How do you say “regenerate” in German?

My next shipment from Amazon will contain a set of CDs containing a German language sacred work.  I can’t begin to describe how odd that is.

As the result of a college experience which involved roommates with varied interests in music, I discovered something about myself — I like just about any kind of music once I’ve learned the words.  Those who know me know I’m obsessed with Broadway music, which makes some sense in this regard — in many ways, Broadway songs are more about the words than any other type of music, since they are telling a story.

What this has also meant, however, is that I’ve never been horribly keen on classical music (especially instrumental).  And then there was Handel’s Messiah.  The first time I heard it was at National Cathedral here in D.C.  and I’m not sure if I ever had a harder time staying awake.  I mean, how many times can they repeat the same line over and over?  It was painful.

The regenerate Mrs., however, is a big fan, so this past Christmas season I got us tickets to a performance at the Kennedy Center.  This time I prepared by getting it on CD and listening to it over and over again ahead of time so I’d know it better.  Voila, it worked.  Which is a good thing, since the Mrs. has concluded that needs to be an annual family tradition.  (Incidentally, I was blown away by experiencing it in a secular setting — talk about regenerate art!)

So now, based on L’Engle’s recommendation, I’m going to give Bach’s St. Matthew Passion a try.  But I don’t know German, so learning the words will be a tad difficult.  Wish me luck.