Bach - Guitar Liturgy

Bach's chorals - some notes

Inside the really wide Bach's work, there is a conspicuous number of pre-existent chorals harmonizations. Briefly, Bach took the melody from choral usually composed after the Reformation, he used it for the soprano's voice and created the other three voices following his perfect architectures.

This is why usually the name of who created the melody is indicated too. Sometime Bach prepared more versions from the same melody. Among the transcribed pieces, "If Thou but suffer" (from Neumark, 1640), was proposed in 7 different versions, "O sacred head" (from Hassler, 1601) in 10 (!), often modifying the tonality.

For instance, this piece was written in A minor, B minor, D major, D minor and E major. Four of these versions were used inside "St Matthew passion"; one of these is very often used and this is why it has been used by Ruaro in his transcription. Just to know, it is the E major one ("Passion" numbers 15 and 17).

And here the verses used in the "Passion".

Recognise me, my guardian, my Shepherd, accept me! From you, source of all goodness, much good has been done for me. Your mouth has refreshed me; With milk and sweet food, your spirit has endowed me with many heavenly delights.

I shall stand here beside you; but do not despise me! I shall not go from you,when your heart breaks. When your heart becomes pale in the last death blow, then I shall embrace you in my arms and bosom.

Commend your way and what troubles your heart to the most trustworthy care of Him who guides the heavens, He who to the clouds air and winds gives their way, course and track, will also find a way by which your feet can go.

O head full of blood and wounds, full of sorrow and full of scorn, o head bound in mockery, with a crown of thorns, o head once beautifully adorned with greatest honour and adornment, but now most shamefully mistreated, let me greet you! You noble face before which at other times shrinks and shies away the great weight of the world, how are you spat upon, how pale you are! By whom has the light of your eyes to which at other times no light can be compared, been so shamefully treated?

When I one day must depart from here then do not depart from me, when I must suffer death then step forward next to me! When most full of fear I am in my heart, then snatch me from my fears by the strength of your agony and pain!