For the thrill seekers amongst us, the New Living Parish Hymn Book included Benjamin Britten’s arrangement of this cheery number. Does this really get played at funerals? It would need a very high level of expertise to pull it off.
The German text is here translated by Peter Pears and the original tune, KOMM, SUSSER TOD, was by Johann Sebastian Bach. Britten’s arrangement is in Five Spiritual Songs, which still can be purchased at Faber Music. I found another arrangement here.
I figured out some chords and made a backing, but Britten and Bach by BIAB is very concerning:
1 Come, soothing death, come sweet repose!
Come, bear my soul to heaven,
From mortal weariness shriven.
Ah come, I wait for thee,
Come to deliver me,
Ah, let my eyelids close,
Come, sweet repose.
2 Come, soothing death, come sweet repose!
Saviour, I long to see thee
And with the Angels greet thee.
Now fades the day’s pale light;
World, take my last “good night”.
My weary eyelids close,
Come, sweet repose.
It sounds even more melancholic in German:
This is a different arrangement in English:
Sad cellos:
Incredibly slow organ:
The Eastman Wind Ensemble:
There are many arrangements and translations to pick from.
As conducted by Eric Whitacre, so you know what to expect:
On the subject of Whitacre:
I would be as likely to use “Come, Soothing Death” in a liturgy as play Whitacre’s “When David Heard”. However, if your choir can manage this level of choral despair go for it.