Composition: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140 (Bach, Johann Sebastian)
| Title | Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme |
| Alternative title | Wake up, cries the watchmen’s voice |
| Creators | Johann Sebastian Bach (composer) |
| Opus | BWV 140 |
| Instrumentation | soprano, tenor, bass, mixed chorus and orchestra |
| Number of movements | 7 |
| Keys | E flat major |
| Composed | 1731 |
| First published | 1847 |
| Dedication | — |
| Tempo markings | — |
| Metronome markings | — |
| Time signatures | — |
| Average duration (sec) | 1860 |
| Number of measures | — |
| Composition types | Sacred cantatas |
| Language | German |
| Period | Baroque |
| View on IMSLP |  |
| Code |  |
Sections
| Title click for details |
Metronome | Key | Measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Chorus: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme | — | — | — |
| 2. Recitative (tenor): Er kommt, er kommt | — | — | — |
| 3. Duet Aria (sopranobass): Wann kommst du, mein Heil | — | — | — |
| 4. Chorale (tenor): Zion hört die Wächter singen | — | — | — |
| 5. Recitative (bass): So geh herein zu mir | — | — | — |
| 6. Duetto Aria (sopranobass): Mein Freund ist mein | — | — | — |
| 7. Chorale: Gloria sei dir gesungen | — | — | — |
Arrangements
| Details | Section | Arranged for | Arranger |
|---|---|---|---|
| view | Chorus: 'Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme' (No.1) | 2 horns, 2 flugelhorns, 2 trumpets, 4 trombones and tuba | Michel Rondeau |
| view | Chorus: 'Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme' (No.1) | 4 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos | Russ Bartoli |
| view | Chorus: 'Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme' (No.1) | 3 guitars and double bass 3 guitars and bass guitar |
Bernd Rest |
| view | Chorus: 'Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme' (No.1) | 3 guitars | Vesa Kuokkanen |
| view | Chorus: 'Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme' (No.1) | trumpet and organ | Jan Chabichou |
| view | Duetto Aria: 'Wann kommst du, mein Heil' (No.3) | 2 violins, viola and cello 2 violins and 2 cellos violin, 2 violas and cello violin, viola and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang |
| view | Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' (No.4) | 12 recorders | David Edward Kemp |
| view | Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' (No.4) | 2 flutes, 2 clarinets, bassoon and horn | Laurie Giles |
| view | Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' (No.4) | 3 recorders | R.D. Tennent |
| view | Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' (No.4) | voice, trumpet and piano | Shigeru Kan-no |
| view | Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' (No.4) | 2 flugelhorns and bass trombone | Michel Rondeau |
| view | Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' (No.4) | violin, viola and cello violin and 2 cellos viola and 2 cellos 3 cellos |
Peter Lang |
| view | Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' (No.4) | flute, violin and viola flute and 2 violas |
Ossan Quartet |
| view | Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' (No.4) | trumpet and organ | Michel Rondeau |
| view | Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' (No.4) | organ | Venanzio Cellitti |
| view | Duetto Aria: 'Mein Freund ist mein' (No.6) | 2 violins, viola and cello 2 violins and 2 cellos violin, 2 violas and cello violin, viola and 2 cellos oboe, violin, viola and cello oboe, violin and 2 cellos oboe, 2 violas and cello oboe, viola and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang |
| view | Duetto Aria: 'Mein Freund ist mein' (No.6) | 4 recorders | R.D. Tennent |
Scores
| Details | Section | Type | Publisher | Date | File |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| view | Complete | — | Manuscript | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | — | Fritz Brodersen | — | Complete Score · view Engraving files (Capella) · view |
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | — | Ramon Casadesus-Masanell | 2021 | 1. Chorus: 'Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme' · view 2. Recitative: 'Er kommt, er kommt' · view 3. Duet Aria: 'Wann kommst du, mein Heil' · view 4. Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' · view 5. Recitative: 'So geh herein zu mir' · view 6. Duetto Aria: 'Mein Freund ist mein' · view 7. Chorale: 'Gloria sei dir gesungen' · view Engraving files (MuseScore) · view |
| view | Complete | parts | Manuscript | 1731 | Complete Parts · view |
| view | Complete | parts | — | — | Oboe 1, 2, Taille (English Horn) · view Horn (F) · view Trumpet (E, Alternate to Horn (F)) · view Violins I · view Violins II · view Violas · view Cellos/Basses · view Organ/Harpsichord · view |
| view | Complete | parts | Fritz Brodersen | — | Oboe 1 · view Oboe 2 · view Taille (or English Horn) · view Violins I · view Violins II · view Violas · view Continuo (Cellos/Basses/Keyboard) · view |
| view | Complete | vocal score | Novello | 1901 | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | vocal score | Schirmer | 1925 | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | vocal score | Edition Peters | — | Complete Score · view Color Cover · view |
| view | Complete | vocal score | Fritz Brodersen | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' (No.4) | vocal score | — | — | Complete Score · view Engraving files (Finale) · view |
| view | Chorale: 'Gloria sei dir gesungen' (No.7) | vocal score | Montréal: Les Éditions Outremontaises | 2008 | Complete Score · view |
| view | Chorale: 'Gloria sei dir gesungen' (No.7) | — | — | — | Study Choral Score (Textless) · view |
| view | Chorale: 'Gloria sei dir gesungen' (No.7) | — | — | — | Study Choral Score (Textless) · view |
| view | Chorus: 'Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme' (No.1) | Arrangement for 2 horns, 2 flugelhorns, 2 trumpets, 4 trombones and tuba |
Michel Rondeau | 2019 | Complete Score and Parts · view Engraving files (Finale & XML) · view |
| view | Chorus: 'Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme' (No.1) | Arrangement for 4 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2015 | Complete Score and Parts · view |
| view | Chorus: 'Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme' (No.1) | Arrangement for 3 guitars and double bass 3 guitars and bass guitar |
Bernd Rest | 2019 | Complete Score · view Guitar 1 · view Guitar 2 · view Guitar 3 · view Double Bass · view Bass Guitar (Treble Clef) · view |
| view | Chorus: 'Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme' (No.1) | Arrangement for 3 guitars |
— | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Chorus: 'Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme' (No.1) | Arrangement for trumpet and organ |
— | — | Complete Score · view Trumpet Part · view |
| view | Duetto Aria: 'Wann kommst du, mein Heil' (No.3) | Arrangement for 2 violins, viola and cello 2 violins and 2 cellos violin, 2 violas and cello violin, viola and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2015 | Complete Score and Parts · view |
| view | Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' (No.4) | Arrangement for 12 recorders |
David Edward Kemp | 2019 | Complete Score · view Complete Parts · view |
| view | Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' (No.4) | Arrangement for 2 flutes, 2 clarinets, bassoon and horn |
Hartlepool | — | Complete Score and Parts · view |
| view | Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' (No.4) | Arrangement for 3 recorders |
— | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' (No.4) | Arrangement for voice, trumpet and piano |
— | — | Complete Score · view Trumpet Part · view |
| view | Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' (No.4) | Arrangement for 2 flugelhorns and bass trombone |
Michel Rondeau | 2019 | Complete Score and Parts · view Engraving files (Finale & XML) · view |
| view | Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' (No.4) | Arrangement for violin, viola and cello violin and 2 cellos viola and 2 cellos 3 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2015 | Complete Score and Parts · view |
| view | Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' (No.4) | Arrangement for flute, violin and viola flute and 2 violas |
— | — | Complete Score and Parts · view |
| view | Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' (No.4) | Arrangement for trumpet and organ |
— | — | Complete Score and Trumpet Part · view Engraving files (Finale & XML) · view |
| view | Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' (No.4) | Arrangement for organ |
Venanzio Cellitti | 2007 | Complete Score · view |
| view | Duetto Aria: 'Mein Freund ist mein' (No.6) | Arrangement for 2 violins, viola and cello 2 violins and 2 cellos violin, 2 violas and cello violin, viola and 2 cellos oboe, violin, viola and cello oboe, violin and 2 cellos oboe, 2 violas and cello oboe, viola and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2015 | Complete Score and Parts · view |
| view | Duetto Aria: 'Mein Freund ist mein' (No.6) | Arrangement for 4 recorders |
— | — | Complete Score · view Complete Parts · view |
Recordings/Performances
| Details | Type | Section | Performers | Arranged for | Files | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| view | Synthesized | Chorale: 'Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme' (No.1) | Martha Goldstein (piano) | For Piano (Busoni) | Complete Performance · file | |
| view | Synthesized | Synthesized | Complete | — | 1. Chorale: 'Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme' · file 2. Recitative: 'Er kommt, er kommt' · file 3. Aria: 'Wann kommst du, mein Heil' · file 4. Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' · file 5. Recitative: 'So geh herein zu mir' · file 6. Aria: 'Mein Freund ist mein' · file 7. Chorale: 'Gloria sei dir gesungen' · file |
|
| view | Synthesized | Synthesized | Chorus: 'Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme' (No.1) | For 2 Horns, 2 Flugelhorns, 2 Trumpets, 4 Trombones and Tuba (Rondeau) | Synthesized Performance · file | |
| view | Synthesized | Synthesized | Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' (No.4) | For 3 Recorders (Tennent) | Synthesized Performance · file | |
| view | Synthesized | Synthesized | Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' (No.4) | For Voice and Keyboard (Gomez) | Synthesized Performance · file | |
| view | Synthesized | Synthesized | Chorale: 'Zion hört die Wächter singen' (No.4) | For Trumpet and Organ (Rondeau) | Synthesized Performance · file | |
| view | Synthesized | Synthesized | Duetto Aria: 'Mein Freund ist mein' (No.6) | For 4 Recorders (Tennent) | Synthesized Performance · file | |
| view | Synthesized | Synthesized | Duetto Aria: 'Mein Freund ist mein' (No.6) | For 4 Recorders (Tennent) | Synthesized Performance · file |
©2025 David P. Anderson