English: Johann Christoph Bach Русский: Бах, И...
English: Johann Christoph Bach (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Job 14:1-2 [German]

Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.

He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.


Der Mensch, vom Weibe geboren, composed by Johann Christoph Bach (1642-1703)

Johann Christoph Bach: „Der Mensch, vom Weibe geboren"

Performed by Cantamus Berlin

SHEET MUSIC

https://www.carusmedia.com/images-intern/medien/30/3056400/3056400x.pdf

 

 

Franz Joseph Hermann,
Franz Joseph Hermann, “The Fiery Furnace; from the Book of Daniel, 3”; St. Pankratius, Wiggensbach, Germany. King Nebuchadnezzar (left) watches the three youths and the angelic figure in the furnace (right), while the king’s gigantic statue towers behind them (centre).

Daniel 3:1-20,22-29

Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,

That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:

And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.

They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.

10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:

11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.

Portrait painting of Sir George Dyson by Anthony Devas, 1952
Portrait painting of Sir George Dyson by Anthony Devas, 1952

20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.

27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.


Nebuchadnezzar (1935), composed by Sir George Dyson (1883-1864)

Nebuchadnezzar: I. Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold (Chorus) - To you It Is...

Nebuchadnezzar: II. Wherefore at That time certain Chaldeans came near (Chorus) - Is It of...

Nebuchadnezzar: III. Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury (Chorus) - …And they have no hurt...

Performed by BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Chorus
Conductor: Richard Hickox

 

Sculpture by Andrea Malfatti
Sculpture by Andrea Malfa

Isaiah 35:3-4

Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.


Strengthen ye the weak hands (2010 world premiere performance), composed by David Buckley (b. 1976)

Strengthen ye the weak hands

Performed by Armonico Consort

 

 

Christ Driving the Money Changers out of the Temple, by Valentin de Boulogne
Christ Driving the Money Changers out of the Temple, by Valentin de Boulogne

Matthew 21:10-12a

10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,


Cum intrasset Jesus (1566), Motets, Book 1: No. 11, composed by Giaches de Wert (1535-1596)

Motets, Book 1: No. 11, Cum intrasset Jesus

Performed by Collegium Musicum Amsterdam & Anthony Zielhorst

FREE SHEET MUSIC

Choral Public Domain Library

John Blow

Psalm 69:1,3,7,10,13-14

Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.

I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.

10 When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.

13 But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.

14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.


Save me, O God, composed by John Blow (1649-1708)

John Blow: Save me, O God (EOL)

Performed by Eteläsuomalaisen Osakunnan Laulajat / EOL Chamber Choir

FREE SHEET MUSIC

Brighton Consort

 

The Angel Binding Satan (c. 1797) - by Philip James de Loutherbourg
The Angel Binding Satan (c. 1797) – by Philip James de Loutherbourg

Revelation 20:1-3 [Latin]

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.


Et vidi angelum, composed by Marco Galvani (b. 1994)


Performed by The Choir of the Queen’s College, Oxford, directed by Owen Rees

 

Matthew 2:18; Jeremiah 31:15

18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

15 Thus saith the Lord; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.


Vox in Rama, composed by George Kirbye (1565-1634)

Vox in Rama, by George Kirbye (1570-1634)

Performed by Quire Cleveland

FREE SHEET MUSIC

Choral Public Domain Library

Português: O compositor brasileiro Heitor Vila...
Português: O compositor brasileiro Heitor Vila-Lobos (1887-1959). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Proverbs 1:20, 20:15, 4:7, 24:5, 3:13; Psalm 90:12 [Portuguese]

20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets

15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.


Bendita Sabedoria (1958), composed by Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959)

Bendita sabedoria: I. Sapientia foris praedicat

I. Sapientia foris praedicat

Bendita sabedoria: II. Vas pretiosum

II. Vas pretiosum

Bendita sabedoria: III. Principium sapientiae

III. Principium sapientiae

Bendita sabedoria: IV. Vir sapiens

IV. Vir sapiens

Bendita sabedoria: V. Beatus homo

V. Beatus homo

Bendita sabedoria: VI. Dexteram tuam

VI. Dexteram tuam

Choir: SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart
Conductor: Marcus Creed