This performance is taken from the live broadcast of a concert at ‪@StJohnsSmithSquare‬ in April 2023. One of six motets by the great J. S. Bach, 'Komm, Jesu komm' was composed during the 1730's, most probably for a funeral.

With grateful thanks to BBC Four for broadcasting this concert and permitting us to share it with you, to K418 Arts for production, and to St John's Smith Square for hosting us.

Sopranos: Grace Davidson, Victoria Meteyard, Katie Trethewey, Emma Walshe
Altos: Hannah Cooke, Martha McLorinan
Tenors: Jeremy Budd, Nicholas Todd
Basses: Jimmy Holliday, Giles Underwood
Continuo: Emily Ashton (cello), Oliver John Ruthven (keyboard)
Director: Nigel Short

---

Komm, Jesu, komm, mein Leib ist müde,
die Kraft verschwind’t je mehr und mehr,
ich sehne mich nach deinem Friede;
der saure Weg wird mir zu schwer!
Komm, komm, ich will mich dir ergeben;
du bist der rechte Weg, die Wahrheit und das Leben.

Drum schließ ich mich in deine Hände
und sage, Welt, zu guter Nacht!
Eilt gleich mein Lebenslauf zu Ende,
ist doch der Geist wohl angebracht.
Er soll bei seinem Schöpfer schweben,
weil Jesus ist und bleibt der wahre Weg zum Leben.

[Text by Paul Thymich, 1656-1694]

---

Come, Jesus, come, my body is weary,
my strength deserts me more and more,
I yearn for thy peace;
life’s bitter path is too much for me!
Come, come, I will surrender myself to thee,
thou art the right Way, the Truth and the Life.

And so I place myself in thy hands
and bid thee, world, farewell!
Though the sands of my life are running out,
the spirit is ready.
It shall hover before its maker,
for Jesus is and remains the true way to life.
--

Hear this music on our 'Bach & MacMillan' album: https://lnk.to/MotetsSacredSongs
If you enjoy our videos, please support us with a donation: https://www.tenebrae-choir.com/support