Soprano Choir Training for St. Matthew Passion BWV 244 J.S. Bach

CONTENTS

Key

Example :  7 4     10 (16) Chorale Choir 1 and 2

Track Number Choir 1 Red Numbers - Choir 2 Blue Numbers

New Bach Edition Number (Most other editions number)  Voice and Character

      German Text

      English Translation (The translation will differ from one edition to another).

Part 1

1 1 bar 14 /24      1 (1) Choir 1 and 2

       Kommt, ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen.

       O Lamm Gottes unschuldig.

          Come, ye daughters, help me mourn.

          O innocent Lamb of God.

2 2              3 (3) Chorale Choir 1 and 2

       Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen.

          Beloved Jesu, what hast thou done wrong.

3 3 bar 5   4b (5) Choir 1 and 2

       Ja nicht auf das Fest.

          Not on the feast-day.

4 bar 21     4d (7) Choir 1

       Wozu dienet dieser Unrat?

          To what purpose is this waste?

5 bar 1       9b (14) Choir 1

       Wo willst du, daß wir dir bereiten das Osterlamm zu essen?

          Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?

6 bar  31    9d Choir 1

       Herr, bin ich's?

          Lord, is it I?

7 4              10 (16) Chorale Choir 1 and 2

       Ich bin's, ich sollte büßen.

          It is I should make atonement.

8 5              15 (21) Chorale Choir 1 and 2

       Erkenne mich, mein Hüter.

          Recognise me, my guardian.

9 6              17 (23) Chorale Choir 1 and 2

       Ich will hier bei dir stehen.

          I will stand beside thee here.

 7              19 (25) Receitative Tenor; Choir 2

       O Schmerz! Hier zittert das gequälte Herz.

       Was ist die Ursach aller solcher Plagen?

          O grief! His heart throbs here in agony.

          What is the cause of such suffering?

 8            20 (26) Aria Tenor; Choir 2

       Ich will bei meinem Jesu wachen.

       So schlafen unsre Sünden ein.

          I will keep watch with my Jesus.

          So our sins fall to sleep.

10 9           25 (31) Chorale Choir 1 and 2

       Was mein Gott will, das gscheh allzeit

          What my God wills, so be it always!

 10 bar 17        27 (33) Duet Soprano Alto

 11 bar 37        Choir 1 and 2

11 12 bar 59

       So ist mein Jesus nun gefangen.

       Laßt ihn, haltet, bindet nicht!

          So now my Jesus is taken.

          Let him be, stop, do not bind him!

12 13         29 (35) Chorale Choir 1 and 2

       O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß.

          O man, weep for thy great sin.

Part 2

 14 bar 25        30 (36) Aria Alto Choir 2

       Ach, nun ist mein Jesus hin!

       Wo ist denn dein Freund hingegangen.

          Alas, my Jesus now is gone!

          Where has thy beloved gone.

 15 bar 87        30 (36) Aria Alto Choir 2

       So wollen wir mit dir ihn suchen..

          Then we will seek him with thee.

13 16         32 (38) Chorale Choir 1 and 2

       Mir hat die Welt trüglich gericht'.

          The world has played me false.

14 17 bar 19        36b Choir 1 and 2

       Er ist des Todes schuldig!

          He is guilty of death!

     36c (43) Recitative Evangelist

       Da speieten sie in sein Angesicht und schlugen ihn mit Fäusten.

          Then did they spit in his face.

     36d Choir 1 and 2

       Weissage uns, Christe, wer ists, der dich schlug?

          Prophesy unto us, thou Christ?

15 18         37 (44) Chorale Choir 1 and 2

       Wer hat dich so geschlagen.

          Who has beaten thee so.

 19 bar 15       38b Choir 2

       Wahrlich, du bist auch einer von denen.

          Surely thou also art one of them.

16 20         40 (48) Chorale Choir 1 and 2

       Bin ich gleich von dir gewichen.

          Though I turned away from thee.

17 21 bar 14        41b Choir 1 and 2

       Was gehet uns das an?

          What is that to us?

18 22         44 (53) Chorale Choir 1 and 2

       Befiehl du deine Wege.

          Commend thy ways.

19 23 bar 28        45b Choir 1 and 2 Evangelist

       Barrabam!

          Barabbas!

     45c Choir 1 and 2

       Laß ihn kreuzigen!

          Let him be crucified!

20 24         46 (55) Chorale Choir 1 and 2

       Wie wunderbarlich ist doch diese Strafe!

          How wondrous strange indeed is this punishment!

21 25         50a (59) Recitative Evangelist

       Sie schrieen aber noch mehr und sprachen:

          But they cried the more, saying:

     50b Choir 1 and 2

       Laß ihn kreuzigen!

          Let him be crucified!

     50c Recitative Evangelist; Pilate

       Da aber Pilatus sahe, daß er nichts schaffete.

          When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing.

     50d Choir 1 and 2

       Sein Blut komme über uns und unsre Kinder.

          His blood be on us, and on our children.

     50e Recitative Evangelist

       Da gab er ihnen Barrabam los.

          Then released he Barabbas.

22 26 bar 9          53b Choir 1 and 2

       Gegrüßet seist du, Jüdenkönig!

          Hail, King of the Jews!

23 27         54 (63) Chorale Choir 1 and 2

       O Haupt, voll Blut und Wunden.

          O head marked with blood and wounds.

24 28 bar 26        58b Choir 1 and 2

       Der du den Tempel Gottes zerbrichst

          Thou that destroyest the temple!

     58c Recitative Evangelist

       Desgleichen auch die Hohenpriester spotteten sein.

          Likewise the chief priests mocking him.

     58d Choir 1 and 2

       Andern hat er geholfen und kann ihm selber nicht helfen.

          He saved others: himself he cannot save.

     58e (68) Recitative Evangelist

       Desgleichen schmäheten ihn auch die Mörder.

          The thieves also, which were crucified with him.

 29         60 (70)               Aria Alto Choir 2

       Sehet, Jesus hat die Hand uns zu fassen ausgespannt, kommt!

       Wohin?

          Behold! See, Jesus has his hand.

          Where?

25 bar 12   61b Choir 1

       Der rufet dem Elias!

          This man calleth for Elias!

 30 bar 18       61d Choir 2

       Halt! Laß sehen, ob Elias komme und ihm helfe.

          Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

     61e Recitative Evangelist

       Aber Jesus schriee abermal laut und verschied.

          Jesus, when he had cried again.

26 31         62 (72) Chorale Choir 1 and 2

       Wenn ich einmal soll scheiden.

          When at last I must depart.

27 32 bar 16        63b Choir 1 and 2

       Wahrlich, dieser ist Gottes Sohn gewesen.

          Truly, this was the Son of God.

28 33 bar 12        66b Choir 1 and 2

       Herr, wir haben gedacht, daß dieser Verführer sprach.

          Sir, we remember that that deceiver said.

 34         67 (77) Recitative
Solo: Soprano Alto Tenor Bass
Choir 2

       Nun ist der Herr zur Ruh gebracht.
Mein Jesu, gute Nacht!

          Now the Lord is laid to rest.

          My Jesu, now goodnight!

29 35         68 (78) Choir 1 and 2

       Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder.

          We sit upon the ground in tears.

APPENDIX 1

Soprano Ripieno (Chorale)

30 36 bar 26        1 (1) Soprano Ripieno

       Kommt, ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen.

       O Lamm Gottes unschuldig.

          Come, ye daughters, help me mourn!

          O innocent Lamb of God.

APPENDIX 2

Faster tempo tracks played slower

31 37 bar 59        27 (33) Duet Soprano Alto

     Choir 1 and 2

       So ist mein Jesus nun gefangen.

       Laßt ihn, haltet, bindet nicht!

          So now my Jesus is taken.

          Let him be, stop, do not bind him!

32 38 Bar 28       36d Choir 1 and 2

       Weissage uns, Christe, wer ists, der dich schlug?

          Prophesy unto us, thou Christ?

33 39