienet dem Höchsten mit herrlichen Chören,
Laßt uns den Namen des Herrschers verehren!

–––

Shout for joy, exult, rise up, glorify the day,
praise what today the highest has done!
Abandon hesitation, banish lamentation,
begin to sing with rejoicing and exaltation!
Serve the highest with glorious choirs,
let us honour the name of our ruler!

Again, prayers and best wishes to all. Frohe Weihnachten! AMDG.