"Christ lag in Todesbanden", BWV 625 (Orgelbuchlein)

From the Orgelbuchlein, No. 27 of 45: "Christ lag in Todesbanden" (BWV 625) by J.S. Bach (1685-1750).

Featured organ is the 1738 Christian Müller organ from St. Bavo Church, Haarlem, in Holland, which consists of 3 manuals and 118 ranks.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF CHORALE (Richard Massie):
1 Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands
for our offenses given;
but now at God’s right hand he stands
and brings us life from heaven.
Therefore let us joyful be
and sing to God right thankfully
loud songs of Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

4 It was a strange and dreadful strife
when life and death contended.
The victory remained with life,
the reign of death was ended.
Holy Scripture plainly saith
that death is swallowed up by death;
disgraced, it lies defeated. Hallelujah!

5 Here the true Paschal Lamb we see,
whom God so freely gave us;
he died on the accursed tree–
so strong his love– to save us.
See, his blood now marks our door;
faith points to it; death passes o'er,
and Satan cannot harm us. Hallelujah!

6 So let us keep the festival
whereto the Lord invites us;
Christ is himself the joy of all,
the sun that warms and lights us.
Now his grace to us imparts
eternal sunshine to the heart;
the night of sin is ended. Hallelujah!