Johann Sebastian Bach (March 1685 – July 1750) born in Eisenach, was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period.

Known for his prolific output of music across many forms of music, he is regarded as one of the greatest composers in the history of Western music.

He died in Leipzig in July 1750.

For further information about Johann Sebastian Bach.

Aria: Können Tränen meiner Wangen (Alto) is taken from: St Matthew Passion, BWV244


For further information about St. Matthew Passion (German: Matthäus-Passion).

To purchase a recording of St Matthew Passion, BWV244

Können Tränen meiner Wangen. The setting is taken from the Gospel of St.Matthew (in the Luther Bible).

Können Tränen meiner Wangen
Nichts erlangen,
O, so nehmt mein Herz hinein!
Aber lasst es bei den Fluten,
Wenn die Wunden milde bluten,
Auch die Opferschale sein!

English translation



Tears may come to my cheeks
but gain nothing,
Oh, then take my heart
But leave it with the floods,
If the wounds bleed mildly,
Also be the sacrificial bowl!

International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) pronunciation of the German text.

kˈœnən tɾˈɛːnən mˈa͡ɪnɜ vˈaŋən
nˈɪçts ɛɾlˈaŋən,
ˈoː, zˈoː nˈeːmt mˈa͡ɪn hˈɛɾt͡s hɪnˈa͡ɪn!
ˈɑːbɜ lˈast ˈɛs bˈa͡ɪ dˈeːn flˈuːtən,
vˈɛn dˈiː vˈʊndən mˈɪldə blˈuːtən,
ˈa͡ʊx dˈiː ˈɔpfɜʃˌɑːlə zˈa͡ɪn!