Chorale 25 – O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß
Text known to Bach (Weimar 1713):
O Mensch bewein dein Sünde groß/
darum Christus seins Vaters Schooß/
äußert und kam auf Erden :/:
Von einer Jungfrau rein und zart/
für uns er hie gebohren ward/
er wolt der Mittler werden.
Den Todten er das Leben gab/
und legt darbey all Kranckheit ab/
biß sich die Zeit herdrange/
daß er für uns geopffert wird/
trug unser Sünden schwere Bürd/
wohl an dem Creutze lange.
English
O man, weep for your great sin,
for which Christ left his father’s bosom
and came to earth.
From a virgin, pure and gentle,
for us he here was born,
and wished to become the mediator.
To the dead he gave life
and swept away all illness
until the time came
that he for us should be sacrificed
and bore our sins’ heavy burden
right long on the cross.
Origination:
Melody: 1524, Matthais Greiter (c.1494-1550) – Straßburg 1525 (Wolff Köpfel), for Psalm 119, Beati immaculati
Text: c.1530, Sebald Heyden (1499-1561) – Nuremberg 1548 (Georg Wachter)
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The Print Collection
J S Bach’s setting of this chorale will be part of our printed Volume 1, due for publication in late 2023.
Orgelbüchlein Extended
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Orgelbüchlein Community
A selection of compositions submitted from all around the world.
This chorale is yet to be tackled by the Community!