This is one of the most complicated and dramatic pieces in the entire St. Matthew Passion. The duet of soprano and alto (the believing souls) laments the arrest, while the chorus (the disciples/the people) shouts with rage in between.
The two parties sing simultaneously but say different things. The duet is poetic and reflective ('Moon and light have set in sorrow'), while the chorus is explosive ('Have lightnings and thunders'). Bach creates a chaos that perfectly captures the despair and confusion of that moment.
The Arrest
So ist mein Jesus nun gefangen
Aria
•Soprano, Alto, Chorus
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No. 28part_32
Soprano & Alto
So is my Jesus now taken captive.
Chorus
Leave him, halt, bind him not!
Soprano & Alto
Moon and light have set in sorrow, because my Jesus is taken captive.
Chorus
Leave him, halt, bind him not!
Soprano & Alto
They lead him away, he is bound.
Chorus
Have lightnings and thunders vanished in the clouds? Open your fiery pit, O hell!
German
English
Soprano & Alto
So ist mein Jesus nun gefangen.
Soprano & Alto
So is my Jesus now taken captive.
Chor
Laßt ihn, haltet, bindet nicht!
Chorus
Leave him, halt, bind him not!
Soprano & Alto
Mond und Licht ist vor Schmerzen untergangen, weil mein Jesus ist gefangen.
Soprano & Alto
Moon and light have set in sorrow, because my Jesus is taken captive.
Chor
Laßt ihn, haltet, bindet nicht!
Chorus
Leave him, halt, bind him not!
Soprano & Alto
Sie führen ihn, er ist gebunden.
Soprano & Alto
They lead him away, he is bound.
Chor
Sind Blitze, sind Donner in Wolken verschwunden? Eröffne den feurigen Abgrund, o Hölle!
Chorus
Have lightnings and thunders vanished in the clouds? Open your fiery pit, O hell!
Modern adaptation
My Jesus is captured! Let him go! Moon and light have set in grief. They lead him away, bound. Where are lightning and thunder? Open your abyss, hell! Destroy this traitor!