"Mache dich, mein Herze, rein" (Make yourself pure, my heart) is the penultimate aria in Bach's monumental St Matthew Passion. Appearing after the crucifixion narrative, this bass aria represents a moment of intimate reflection where the soul prepares to receive Christ's body. Characterized by its gentle, flowing rhythms and contemplative mood, it provides a poignant contrast to the surrounding drama, embodying the Lutheran ideal of personal devotion amidst the grand sacred narrative.
A haunting chorale harmonized by J.S. Bach, based on a medieval hymn text by St. Bernard of Clairvaux. It appears multiple times in the St. Matthew Passion as a contemplative refrain, representing the communal response to Christ's suffering.
The chorale "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden" (O Sacred Head, Now Wounded) is a recurring thematic element in Bach's St. Matthew Passion, symbolizing Christ's suffering. It appears multiple times with varying harmonizations, unifying the narrative.
The aria serves as the emotional climax of Bach's monumental passion, featuring rare major-key tonality to symbolize spiritual purification. Its intimate scoring contrasts with the work's grand choruses, reflecting the personal acceptance of redemption.
This poignant chorale from Bach's monumental St. Matthew Passion features rich harmonic language
that intensifies the Passion text, with descending chromatic lines symbolizing Christ's suffering.
The simple four-part setting contrasts with the work's complex polyphonic sections.
