"Bei deinem Grab " from Markus Passion (Bach/Boysen)

Apologies for going missing for a few weeks! This is the closing choir from the Markus Passion by Bach (Completed by Jorn Boysen). This is also our first post from our migration to the SteemPress plugin from our website. Hopefully, this makes it easier for our multiple writers to put posts easily onto Steem!

The music for this closing choir has been parodied (as was the custom of the time) from Bach, BWV 198. Whilst the music is nominally in a minor key, which would imply something that is quite desolate or sad, there is a certain dance-like swinging character to the music. This is quite fitting with the words, where the speaker is at the grave of Jesus, but realising that their life springs new from the death of their Savior.

The performers are Musica Poetica (@musicapoetica) and Cantus Thuringia under the direction of Jorn Boysen. The concert was recorded live and unedited in Den Haag in 2016, on period instruments at 415Hz.

Music from Bach, BWV 198

Text and Translation

Bei deinem Grab und Leichenstein,
Will ich mich stets, mein Jesu, weiden,
Und über dein verdienstlich Leiden,
Von Herzen froh und dankbar sein.
Schau, diese Grabschrift sollst du haben;
Mein Leben kommt aus deinem Tod,
Hier hab ich meine Sündennot
Und Jesum selbst in mich begraben.

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At your grave and tombstone,
Will I constantly graze, my Jesus,
And over your worthy suffering
Be joyful and thankful in my heart.
Behold, this epitaph shall be yours;
My life springs from your death,
Here my sinful anguish
And Jesus himself I have buried within me.

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