J. S. Bach – “Mache dich, mein Herze, rein” BWV 244

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750)

“Mache dich, mein Herze, rein”, Aria (Bass) from Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244, Mov. LXV

Written in Leipzig, 1729 and revised in the same city in the late 1740’s.

1st performance: April 11, 1727 – Leipzig (Earlier Version, possibly as late as Apr 15, 1729); 2nd performance: March 30, 1736 – Leipzig (Later Version); 3rd performance: March 23, 1742 ? – Leipzig (Later Version); 4th performance: 1743-1746 – Leipzig

Scoring:
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Soloists: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass; Choir I: SATB; Choir II: SATB
Orchestra: 2 flutes dolce, 2 transverse flutes, oboe, 2 oboes d’amore, 2 oboes da caccia, 2 violins, viola, viola da gamba, continuo

Lyrics for Mov. LXV
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German (original)
Mache dich, mein Herze, rein,
Ich will Jesum selbst begraben.
Denn er soll nunmehr in mir
Für und für
Seine süße Ruhe haben.
Welt, geh aus, lass Jesum ein!

English (Translation)
Make thyself, my heart, now pure,
I myself would Jesus bury.
For he shall henceforth in me
More and more
Find in sweet repose his dwelling.
World, depart, let Jesus in!