Sunday Music: Bach Motet BWV 227
It is the fifth Sunday in Lent. Today’s Bach piece is a motet, titled “Jesu, meine Freude” (Jesus, my joy.)
Today’s Gospel reading is John 12:1-8:
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
The text of today’s piece is available here. It contains these words:
Jesus, my joy,
my heart’s pasture,
Jesus, my treasure!
Ah, how long, ah long
has my heart suffered
and longed for you!
God’s lamb, my bridegroom,
besides You on earth
nothing shall be dearer to me.Now there is nothing damnable in those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk after the way of the flesh, but after the way of the Spirit.
Happy listening! Soli Deo gloria.
[Cross-posted at The Jury Talks Back.]
Sorry for the lateness of the hour.
Patterico (5ca1cb) — 4/7/2019 @ 12:22 pmOh, this is lovely, both to hear and view!
I especially appreciate the repeated use of short mid-phrase silences. Are those in the original score, or was the conductor using his discretion? Regardless, his and the choir’s precision is impressive.
Beldar (fa637a) — 4/7/2019 @ 1:00 pmA splendid recording. I sang this in college, but we only performed it once. It’s very difficult. Thanks again.
Golden Eagle (6e5ed5) — 4/7/2019 @ 1:20 pmThe Path:
1. Draw closer to the Lord.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 4/7/2019 @ 6:01 pm2. Fill your heart with love for others and remember all of us are children of God.
3. Strive to walk the straight and narrow path.
4. Share what is in your heart, stand as a witness of the power of the Gospel of Christ. Do this with love and patience.
5. Trust the Lord to work His miracles.
Beldar, the complete score can be found on IMSLP
Kishnevi (7289ba) — 4/7/2019 @ 7:06 pmhttps://imslp.org/wiki/Jesu,_meine_Freude,_BWV_227_(Bach,_Johann_Sebastian)
Thank you Kish! What a wonderful resource, too!
Beldar (fa637a) — 4/7/2019 @ 8:46 pmI love IMSLP. Love love love it. I pay the $20 to avoid the download delay, not because the delay is so burdensome but because I think the project is worth far more than $20 a year and I want to do what I can to keep it going.
Patterico (8ba5da) — 4/8/2019 @ 12:02 pmBTW, Patterico, FWIW, a quick thank you– been playing these ‘classicals’ you post off the bx for ‘the elderly one’ while making her Sunday dinners. Soothing stuff. Txs.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 4/8/2019 @ 12:09 pm