Choral 65, "Ach Herr, lass dein lieb Engelein", is the final chorale from Bach's St. John Passion. It serves as a contemplative prayer for a peaceful death, featuring a four-part harmonization typical of Lutheran hymnody. The melody originates from a 17th-century hymn, with Bach's setting emphasizing textual solemnity through restrained polyphony.
The opening chorus "Herr, unser Herrscher" from Bach’s St. John Passion (BWV 245) is a masterwork of Baroque sacred music, characterized by its intense chromatic harmonies, relentless rhythmic drive, and theological emphasis on Christ’s divine kingship. Composed in 1724, it contrasts with the more contemplative St. Matthew Passion through its austere orchestration (oboes, flutes, strings) and structural focus on a da capo aria framework. The chorus intertwines choral polyphony with instrumental motifs symbolizing struggle and glorification.
This chorale, the 68th movement in Bach's St. John Passion, is a solemn plea for divine guidance at the hour of death, typical of Bach's theologically profound integration of congregational hymns into his Passion settings.
Bach's St. John Passion, one of two surviving Passion settings by the composer,
is a sacred oratorio combining biblical narrative, chorales and arias.
Its dramatic structure and emotional depth make it a cornerstone of Baroque sacred music.
One of Bach's major sacred works, a Passion oratorio based on chapters 18-19 of the Gospel of John, composed for Good Friday vespers. Features complex choral writing and expressive arias.
