"Komm, süßer Tod, komm selge Ruh" (Come, sweet death, come, blessed rest) is a song for solo voice and

basso continuo Basso continuo parts, almost universal in the Baroque era (1600–1750), provided the harmonic structure of the music by supplying a bassline and a chord progression. The phrase is often shortened to continuo, and the instrumentalists playing th ...

from the 69 Sacred Songs and Arias that

Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (German: Help:IPA/Standard German, �joːhan zeˈbasti̯an baχ ( – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque music, Baroque period. He is known for his prolific output across a variety ...

contributed to ''

Musicalisches Gesang-Buch Schemellis Gesangbuch (Schemelli's hymnal) is the common name of a collection of sacred songs titled ''Musicalisches Gesang-Buch'' (Musical song book) published in Leipzig in 1736 by Georg Christian Schemelli, to which Johann Sebastian Bach contr ...

'' by

Georg Christian Schemelli Georg Christian Schemelli (born 1676 or 1678 or 1680 – 5 March 1762) was a German Protestant church musician. He is known for the publication ''Musicalisches Gesang-Buch'', a collection of sacred songs to which Johann Sebastian Bach contributed ...

(BWV 478), edited by Schemelli in 1736. The text is by an anonymous author."Komm, süßer Tod"
bach-cantatas.com Bach, by means of melody and harmony, expresses the desire for death and heaven. It is among his most popular works and has been adapted and transformed by several composers, such as

Max Reger Johann Baptist Joseph Maximilian Reger (19 March 187311 May 1916) was a German composer, pianist, organist, conductor, and academic teacher. He worked as a concert pianist, a musical director at the Paulinerkirche, Leipzig, Leipzig University Chu ...

Leopold Stokowski Leopold Anthony Stokowski (18 April 1882 – 13 September 1977) was a British-born American conductor. One of the leading conductors of the early and mid-20th century, he is best known for his long association with the Philadelphia Orchestra. H ...

, Knut Nystedt, and for the Wanamaker Organ, by Virgil Fox. Komm, süßer Tod, komm selge Ruh! Komm führe mich in Friede, weil ich der Welt bin müde, ach komm! ich wart auf dich, komm bald und führe mich, drück mir die Augen zu. Komm, selge Ruh! Komm, süßer Tod, komm, selge Ruh! Im Himmel ist es besser, da alle Lust viel größer, drum bin ich jederzeit schon zum Valet bereit, ich schließ die Augen zu. Komm, selge Ruh! Komm, süßer Tod, komm, selge Ruh! O Welt, du Marterkammer, ach! bleib mit deinem Jammer auf dieser Trauerwelt, der Himmel mir gefällt, der Tod bringt mich darzu. Komm, selge Ruh! Komm, süßer Tod, komm, selge Ruh! O, dass ich doch schon wäre dort bei der Engel Heere, aus dieser schwarzen Welt ins blaue Sternenzelt, hin nach dem Himmel zu. O selge Ruh! Komm, süßer Tod, komm, selge Ruh! Ich will nun Jesum sehen und bei den Engeln stehen. Es ist nunmehr vollbracht, drum, Welt, zu guter Nacht, mein Augen sind schon zu. Komm, selge Ruh! Come, sweet death, come, blessed rest! Come lead me to peace for I am weary of the world, O come! I wait for you, come soon and lead me, close my eyes. Come, blessed rest! Come, sweet death, come blessed rest! It is better in heaven, for there is all pleasure greater, therefore I am at all times prepared to say "Farewell," I close my eyes. Come, blessed rest! Come, sweet death, come blessed rest! O world, you torture chamber, oh! stay with your lamentations in this world of sorrow, it is heaven that I desire, death shall bring me there. Come, blessed rest! Come, sweet death, come blessed rest! Oh, that I were but already there among the hosts of angels, out of this black world into the blue, starry firmament, up to heaven. O blessed rest! Come, sweet death, come blessed rest! I will now see Jesus and stand among the angels. It is henceforth completed, so, world, good night, my eyes are already closed. Come, blessed rest.

Music

\header \paper \layout global = sopranoVoice = \relative c'' verse = \lyricmode tf = \tempo 4 = 36 tt = \tempo 4 = 66 bcMusic = \relative c bcFigures = \figuremode cembaloRightTop = \relative es' cembaloRightBot = \relative es' cembaloLeftTop = \relative es cembaloLeftBot = \relative es VoicePart = \new ChoirStaff << \new Staff \with \addlyrics \new Staff \with \new FiguredBass \bcFigures >> cembaloPart = \new PianoStaff << \new Staff \with << >> \new Staff \with << \clef bass >> >> \score

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Komm, Susser Tod, Komm Selge Ruh Compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach Christian songs 1736 compositions 18th-century songs