This edition was prepared by Barry Johnston — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Auf auf mein Herz, BWV 268
Staff Notation • Sacred, Hymns
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Auf auf mein Herz, BWV 268 by Anonymous — Lyrics
1. Auf auf, mein Herz, und du mein ganzer Sinn,
Wirf alles das, was Welt ist, von dir hin,
Wo das du willst, was göttlich ist, erlangen,
So laß den Leib, in dem du bist gefangen!
2. Die Seele muß von dem gesäubert sein,
Was nichts nicht ist, als nur ein falscher Schein,
Muß durch den Zaum der Tugend dämpfen können,
Die schnöde Lust der äußerlichen Sinnen.
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About Auf auf mein Herz, BWV 268
This anonymous setting of a German hymn text opens with a forthright, homophonic texture that immediately establishes its devotional character. The SATB voices move together with clarity and purpose, urging the singer to cast off worldly concerns and embrace the divine. The music reflects the text’s call to purify the soul, to temper sensual desire with virtue, and to recognise the superficiality of worldly ambitions, whether for wealth, fame, or earthly glory. The composer’s direct musical language, with its clear melodic lines and purposeful harmonic progression, suits the text’s urgent spiritual message, making this a powerful expression of Lutheran faith.
