About the piece
The great hymn of the Passion: a meditation before the crucified Christ. This edition carries the melody with its text, in 18 measures.
How to prepare it
The melody is simple and of comfortable range, D4–D5 (an octave). What matters is the gravity of the tone: an unhurried tempo, without dragging, with a very careful legato and no accents. Rehearse with a slow pulse until each line breathes as a single phrase and the assembly can sing it with recollection. It helps for the choir to agree in advance where to breathe and how each line ends, because in a hymn this slow any hesitation is noticeable.
When to use it
It is the hymn proper to Lent, especially Holy Week and Good Friday.