Bach’s “Erbarme dich, mein Gott”

This week we’ll explore music inspired by Good Friday and Easter, both sacred and secular. We’ll start in one of the most sublime and powerful corners of J.S. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion: the alto aria, Erbarme dich, mein Gott (“Have mercy Lord, My God, for the sake of my tears”). In the drama, this aria reflects Peter’s solitary heartache in the garden after he denies knowing Jesus three times. It’s set in a lilting 12/8 time, suggesting the baroque dance rhythm of the siciliano.

Aching beauty and profound sadness coexist in this music, along with a mix of other emotions which transcend description and literal meaning. The Polish poet and novelist Adam Zagajewski has called Erbarme Dich “the center and the synthesis of western music.” The violinist Yehudi Menuhin called the aria’s lamenting solo violin obligato “the most beautiful piece of music ever written for the violin.” (You can hear Menuhin performing this aria both early and late in his career).

Last month, we heard excerpts from Sir John Eliot Gardiner’s newly-released live-concert recording of the St. Matthew Passion. This performance, sung by English countertenor Michael Chance, comes from Gardiner’s earlier 1988 recording:

Recordings

  • Bach: St. Matthew Passion, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner, Monteverdi Choir iTunes
  • a live concert clip with Michael Chance
  • Christa Ludwig’s 1962 recording with Otto Klemperer

About Timothy Judd

A native of Upstate New York, Timothy Judd has been a member of the Richmond Symphony violin section since 2001. He is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music where he earned the degrees Bachelor of Music and Master of Music, studying with world renowned Ukrainian-American violinist Oleh Krysa.

The son of public school music educators, Timothy Judd began violin lessons at the age of four through Eastman’s Community Education Division. He was a student of Anastasia Jempelis, one of the earliest champions of the Suzuki method in the United States.

A passionate teacher, Mr. Judd has maintained a private violin studio in the Richmond area since 2002 and has been active coaching chamber music and numerous youth orchestra sectionals.

In his free time, Timothy Judd enjoys working out with Richmond’s popular SEAL Team Physical Training program.

9 thoughts on “Bach’s “Erbarme dich, mein Gott””

  1. Oh yeah! One of my favorite pieces of music. We did this at church this Easter with a wonderful violinist and mezzo. Couldn’t agree more with Menuhin. Well, except for the 2nd movement of Prokofiev 2nd Concerto. Or the Brahms G major sonata. Or the slow movement of the Beethoven c minor….or the 2nd movement of the Bach No. 3 for violin and hpschd. Etc.

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