Musical Meditation

O Welt, ich muß dich lassen – Brahms op 122 / 11,  

Goodbyes are never easy. Throughout our lives there are different kinds of goodbye or taking leave. But there is of course a final farewell we all must face. The day on which we are released from this mortal coil and go to meet our maker.  In this most holy of weeks, we journey with Christ to his cross and passion, we walk with him on the last three days of his life. 

On Maundy Thursday we remember what would be his ‘last supper’ with his disciples, as he breaks bread and shares wine- and on Good Friday, we stand at the foot of the cross as he breathes his last. We stand with his mother Mary, as he bids farewell to the world. 

The music of Brahms which we will shortly hear dwells on this kind of leave-taking. As one of his eleven Chorale Preludes, this piece is thought to represent the last measure of music, the very last notes that Brahms would write. He knew his life was coming to an end, is this his own musical goodbye to the world?

The text he uses as a foundation for this prelude reads thus: 

O world, I now must leave thee,
And go my lonely journey
To my eternal home.
I faithfully and humbly
Commit my soul and body
unto the Lord’s all-loving hands.

What does Brahms help us understand about goodbyes- as he writes perhaps about his own end? 

The prelude is actually surprisingly uplifting- set in the key of F Major, it is broken up into almost a call and response structure- a slightly sadder and more thoughtful line- which is countered by a hopeful, fuller sound to follow expressing the words of the chorale. 

The individual phrases of the melody are separated by brief interludes, as if Brahms were taking a deep breath between each line. There is almost a question of uncertainty of pending sorrow and of farewell and then the music responds again with reassurance – with a lightness, even with a sense of certainty and confidence. It seems to be saying this is not the end, death will not have the last word. This is a farewell which is always opening out into a new beginning.

The end of the piece is consoling, it is peaceful and it is hopeful. This is not morose, this is life in all of its fullness, life from beginning to end shot through with glory. Perhaps representing the door of earthly life closing and the heavenly door opening in the final bars. This is not a representation of saying goodbye which comes to a full end. This is at the very same time a representation of new life- a being born again into an eternal home. 

In this holy week, this music shows us that there is hope beyond the cross- that Christ is the Resurrection and the life, it shows us that where our hearts have been wintry, grieving or in pain, the love of God calls us back to life again and again and again.

Lord Jesus Christ, the way by which we travel: show us thyself, and the truth that we must walk in, and be in us the life that lifts us up to God, our journey’s ending and our life everlasting. 

Almighty and everlasting God, who in your tender love towards the human race sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh

and to suffer death upon the cross: grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen