Justin Appel

Dear Friends,

Today, I would like to share a beautiful aria from J. S. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. The countertenor movement, Erbarme dich is a text by the poet Picander, who often collaborated with Bach.

This pathos-filled moment occurs just after Peter has denied knowing Jesus, and the cock has crowed ‘three times’ as Jesus predicted. Here, Bach inserts Picander’s poetry, in which the countertenor speaks from the perspective of ‘Everyman’, asking God for mercy.

By incorporating these personal responses to the passion story, Bach’s settings obtain a deeply personal, devotional quality, bringing you and me — the listeners — into the story and allowing us to react and respond in a heartfelt way.

Erbarme dich,
Mein Gott, um meiner Zähren willen!
Schaue hier,
Herz und Auge weint vor dir
Bitterlich.

Have mercy
My God, for the sake of my tears!
Look here,
Heart and eye weep before you
Bitterly.

Yours in Christ,
Justin