Immediately after Jesus' death, the congregation sings this chorale. Again the melody of 'O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden' is heard, but now in an atmosphere of transcendence and acceptance. It is a prayer for support in our own hour of death.
The Death of Jesus
Wenn ich einmal soll scheiden
Chorale
•Congregation
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No. 64part_71
When I one day must depart,
Part not thou from me,
When I must suffer death,
Then come thou forth!
When I am most anxious
About my heart,
Then snatch me from my fears
By virtue of thy fear and pain!
German
English
Wenn ich einmal soll scheiden,
So scheide nicht von mir,
Wenn ich den Tod soll leiden,
So tritt du herfür!
Wenn mir am allerbangsten
Wird um das Herze sein,
So reiß mich aus den Ängsten
Kraft deiner Angst und Pein!
When I one day must depart,
Part not thou from me,
When I must suffer death,
Then come thou forth!
When I am most anxious
About my heart,
Then snatch me from my fears
By virtue of thy fear and pain!
Modern adaptation
When I must die, do not leave me. When I fear death, come to me and comfort me through your own suffering.
Did you know?
This is the fifth and final time this melody (Hassler) is heard. Bach harmonizes it here in a way that sounds 'unfinished', as if death is not the end but a transition.