Philocrites

More on Bach.

by Philocrites

In an earlier post, I wrote:

There is one solo in which the soprano sings that she wants to "engrave" the crucified Jesus in her heart; the German pun is amazing in itself...

The aria isn't always sung by a soprano, so if you have a recording, watch for the aria that begins, "Mache dich, mein Herze, rein, ich will Jesum selbst begraben."

Most English translations give "entomb" for "begraben," but I've been struck by the way the English word "engrave" includes the same root. (So I suppose the pun isn't really German.) To inter Jesus is one's heart is a remarkable metaphor. Listen to somebody sing it. Wow.

Copyright © 2003 by Philocrites | Posted 8 January 2003 at 5:03 PM

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