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German and English texts of Beethoven’s Chris- BLOG STATS

tus am Ölberge
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 The German text is in bold.  The names of characters and the number de- Search

scriptions are given in English only.  The English text is followed by the Ger-
man text.

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Christ on the Mount of Olives

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Christus am Ölberge

Jesus RECENT POSTS

Recitative and Aria Personal Recollections of Jo-

hannes Brahms (1907) by
Jehovah, Thou my Father, as Thou hast power, give me strength to bear! George Henschel. Some Letters
from Johannes Brahms to
Now in this hour sorrowful is my grief.  I have gloriRed Thee.  Even before George Henschel (Thun, 1887,
Thy command, from chaos the world was formed. The voices of Thy seraphs Ischl, 1892 & Vienna, 1892) Au-
now thunder commanding him who dies for men alone to stand before Thy gust 2, 2022
judgment seat.  O Father!  I will appear at his call, to intercede with Thee, to Award Winning Composer
atone, I alone, for guilty man.  How can this feeble race, from dusted created, Francesco Pirrone presents his
ever know the feeling that I, Thy only Son, must now endure?  Ah, see the new single “The Hero” August 1,
pangs that throb my heart!  My soul is faint, my Father!  See how my heart 2022
does throb.  O pity me!

Jehovah, du mein Vater’ o sende Trost und Kraft und Stärke mir!  Sie na- TOP POSTS
het nun, doe Stunde meiner Leiden, von mir erkoren schon, noch eh’ die
welt auf dein Geheiss dem Chaos sich entwand.  Ich höre deines Ser- English translation of Schubert's
aphs Donnerstimme.  Sie fordert auf, wer statt der Menschen sich vor Winterreise, poems by W Muller
dein Gericht jetzt stellen will.  O Vater!  Ich erschein’ auf deiner Ruf.  Essentials of Persian Music Part
Vermittler will ich sein, ich büsse, ich allein, der Menschen Schuld.  Wie 2
könnte dies Geschlecht, aus Staub gebildet , ein Gericht ertragen, das
mich deinen Sohn, zu Boden drückt?  Ach sich’, wie Bangigkeit, wie
Todesangst mein Herz mit Macht ergrieft!  Ich leide sehr, mein Vater!  o ADMIN
sieh’, erbarm’ dich mein!

Register
My whole soul within me trembles, From the torture drawing near.  O behold Log in
me, see me tremble.  See the pain that Rlls my soul.  How my heart is full of Entries feed
sorrow.  With the thought of deathly pain.  Drops of blood and sweat of tor- Comments feed
ment, From my forehead fall like rain.  Father!  O glorify Thou me, With the WordPress.com
glory that is Thine, And the power if Thou are willing;  Take away this cup
from me.

Meine Seele ist erschüttert von den Quallen die mir dräu’n; Schrecken
fasst mich, und es zittert grässlich schaudernd mein Gebein.  Wie ein
Fieberfrost ergreifet mich die Angst beim nahen Grab, und von meinem
Antlitz träufet, statt des Schweisses, Blut herab, Vater!  Tief gebeugt
und kläglich Weht dein Sohn hinauf zu dir!  Deiner Macht ist Alles
möglich; nimm den Leidenskelch von mir!

Seraph and Chorus

Recitative and Aria

The Seraph spoke thus:  This is Jehovah’s son.  Behold him!  In the earth he
lies;  for his Father now hath left him enduring terrible sorrow.  The Holy One
has now prepared to die a bitter death for sinners; a willing saviour to save a
cruel world, to a life everlasting.  Thus man lives eternally.

Erzitt’re, Erde!  Jehovah Sohn liegt hier, sein Antlitz lief in Staub
gedrückt, vom Vater ganz verlassen, und leidet unnennbare Qual.  Der
Gütige!  Er ist bereit, den martervollsten Tod zu sterben, damit die Men-
schen, die er liebt, vom Tode aufer stehen und ewig, ewig leben.

Prize the Redeemer’s goodness; All men prize His grace.  He dies in loving
kindness to save your guilty race.  O praise Him, great Redeemer.  Your Sav-
iour sacriRced.  To man He brings salvation Through faith, with hope of life. 
To those dishonouring his sacriRce of blood, God shall condemn them all; 
His judgement is their lot.

Preist des Erlösers Güte, preist, Menschen, seine Huld!  Er stirbt für
euch aus Liebe, sein Blut tilgt eure Schuld, O Heil euch ihr Erlösten! 
Euch winket Seligkeit, wenn ihr getreu in Liebe, in Glaub’ und HoZnung
seid, Doch weh!  Die frech entehren das Blut, das für sie Woss, sie triZt
der Fluch des Richters, Verdammung ist ihr Loos.

Jesus

Recitative

Abba, my Father, O declare!  Take away in this hour all my fear.  Neverthe-
less, not what I will, but Thine.

Verkündet, Seraph, mir dein Mund Erbarmen meines ew’gen Vaters?

Nimmt er des Todes Schrecknisse von mir?

Seraph

So spake Jehovah: The curse remains on man until atonement is made by

shedding blood.  The law must be fulRlled or man is lost; When this debt is
paid, man will live forever.

So spricht Jehovah: Eh’ nicht erfüllet ist das heilige Geheimniss der Ver-
söhnung, so lange bleibt das menschliche Geschlecht verworfen und be-
raubt des ew’gen Lebens.

Jesus and Seraph

Duet

On me then falls this heavy burden.  Its weight, O

Father, help me bear; On me now falls the weight of anguish.  If Thou will
mankind’s children spare.

So ruhe denn mit ganzer Schwere, auf mir, mein Vater, dein Gericht. 
Giess’ uber mich den Strom der Leiden, nur zürne Adams Kindern night.

Behold the Saviour!  How he trembles!  What heavy sorrows he sustains;

Such weighty burdens fall upon him; A world of grief and heavy pains. 
Though great the pain, the grief, the terror, From God’s own justice on Him
hurled, Yet greater far the love and mercy All used to save a woeful world!

Erschuttert sch’ich den Erhab’nen, in Todesleiden eingehüllt.  Ich bebe,

und mich selbst umwehen die Grabesschauer, die er fühlt.  Gross sind
die Qual, die Angst, die Schrecken, die Gottes Hand auf ihn ergiesst:
dosh grösser ist noch seine Liebe, mit der sein Herz die Welt um-
schliesst!

Jesus

Recitative

O welcome, death, which I must su_er, for man’s salvation, on the cross.  O,
ye who in cold graves are sleeping, in eternal sleep deep in its grasp holds
fast, henceforth awake to joy and bliss.  Awaken.

Willkommen, Tod, den ich am Kreuze zum Heil der Menschheit blutend
sterbe!  O seid in eurer kühlen Gruft gesegnet, die ein ew’erg Schlaf in
seinen Armen hält; ihr werdet froh zur Seligkeit erwachen.

Soldiers

We surely here shall Rnd him.  We’ll take him and we’ll Rnd him.  Although he
tries to `y, Tomorrow he will die!

Wir haben ihn gesehen nach diesem Berge gehen, entWiehen kann er
nicht, ja, seiner wartet das Gericht.

Jesus

Recitative

They now approach the great Redeemer, who prays to heaven; O Father, do
let the heavy hours of pain pass O’er me soon; let them `y like the swift
winds as it pushes a storm quickly across the sky.  Yet, not my will be done;
Thine only be accomplished.

Die mich zu fangen ausgezogen sind, die nahen nun.  Mein Vater!  O
fuhr in schnellem Flug der Leiden.  Stunden an mir vorüber, dass sie
Wieh’n, rasch, wie die Wolken, die ein sturmwind treibt, an deinem Him-
mein zieh’n.  Doch nicht mein Wille; dein Wille nur geschehe.

Soldiers

Now, traitor, we will tie thee and punish thee at last, Thou self-styled KIng of
Jewry, we’ll seize and bind thee fast!

Hier ist er, der Verbannte, der sich im Volke kühn, der Juden Konig man-
nte; ergrieft und bindet ihn!

Disciples

What noise is this around us?  Our deadly foes have found us!  With soldiers
cruel on high, O whither can we `y?

Was soll der Lärm bedeuten?  Es ist um uns geschehen!  Umringt von
rauhen Kriegern, wie wird es unsergehn?

Peter

Recitative

We cannot thus allow our Lord be harmed and stand aside.  Our Lord, Our
Friend and Master!  I must assay to leave Thee.

Nicht ungestraft soll der Verweg’nen Schaar dich Herrlichen, dich

meinen Freund und Meister, mit frecher Hand ergriefen.

Jesus

O, let the sword remain within its sheath.  Were it the will of my heavenly Fa-
ther to save this head from foes who wish to harm it, Legions of o’erpower-
ing Angels with orders straight from Heaven would come.

O lass dein Schwert in seiner Scheide ruh’n!  Wenn es der Wille meines
Vaters wäre, aus der Gewalt der Feinde mich zu reten, so würden Legio-
nen Engel bereit zu meiner Rettung sein.

Peter

Trio

My beating heart is angry; with rage o’erpowering it grows.  Let vengeance

now be sated on impious, cruel foes!

In meinen Adern wuhlen gchtereer Zorn und Wuth, lass meine Rache
kühlen, in der Verweg’nen Blut.

Jesus

Let vengeance come from Heaven!  Did not our Master say:  Forgive and love
each other; let good for ill repay.

Du solist nicht Rache üben!  Rache uben!  Ich lehrt’ euch blos allein die
Menschen alle lieben, dem Feinde gern verzeih’n.

Seraph

Inspired words are spoken above all human code.  Heaven bids be loving, in
all ways, bids our God!

Merk’ auf, o Mensch, und höre: Nur eines Gottes Mund macht solche
heil’g Lehre der Nächstenliebe kund.

Jesus and Seraph

What heavenly joys await them who listen to his word; to love the foes that
hate them, ‘Tis thus to please the Lord!

O menschenkinder, fasset dies heilige Gebot; Liebt jenen, der euch has-
set, nur so gefallt ihr Gott.

Soldiers

Quick, seize and bind this arrant traitor; Let’s here no longer stay.  Death to
the arch imposter!  Let’s drag him hence away.

Auf!  ergreifet den Verräther, weilet hier nun länger nicht!  Fort jetzt
mit dem Missethäter, schleppt ihn schleunig vor Gericht.

Disciples

O, how our Lord is hated, cruelly treated, dragged on high.  We’ll now join
him in his bondage, doomed to anguish, doomed to die.

Ach, wir werden seinetwegan auch gehasst, verfolget sein!  Man wird
uns in Bande legen martern und dem Tode weih’n.

Jesus

Now transgressors, see him wounded!  My redemption work is done!  Pow-

ers of Hell are now confounded and the Rght will soon be won.

Mein Qual ist bald verschwunden, der Erlösung Werk vollbracht, bald
ist gänzlich überwunden und besiegt der Hölle Macht.

Chorus

Glorious worlds above us spire,

Happy Seraphs sing your joys.

Man, join in the holy choir,

Hail the great Redeemer’s praise.

Welten singen Dank und Ehre dem

erhab’nem, Gottes Sohn,

Preiset ihn, ihr Englechöre,

laut im heil’gen, Jubelton!

Source

Anonymous translation. LP record, Ludwig van Beethoven: Christ on the

Mount of Olives, Op. 85.  World Record Club, T 406, 1962?

The translation is probably from the nineteenth century.

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Transforming German text of

Beethoven’s Christus Beethoven’s Christus
am Ölberge, abstract am Ölberge
This is the abstract of a Christus am Ölberge
paper presented at Christus Recitativ und
Beethoven’s Engedi:
the third Rose Bruford Arie Jehovah, du mein
facsimile of Novello’s
College International Vater' o sende Trost
edition c. 1860
Conference Music and und Kraft und Stärke
October 12, 2014
November 30, 2010 November 3, 2010
In "history and theory
In "contributor articles" In "music in the classi-
of music"
cal period"

This entry was posted in music in the classical period, sources for the study of
Beethoven and tagged Beethoven and England, Beethoven and religion,
Beethoven's religious beliefs, Christ on the Mount of Olives, Christus am Olberge
German text, English translation of Christus am Olberge, libretto of Christus am
Olberge, Mount of Olives complete text, performances of Mount of Olives in Britain
on November 5, 2010.

← German text of Beethoven’s Gigli in Puccini’s La bohème, complete

Christus am Ölberge recording part 1, La Scala orch. c. 1932

11 thoughts on “German and English texts of Beethoven’s Christus

am Ölberge”

Pingback: Bella`s Wonderworld

Paul Ellison
August 22, 2014 at 10:55 pm

I believe it’s Jehovahs Sohn, without the apostrophe in the second recitative.

Reply ↓

Barry Mitchell Post author

October 12, 2014 at 12:50 pm

Thanks. I have now changed that. According to my Novello edition it is

“Jehovah Sohn” so I am going for that.

Reply ↓

Anonymous
June 30, 2015 at 6:14 pm

Thank you for providing this translation, I’ve yet to Rnd any other online; and
what it shame it would be not able to really appreciate this work in my native
tongue. Of course it’s the prose which makes this piece so signiRcant both
for man in general, and what Bethoven’s convictions must have been.

Reply ↓

Anonymous
April 25, 2017 at 10:03 pm

Amen!

Reply ↓

Henry S
December 17, 2016 at 2:12 am

The translation seems incorrect when it comes to Jesus’ line “Verkündet, Ser-
aph, mir dein Mund Erbarmen meines ew’gen Vaters? Nimmt er des Todes
Schrecknisse von mir?” Jesus is addressing the Seraph, not addressing God
as “Abba..” Google Translate renders the second sentence “Does he take
death’s horrors from me?” Nothing seems to correspond to “Nevertheless,
not what I will, but Thine.” Jesus says that in the Bible, but not at this point in
the oratorio.

Reply ↓

Bro Yew
August 7, 2019 at 11:42 pm

Henry, I’m presently working on translating this piece myself, word-

for-word. I too have also found that the translation featured on this
page in many instances that are not in the original libretto. So far I
have the trio and the Rrst recitative. Feel free to contact me if you’re
interested in what I’m doing, sdrake088@gmail.com.

Reply ↓

Barry Mitchell Post author

August 8, 2019 at 9:20 am

That is very interesting- I hope to see the results of your work.

Reply ↓

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brainstormtool
April 6, 2022 at 4:57 pm

Another one done by Google translate all in one piece.

1. Introduction (Grave – Adagio), Recitative and Aria (Allegro)

Recitative (Jesus)
Jehovah, you my father! O send comfort and strength and strength to me! It
is now approaching, the hour of my su_ering, already chosen by me, before
the world escaped chaos at your behest. I hear your seraph’s voice of thun-
der. She asks who instead of the people wants to stand before your court
now. O father! I appear on this call. I want to be a mediator, I atone, I alone,
the fault of men. How could this generation formed from dust endure a judg-
ment that will crush me, your son, to the ground! Oh look, how dread, how
fear of death seizes my heart with power! I am su_ering greatly, my father!
Oh look! I’m su_ering a lot, have mercy on me!

Aria (Jesus)
My soul is shaken
by the torments that are threatening me.
Terror seizes me, and
my bones tremble terribly, shuddering.
Fear grips me like a chill
at the near grave,
and blood drips from my face
instead of sweat.
Father! Deeply bowed and pitiful,
your son begs up to you:
Everything is possible to your power,
take the chalice of su_ering from me.
My soul is shaken
by the torments that are threatening me.
And
instead of sweat, blood drips from my face.

2. Recitative, Aria (Larghetto) and Chorus

Recitative (Seraph)
Tremble, earth! Jehovah’s son lies here, his face pressed deep in dust, quite
forsaken by his father, and su_ers inexpressible torment. The good one! He
is willing to die the most agonizing death so that the people he loves may
rise from the dead and live forever!

Aria (Seraph)
Praise the goodness of the Redeemer,
praise, O men, his mercy!
He dies for you out of love,
his blood redeems your debt.

Seraph and choir of angels

Hail to you, you redeemed ones,
bliss beckons you
if you are faithful in love,
in faith and hope.
But alas! Those who boldly dishonor the blood that
`owed for
them, the curse of the judge falls on them,
damnation is their lot.

3. Recitative and duet (Adagio molto)

Recitative (Jesus)
Does your mouth tell me, Seraph, the mercy of my eternal Father?
Does he take the terrors of death from me?

Recitative (Seraph)
Thus says Jehovah: Until the holy mystery of atonement is fulRlled, the hu-
man race will remain rejected and robbed of eternal life.

Duet (Jesus and Seraph)

Jesus

So, my father, rest your judgment on me with all your weight.

Pour the river of su_ering on me, only do not be angry with Adam’s children!

seraph

I am shaken to see the sublime wrapped in mortal agony.

I tremble, and the grave shivers he feels blow about me.

Jesus, Seraph

Great is the torment, the fear, the terror that God’s hand pours out on
me/him,
but greater still is my/his love with which my/his heart encloses the world.

4. Recitative and choir (Alla marcia)

Recitative (Jesus)
Welcome, death, I
die bleeding on the cross for the salvation of mankind!
O be blessed in your cool tomb,
which an eternal sleep holds in its arms,
you will wake up happy to bliss!

Choir of Warriors
We have seen him
go to this mountain,
he cannot escape,
judgment awaits him.

5. Recitative (Tempo della Marcia) and Choir (Allegro molto)

Recitative (Jesus)
Those who went out to catch me are now drawing near. My father! O bring
hours of su_ering past me in swift `ight, so that they `ee, swiftly, like the
clouds driven by a storm wind across your skies. But not my will, no, your will
only be done.

Choir of Warriors
Here he is, the exile who
boldly
called himself King of the Jews among the people,
seize him and bind him!

Choir of Disciples
What is the noise supposed to mean?
It’s about us!
Surrounded by rough warriors,
how will we fare?
Have mercy, oh have mercy!
It’s about us!

6. Recitative, trio and chorus (Allegro ma non troppo), Rnal chorus (Maestoso
– Allegro)
Recitative (Peter)
The bold crowd should not go unpunished to seize you, my friend and mas-
ter,
with a cheeky hand.

Recitative (Jesus)
O let thy sword rest in its scabbard! If it were my father’s will to save me from
the power of my enemies, legions of angels would be ready to save me.

trio
Peter

Righteous anger and rage churn in my veins.

Let my revenge cool in the bold blood!

Jesus

Thou shalt not avenge! I just teach you alone,

love everyone, gladly forgive the enemy!

seraph

Pay attention, oh man, and listen: Only the mouth of a god proclaims
such holy teaching of neighborly love.

Seraph, Jesus, Peter

O children of men, understand this holy commandment:

Love him who hates you, only in this way will you please God!

Choir of Warriors
up, up! Seize the traitor,
do not tarry here any longer.
Away now with the culprit,
hurry him to court!

Choir of Disciples
Oh! We will
also be hated and persecuted because of him.
They will bind us,
torture us, and consecrate us to death.

Jesus
My torment will soon be gone,
the work of redemption will be accomplished,
soon it will be completely overcome
and the power of hell conquered!

Chorus of Angels
Worlds sing thanks and honor
to the sublime Son of God.
Praise him, you choirs of angels,
loudly in holy jubilation!

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