For the final appearance of Gerhardt’s Passion Chorale, following as it does immediately after Christ’s death, Bach places the melody in its lowest register yet. He reharmonises the melody with a number of eyebrow-raising harmonic progressions to enhance the meaning of the words, for example, through the phrase Wenn mir am allerbängsten (when I am most full of fear) the harmony becomes highly chromatic and unsettled. The final cadence is left open – an imperfect cadence which does not return us to the home key. In faith, the believer dies with Christ at this point.
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62 |
Chorus |
Wenn ich einmal soll scheiden, |
When I depart, |
The Evangelist’s role has contained some very dramatic moments, but at all times the continuo has played a very low-key supporting role. At this point, however, the continuo explodes into life, vivifying and dramatising the Evangelist’s words with terrifying colour. The ripping of the veil is illustrated with fast and furious scales, and the earthquake by a ferocious tremolando, starting on the cello’s lowest note and rising in semitones. The sobriety and majesty which Bach manages to cram into just two bars for the chorus are a thrilling contrast to the earlier music, and a moment of true realisation.
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63a
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Evangelist
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Und siehe da, da Vorhang im Tempel zerriß in zwei Stück von obenan bis untenaus. Und die Erde erbebete, und die Felsen zerrissen, und die Gräber täten sich auf, und stunden auf viel Leiber der Heiligen, die da schliefen, und gingen aus den Gräbern nach siener Auferstehung und kamen in die heilige Stadt und erschienen vielen. Aber der Hauptmann und die bei ihm waren und bewahreten Jesum, da sie sahen das Erdbeben und was da geschah, erschraken sie sehr und sprachen: |
And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying: |
63b |
Chorus |
“Wahrlich, dieser ist Gottes Sohn gewesen.” |
“Truly this was the Son of God.” |
63c |
Evangelist |
Und es waren viel Weiber da, die von ferne zusahen, die da waren nachgefolget aus Galiläa und hatten ihm gedienet, unter welchen war Maria Magdalena, und Maria, die Mutter Jacobi und Joses, und die Mutter der Kinder Zebedäi. Am Abend aber kam ein reicher Mann von Arimathia, der hieß Joseph, welcher auch ein Jünger Jesu war, der ging zu Pilato und bat ihn um den Leichnam Jesu. Da befahl Pilatus, man sollte ihm ihn geben. |
And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him, among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children. When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimithæa, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple, he went to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. |
Commentary by Peter Parfitt © Aberdeen Bach Choir 2012
