Mein Herze schwimmt in Blut

Music video based on Johann Sebastian Bach's cantata (BMV 199) with a philosophical reworking of the original text

Is it permissible to add new lyrics to a famous and venerable Bach cantata? Especially lyrics that transcend the given Christian context and thus repeatedly elude the connection between the original text and the musical composition?

We believe so. What's more, not only is it permissible, but it may even be necessary if the love for Johann Sebastian Bach's magnificent, timeless music is accompanied by a philosophically grounded re-evaluation of traditional content.

While the original text contemplates the themes of guilt, repentance and desperate fear of God based on the biblical story of the publican and the Pharisee, the focus now shifts to human freedom and responsibility for others: salvation does not come from a transcendent God or saviour, but only from a developed and conscious humanity that is prepared to face its own pain.

At the heart of the video production is a performance of the cantata with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Bas Wiegers as part of the interdisciplinary series ‘Mensch, Musik!’ (Human, Music!). Associatively set in motion by Colombian choreographer and dancer Gustavo Llano, it deals with central aspects of human freedom and choice – from deeply personal questions concerning one's own sexual or ethical identity to political decisions for or against liberal forms of society, which have become urgent again after a long period of calm. At the same time, it becomes clear how much all of this is interwoven. A free society needs free, responsible individuals and vice versa.

For the film production of ‘Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut’, a number of experienced personalities from the German music, theatre and film scene have come together to send not only an artistic and musical message to the world, but also a political and philosophical one.

Vocals and performance: Philipp Mathmann
Choreography and dance: Gustavo Llano
Conductor: Bas Wiegers and the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra (RSB)
Director of Photography: Ma Raab
Music history supervision: Professor Winfried Toll
Text, concept and direction: tauchgold
English text version: Catherine Gosvenor

With thanks to the Cologne Society for Early Music and the Karin and Uwe Hollweg Foundation