The final chorus is a monumental Sarabande (a dance form), despite the minor key (C minor). It expresses not despair, but deep, comforting resignation. The St Matthew Passion ends not with the Resurrection (Easter), but with the Saturday rest: the time for reflection. The text 'Ruhe sanfte' is repeated like a mantra.
Conclusion
Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder
Chorus
•Chorus I & II
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No. 68part_80
We sit down with tears
And call to thee in the grave -
Rest softly, softly rest!
Rest, ye exhausted limbs!
Rest softly, rest well!
Thy grave and tombstone
Shall be for the anxious conscience
A comfortable pillow
And the soul's resting place.
Most contentedly the eyes slumber there.
We sit down with tears
And call to thee in the grave -
Rest softly, softly rest!
German
English
Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder
Und rufen dir im Grabe zu -
Ruhe sanfte, sanfte ruh!
Ruht, ihr ausgesognen Glieder!
Ruhet sanfte, ruhet wohl!
Euer Grab und Leichenstein
Soll dem ängstlichen Gewissen
Ein bequemes Ruhekissen
Und der Seelen Ruhstatt sein.
Höchst vergnügt schlummern da die Augen ein.
Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder
Und rufen dir im Grabe zu -
Ruhe sanfte, sanfte ruh!
We sit down with tears
And call to thee in the grave -
Rest softly, softly rest!
Rest, ye exhausted limbs!
Rest softly, rest well!
Thy grave and tombstone
Shall be for the anxious conscience
A comfortable pillow
And the soul's resting place.
Most contentedly the eyes slumber there.
We sit down with tears
And call to thee in the grave -
Rest softly, softly rest!
Modern adaptation
We sit down weeping and call to you in the grave: Rest softly! Your grave shall be a pillow of rest for our anxious conscience. Here we find peace.
Did you know?
The work ends in C minor, a key often representing mourning but also solemnity. The final note in the bass is a low C, the root note, providing an ultimate sense of coming home.