WACHET AUF

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Eschatological awakening progressing from urgent call to watchfulness, through joyful recognition of Christ's coming, to doxological praise of the Trinity and union with the redeemed community

Associated Hymn Texts (11)

• Arise Sons of the Kingdom — Philipp Nicolai (1599)
• Arise, O Christian People — Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa (1528)
• Awake O Spirit of the Watchmen — Friedrich Rudolph Ludwig Canitz (1694)
• Awake thou spirit of the watchmen — Philip Nicolai (1599)
• Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying — Philipp Nicolai; tr. Catherine Winkworth (1599)
• Wide Open Stand the Gates — Gerhard Wolters (1959)
• If Then You Have Been Raised with Christ — Timothy Dudley-Smith (1984)
• O People Rise and Labor — Martin Behm (1602)
• O Rejoice, Ye Christians, Loudly — Laurentius Laurenti (1700)
• That Day of Wrath That Dreadful Day — Walter Brute (1520)
• Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones — John Athelstan Laurie Riley (1909)

Set to This Tune in The Lutheran Hymnal (2)

• TLH 444 Rise! To Arms! With Prayer Employ You
• TLH 609 Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying

Notes on the Tune

From Hymn Desk's analyses of the hymns sung to it.

TLH 609, Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying : WACHET AUF — Nicolai's own tune, majestic bar form; Bach's 'Sleepers, Wake' setting in BWV 140/645 is famous.