St Matthew Passion

For other uses, see St Matthew Passion (disambiguation).

Title page of Bach's autograph score of the St Matthew Passion

The St Matthew Passion (also frequently St Matthew's Passion; German: Matthäus-Passion), BWV 244 is a Passion, a sacred oratorio written by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1727 for solo voices, double choir and double orchestra, with libretto by Picander (Christian Friedrich Henrici). It sets chapters 26 and 27 of the Gospel of Matthew (in the German translation of Martin Luther) to music, with interspersed chorales and arias. It is widely regarded as one of the masterpieces of classical sacred music. The original Latin title Passio Domini nostri J.C. secundum Evangelistam Matthæum translates to "The Passion of our Lord J[esus] C[hrist] according to the Evangelist Matthew".

History

Fair copy in Bach's own hand of the revised version of the St Matthew Passion BWV 244 that is generally dated to the year 1743–46

The St Matthew Passion is the second of two Passion settings by Bach that have survived in their entirety, the first being the St John Passion, first performed in 1724.

Versions and contemporary performances

Little is known with certainty about the creation process of the St Matthew Passion. The available information derives from extant early manuscripts, contemporary publications of the libretto, and circumstantial data, for instance in documents archived by the Town Council of Leipzig.

First version (BWV 244b)

In Leipzig it was not allowed to paraphrase the words of the Gospel in a Passion presentation on Good Friday. A setting of the then popular Brockes Passion libretto, largely consisting of such paraphrasing, could not be done without replacing the paraphrases by actual Gospel text. That was the option chosen by Bach for his 1724 St John Passion. In 1725 Christian Friedrich Henrici, a Leipzig poet having chosen Picander as pen name, had published Erbauliche Gedanken Auf den Grünen Donnerstag und Charfreytag ("Edifying thoughts on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday"), containing free verse suitable for a Passion presentation in addition to the Gospel text. Bach seems to have stimulated the poet to write more of such verse in order to come to a full-fledged libretto for a Passion presentation combined with the Passion text Chapters 26 and 27 in the Gospel of St Matthew.

Since 1975 it is usually assumed that Bach's St Matthew Passion was first performed on Good Friday 11 April 1727, although its first performance may have been as late as Good Friday 1729 as older sources assert. The performance took place in the St. Thomas Church (Thomaskirche) in Leipzig. Bach was Thomaskantor (i.e. Cantor, and responsible for the music in the church) since 1723. In this version the Passion was written for two chorusses and orchestras. Choir I consists of a soprano in ripieno voice, a soprano solo, an alto solo, a tenor solo, SATB chorus, two traversos, two oboes, two oboes d'amore, two oboes da caccia, lute, strings (two violin sections, violas and cellos), and continuo (at least organ). Choir II consists of SATB voices, violin I, violin II, viola, viola da gamba, cello, two traversos, two oboes (d'amore) and possibly continuo.

Funeral cantata for Köthen (BWV 244a)

Further information: Klagt, Kinder, klagt es aller Welt, BWV 244a

Klagt, Kinder, klagt es aller Welt, BWV 244a, a cantata of which only the text is extant, was performed 24 March 1729 in Köthen at a memorial service held some months after the death of Leopold, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen. The music of the cantata consisted largely of music parodied from the St Matthew Passion.

Passion performances in the St. Thomas Church

"Small" organ loft in the St. Thomas Church, that would have fitted Chorus II and Orchestra II of the St Matthew Passion in Bach's time (note: the organ on this photograph is a late 20th-century addition)

At the time only men sung in church: high pitch vocal parts were usually performed by treble choristers. In 1730 Bach informed the Leipzig Town Council as to what he saw as the number of singers that should be available for the churches under his responsibility, including those for the St. Thomas Church: a choir of twelve singers, plus eight singers that would serve both St. Thomas and the Peterskirche. The request was only partially granted by the Town Council, so possibly at least some of the Passion presentations in St. Thomas were with less than twenty singers, even for the large scale works like the St Matthew Passion that were written for double choir.

In Bach's time St. Thomas Church had two organ lofts: the large organ loft that was used throughout the year for musicians performing in Sunday services, vespers, etc., and the small organ loft, situated at the opposite side of the former, that was used additionally in the grand services for Christmas and Easter. The St Matthew Passion was composed as to perform a single work from both organ lofts at the same time: Chorus and orchestra I would occupy the large organ loft, and Chorus and orchestra II performed from the small organ loft. The size of the organ lofts limited the number of performers for each Choir. Large choruses, in addition to the instrumentists indicated for Choir I and II, would have been impossible, so also here there is an indication that each part (including those of strings and singers) would have a limited number of performers, where, for the choruses, the numbers indicated by Bach in his 1730 request would appear to be (more than?) a maximum of what could be fitted in the organ lofts.

Later revisions and performances (BWV 244)

Bach revised the Passion by 1736, for a performance on Good Friday 30 March 1736. This is the version (with some possible later adjustments) that is generally known as the St Matthew Passion, BWV 244. In this version both choirs have SATB soloists and chorus, and a string section and continuo consisting of at least violins I and II, viola, gamba and organ. The woodwinds are two traversos, oboes and oboes d'amore for each choir, and in addition for choir I two oboes da caccia.

Some parts were adjusted for a new performance on Good Friday 23 March 1742. Bach finalized his autograph score 1743–1746, however not tied to any new performance.

Numbering of the movements

See also: St Matthew Passion structure § Numbering of the movements

Bach did not number the sections of the St Matthew Passion, all of them vocal movements, but twentieth-century scholars have done so. The two main schemes in use today are the scheme from the Neue Bach-Ausgabe (NBA, New Bach Edition) which uses a 1 through 68 numbering system, and the older Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (BWV, Bach Works Catalog) scheme which divides the work into 78 numbers. Both use lettered subsections in some cases. This article is written using the NBA numbering system.

Text

Bach worked together with his librettist, Christian Friedrich Henrici, known as Picander. The text of the libretto of the St Matthew Passion was published by Picander in 1729.

Bible text

The Bible text used for Part One is Matthew 26:1–56. Part Two uses Matthew 26:57–75 and Matthew 27:1–66

Additionally, Song of Songs 6:1 is used in the opening aria (with chorus) of Part Two (No. 30).

Free verse

Picander wrote text for recitatives and arias, and for the large scale choral movements that open and close the Passion. Other libretto sections came from publications by Salomo Franck and Barthold Heinrich Brockes.

Chorales

The chorale melodies and their texts were recognizable by the attendants of the services in the St Thomas church. The oldest choral Bach used in the St Matthew Passion dates from 1525, three chorales are written by Paul Gerhardt, Bach included five stanzas from his O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden. Bach used the hymns in different ways, most are four-part setting, two as the cantus firmus of the two chorale fantasias framing Part I, one as a commenting element in a tenor recitative.

Chorales in St Matthew Passion

Author	Date	Hymn; Stanza		Stanza incipit	No.	Set as...
Nikolaus Decius	1541	O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig	1	O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig	1	cantus firmus in choral movement
Johann Heermann	1630	Herzliebster Jesu	1	Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen	3	four-part chorale
Paul Gerhardt	1647	O Welt, sieh hier dein Leben	5	Ich bin’s, ich sollte büßen	10	four-part chorale
Paul Gerhardt	1656	O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden	5	Erkenne mich, mein Hüter	15	four-part chorale
Paul Gerhardt	1656	O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden	6	Ich will hier bei dir stehen	17	four-part chorale
Johann Heermann	1630	Herzliebster Jesu	3	Was ist doch wohl die Ursach	19	coro II in tenor recitative
Albert, Duke in Prussia	1547	Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit	1	Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit	25	four-part chorale
Sebald Heyden	1525	O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß	1	O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß	29	cantus firmus in choral movement
Adam Reusner	1533	In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr	5	Mir hat die Welt trüglich gericht'	32	four-part chorale
Paul Gerhardt	1647	O Welt, sieh hier dein Leben	3	Wer hat dich so geschlagen	37	four-part chorale
Johann von Rist	1642	Werde munter, mein Gemüte	6	Bin ich gleich von dir gewichen	40	four-part chorale
Paul Gerhardt	1656	de	1	Befiehl du deine Wege	44	four-part chorale
Johann Heermann	1630	Herzliebster Jesu	4	Wie wunderbarlich ist doch diese Strafe!	46	four-part chorale
Paul Gerhardt	1656	O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden	1 2	O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden Du edles Angesichte	54	four-part chorale
Paul Gerhardt	1656	O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden	9	Wenn ich einmal soll scheiden	62	four-part chorale

In the early version BWV 244b the chorale No. 17 appears to be missing, and movement No. 29, concluding Part One, is a four-part setting of the chorale "Jesum lass ich nicht von mir" instead of the chorale fantasia on "O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß".

Composition

Many composers wrote musical settings of the Passion in the late 17th century. Like other Baroque oratorio passions, Bach's setting presents the Biblical text of Matthew 26–27 in a relatively simple way, primarily using recitative, while aria and arioso movements set newly written poetic texts which comment on the various events in the Biblical narrative and present the characters' states of mind in a lyrical, monologue-like manner.

The St Matthew Passion is set for two choirs and two orchestras. Both include two transverse flutes (Choir 1 also includes 2 recorders for No. 19), two oboes, in certain movements instead oboe d'amore or oboe da caccia, two violins, viola, viola da gamba, and basso continuo. For practical reasons the continuo organ is often shared and played with both orchestras. In many arias a solo instrument or more create a specific mood, such as the central soprano aria No. 49, "Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben", where the absence of strings and basso continuo mark a desperate loss of security.

Vocal parts

Two distinctive aspects of Bach's setting spring from his other church endeavors. One is the double-choir format, which stems from his own double-choir motets and those of many other composers with which he routinely started Sunday services. The other is the extensive use of chorales, which appear in standard four-part settings, as interpolations in arias, and as a cantus firmus in large polyphonic movements. This is notable in "O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß", the conclusion of the first half – a movement which Bach also used as an opening chorus for the second version (1725) of his St John Passion (later – ca. 1730 – he reverted to the originally composed "Herr, unser Herrscher" there). The opening chorus, "Kommt, ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen" is also notable for the use of chorale cantus firmus, in which the soprano in ripieno crowns a colossal buildup of polyphonic and harmonic tension, singing a verse of "de". This was sung only in 1742 and 1743–1746 and had been played on the organ before.

Gospel parts

End of the aria with chorus No. 60, and beginning of the recitative No. 61a (Bible words written in red) in Bach's autograph score: the recitative contains Christ's last words, and the only words by Christ sung without the characteristic string section accompaniment ("Eli, Eli lama asabthani?")

The narration of the Gospel texts is sung by the tenor Evangelist in secco recitative accompanied only by continuo. Soloists sing the words of various characters, also in recitative; in addition to Jesus, there are named parts for Judas, Peter, two high priests (Pontifex I & II), Pontius Pilate, Pilate's wife (Uxor Pilati), two witnesses (Testis I & II) and two ancillae (maids). These are not always sung by all different soloists. The "character" soloists are also often assigned arias and sing with the choirs, a practice not always followed by modern performances. Two duets are sung by a pair of soloists representing two simultaneous speakers. A number of passages for several speakers, called turba (crowd) parts, are sung by one of the two choirs or both.

The words of Jesus, also termed Vox Christi (voice of Christ), usually receive special treatment. Bach created particularly distinctive accompagnato recitatives in this work: they are accompanied not by continuo alone, but also by the entire string section of the first orchestra using long, sustained notes and "highlighting" certain words, thus creating an effect often referred to as Jesus's "halo". Only his final words, in Aramaic, Eli, Eli lama asabthani? (My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?), are sung without this "halo".

In the revision of 1743–1746, it is also these words (the Vox Christi) that receive a sustained continuo part. In all prior versions (1727/1729, 1736, and 1742), the continuo part was sustained in all recitatives.

Interpolated texts

The arias, set to texts by Picander, are interspersed between sections of the Gospel text. They are sung by soloists with a variety of instrumental accompaniments, typical of the oratorio style. The interpolated texts theologically and personally interpret the Gospel texts. Many of them include the listener into the action, such as the chorale No. 10, "Ich bin's, ich sollte büßen" ("It is I who should suffer"), after eleven disciples asked "Herr, bin ich's?" (Lord, is it I?) – meaning: Am I the one going to betray? The alto aria No. 6, "Buß und Reu", portrays a desire to anoint Jesus with her tears out of remorse. The bass aria No. 65, "Mache dich, mein Herze, rein", offers to bury Jesus himself. Jesus is often referred to as "my Jesus". The chorus alternates between participating in the narrative and commenting on it.

As is typical of settings of the Passion (and originating in its liturgical use on Palm Sunday), there is no mention of the Resurrection in any of these texts (apart from indirect allusions at Matthew 27:53 and 63). Following the concept of Anselm of Canterbury, the crucifixion is the endpoint and the source of redemption; the emphasis is on the suffering of Jesus. The chorus sings, in the final chorale No. 62, "tear me from my fears / through your own fear and pain." The bass, referring to the "sweet cross" expresses in No. 56, "Yes, of course this flesh and blood in us / want to be forced to the cross; / the better it is for our soul, / the more bitter it feels."

The first "O Lamm Gottes" chorale compares Jesus' crucifixion to the ritual sacrifice of an Old Testament lamb, as an offering for sin. This theme is reinforced by the concluding chorale of the first part, O Mensch, bewein dein' Sünde groß (O man, bewail your great sin).

Compositional style

Bach's recitatives often set the mood for the particular passages by highlighting emotionally charged words such as "crucify", "kill", or "mourn" with chromatic melodies. Diminished seventh chords and sudden modulations accompany Jesus's apocalyptic prophecies.

In the turba parts, the two choruses sometimes alternate in cori spezzati style (e.g. "Weissage uns, Christe") and sometimes sing together ("Herr, wir haben gedacht"). Other times only one chorus sings (chorus I always takes the parts of the disciples) or they alternate, for example when "some bystanders" say "He's calling for Elijah", and "others" say "Wait to see if Elijah comes to help him."

In the arias, obbligato instruments are equal partners with the voices, as was customary in late Baroque arias. Bach often uses madrigalisms, as in "Buß und Reu", where the flutes start playing a raindrop-like staccato as the alto sings of drops of his tears falling. In "Blute nur", the line about the serpent is set with a twisting melody.

Structure

As in other Passion oratorios the backbone of the structure is the narration of the Gospel, in this case chapters 26 and 27 of the Gospel of Matthew in the German translation of the Luther Bible.

Gospel text

The Evangelist, a tenor voice, sings the Gospel text in a declamatory style called secco recitative, that is with only a continuo accompaniment. Direct speech sections of the Gospel text are brought by other singers in the same "secco" format (e.g. a soprano voice sings the words spoken by Pontius Pilate's wife), except for:

• Vox Christi: the words spoken by Christ are sung by a bass as a accompagnato recitative, that is: accompagnated by strings, and in a more arioso style than the secco recitatives.
• Turba choruses: words spoken by a group of people (e.g. Jesus' disciples) are sung by the choir, usually accompanied by the complete orchestra.

Apart from the Evangelist and the Vox Christi the dramatis personae of these Gospel sections of the St Matthew Passion consists of:

• Judas (B), Peter (B), two witnesses (A T), two high priests (B), two maids (S), Pilate (B) and his wife (S)
• A small group is represented by Chorus I or Chorus II separately (Chorus II always for the disciples); High priests and larger groups of people are sung by Chorus I and II together.

Interpolated text

In between the sections or scenes of the Gospel text, other texts are sung as a meditation or underlining the action, in a variety of formats:

• soloists sing arias, in most cases preceded by an accompagnato recitative, and occasionally in a dialogue with the choir. These sections are based nearly exclusively on texts by Picander. The arias are in da capo format (ternary form). "Erbarme dich", for alto, and "Mache dich, mein Herze, rein", for bass, are examples of such arias in Part Two of the oratorio. In these movements the singers are accompanied by one or a few solo instruments and continuo, occasionally completed by other instrument groups of the orchestra.
  

  "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden", vocal score
• Choral movements come in two additional formats (apart from the turba and dialogue with soloist roles already mentioned above):
  • Cornerstone choral movements, or chorale fantasias: these are the extended movements, typically used to open or close both parts of the oratorio. In the St Matthew Passion there are three such extended choral movements: the opening chorus ("Kommt, ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen", text by Picander and Nicolaus Decius), the conclusion of Part One ("O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß", text by Sebald Heyden) and the final chorus ("Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder", text by Picander)
  • Chorale harmonization movements: using traditional chorale texts and their melodies. The text is sung in homophony by a four-part chorus with colla parte accompaniment by the orchestra. "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden", on a text by Paul Gerhardt, is the one that returns most often throughout the Passion, in different harmonizations.

Overview

In the scheme below indentation indicates the type of movement:

|→ Cornerstone choral movements

|→ Gospel parts (including Vox Christi and Turba sections) – Evangelist sings in each of these Gospel sections

|→ Chorale harmonizations

|→ (Non-Gospel) Recitatives and Arias (with or without dialogue with the chorus)

——— Part One ———

1. Kommt, ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen – O Lamm Gottes unschuldig (Chorus I & II – Cantus firmus by ripieno soprano choir)

2. Mt 26:1–2, with Vox Christi

3. Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen

4. Mt 26:3–13, with Vox Christi, and Turba on Ja nicht auf das Fest (Chorus I & II) and on Wozu dienet dieser Unrat? (Chorus I)

5–6. Recitative Du lieber Heiland du and Aria Buß und Reu (alto)

7. Mt 26:14–16, with Judas (bass)

8. Aria Blute nur, du liebes Herz! (soprano)

9. Mt 26:17–22, with Vox Christi, and Turba on Wo willst du, daß wir dir bereiten das Osterlamm zu essen? (Chorus I) and on Herr, bin ich's? (Chorus I)

10. "O Welt, sieh hier dein Leben" by Paul Gerhardt, stanza 5: Ich bin's, ich sollte büßen

11. Mt 26:23–29, with Vox Christi and Judas (bass)

12–13. Recitative Wiewohl mein Herz in Tränen schwimmt and Aria Ich will dir mein Herze schenken (soprano)

14. Mt 26:30–32, with Vox Christi

15. "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden" by Paul Gerhardt, stanza 5: Erkenne mich, mein Hüter

16. Mt 26:33–35, with Vox Christi and Peter (bass)

17. "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden" by Paul Gerhardt, stanza 6: Ich will hier bei dir stehen [1727/1729 version without music and text "Es dient zu meinem Freude"]

18. Mt 26:36–38, with Vox Christi

19–20. Recitative O Schmerz! Hier zittert das gequälte Herz – "Herzliebster Jesu" by Johann Heermann, stanza 3: Was ist die Ursach aller solcher Plagen? and Aria Ich will bei meinem Jesu wachen – So schlafen unsre Sünden ein (tenor – Chorus II)

21. Mt 26:39

22–23. Recitative Der Heiland fällt vor seinem Vater nieder and Aria Gerne will ich mich bequemen, Kreuz und Becher anzunehmen (bass)

24. Mt 26:40–42, with Vox Christi

25. "Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit" by Albert, Duke in Prussia, stanza 1: Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit

26. Mt 26:43–50, with Vox Christi and Judas (bass)

27. Aria So ist mein Jesus nun gefangen – Laßt ihn, haltet, bindet nicht! (soprano, alto – Chorus II) and Sind Blitze, sind Donner in Wolken verschwunden? (Chorus I & II)

28. Mt 26:51–56, with Vox Christi

29. O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß (Chorale fatasie, text by Sebald Heyden) [1727/1729 version: "Jesum lass ich nicht von mir"; 1742 and 1743–1746 versions: ripieno soprano choir added to soprano line]

——— Part Two ———

30. Aria Ach, nun ist mein Jesus hin! – Wo ist denn dein Freund hingegangen (alto [bass in the 1727/1729 version] – Chorus II)

31. Mt 26:57–60a

32. "In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr" by Adam Reusner, stanza 5: Mir hat die Welt trüglich gericht't

33. Mt 26:60b–63a, with Witnesses (alt, tenor) and High Priest (bass)

34–35. Recitative Mein Jesus schweigt zu falschen Lügen stille and Aria Geduld, Geduld! Wenn mich falsche Zungen stechen (tenor)

36. Mt 26:63b–68, with Vox Christi, High Priest (bass), and Turba on Er ist des Todes schuldig! (Chorus I & II), and on Weissage uns, Christe, wer ists, der dich schlug? (Chorus I & II)

37. "O Welt, sieh hier dein Leben" by Paul Gerhardt, stanza 3: Wer hat dich so geschlagen

38. Mt 26:69–75, with Maid I and II (sopranos), Peter (bass) and Turba on Wahrlich, du bist auch einer von denen; denn deine Sprache verrät dich. (Chorus II)

39. Aria Erbarme dich, mein Gott, um meiner Zähren Willen! (alto)

40. "Werde munter, mein Gemüte" by Johann von Rist, stanza 6: Bin ich gleich von dir gewichen

41. Mt 27:1–6, with Judas (bass), High Priest I and II (basses) and Turba on Was gehet uns das an? Da siehe du zu! (Chorus I & II)

42. Aria Gebt mir meinen Jesum wieder! (bass)

43. Mt 27:7–14, with Vox Christi and Pilate (bass)

44. "Befiehl du deine Wege" by Paul Gerhardt, stanza 1: Befiehl du deine Wege

45. Mt 27:15–22, with Pilate (bass), Pilate's wife (soprano), and Turba on Barrabam! (Chorus I & II), and on Laß ihn kreuzigen! (Chorus I & II)

46. "Herzliebster Jesu" by Johann Heermann, stanza 4: Wie wunderbarlich ist doch diese Strafe!

47. Mt 27:23a, with Pilate (bass)

48–49. Recitative Er hat uns allen wohlgetan and Aria Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben (soprano)

50. Mt 27:26, with Pilate (bass), and Turba on Laß ihn kreuzigen! (Chorus I & II), and on Sein Blut komme über uns und unsre Kinder. (Chorus I & II)

51–52. Recitative Erbarm es, Gott! Hier steht der Heiland angebunden. and Aria Können Tränen meiner Wangen (alto)

53. Mt 27:27–30, with Turba on Gegrüßet seist du, Jüdenkönig! (Chorus I & II)

54. "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden" by Paul Gerhardt, stanza 1 and 2: O Haupt, voll Blut und Wunden

55. Mt 27:31–32

56–57. Recitative Ja, freilich will in uns das Fleisch und Blut zum Kreuz gezwungen sein and Aria Komm, süßes Kreuz, so will ich sagen (bass)

58. Mt 27:33–44, with Turba on Der du den Tempel Gottes zerbrichst (Chorus I & II), and on Andern hat er geholfen und kann ihm selber nicht helfen. (Chorus I & II)

59–60. Recitative Ach Golgatha, unselges Golgatha! and Aria Sehet, Jesus hat die Hand uns zu fassen ausgespannt, kommt! – Wohin? (alto – Chorus II)

61. Mt 27:45–50, with Vox Christi, and Turba on Der rufet dem Elias! (Chorus I), and on Halt! Laß sehen, ob Elias komme und ihm helfe. (Chorus II)

62. "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden" by Paul Gerhardt, stanza 9: Wenn ich einmal soll scheiden

63. Mt 27:51–59, with Turba on Wahrlich, dieser ist Gottes Sohn gewesen. (Chorus I & II)

64–65. Recitative Am Abend, da es kühle war and Aria Mache dich, mein Herze, rein (bass)

66. Mt 27:59–66, with Pilate (bass), and Turba on Herr, wir haben gedacht, daß dieser Verführer sprach (Chorus I & II)

67. Recitative Nun ist der Herr zur Ruh gebracht – Mein Jesu, gute Nacht! (bass, tenor, alto, soprano – Chorus II)

68. Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder (Chorus I & II)

Movements

The work is divided in two parts to be performed before and after the sermon of the Good Friday service.

Part One

The first scenes are in Jerusalem: Jesus announces his death (No. 2), on the other hand the intention to get rid of him is expressed (No. 4). A scene in Bethany (No. 4c) shows a woman anointing his head with valuable oils. The next scene (No. 7) has Judas Iscariot negotiating the price for handing Jesus over. In a great contrast of mood the preparation for the "Easter meal" (Osterlamm) is described (No. 9) and the Passover meal itself, the Last Supper, foreshadowed by the announcement of betrayal. After the meal they go together to the Mount of Olives (No. 14) where Jesus predicts that Peter will deny him three times before the cock crows. At the garden of Gethsemane (No. 18) Jesus asks his followers several times to support him but they fall asleep while he is praying in agony. It is there (No. 26) that he is betrayed by Judas' kiss and arrested. While soprano and alto mourn (in duet, No. 27a) Jesus's arrest, the chorus make angry interjections (Laßt ihn, haltet, bindet nicht!). In a dramatic highpoint of the Passion, the chorus (No. 27b) furiously demands against the Jews who arrested Jesus "Zertrümmre, verderbe, verschlinge, zerschelle/ Mit plötzlicher Wut/Den falschen Verräter, das mördrische Blut!" (Wreck, ruin, engulf, shatter with sudden force the false betrayer, the murderous blood!).

1. Kommt, ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen

The melody of Am Stamm des Kreuzes geschlachtet (slaughtered at the stem of the cross), the second line of Decius' chorale, is shown twice in red ink, without the words, on this page of Bach's autograph score: in the middle of the page for the ripienists, and in the upper of the two staves for organ II at the bottom of the page.

Part One is opened by the chorus "Kommt, ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen" (Come ye daughters, join my lament), on a text by Picander. After 16 measures of instrumental introduction in ¹²
₈ time, driven by an ostinato rhythm in the basses, Chorus I intones Kommt, ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen, until in measure 26 they sing Sehet (Hark!) and Chorus II promply asks Wen? (Whom?), Chorus I replying with den Bräutigam (the bridegroom – implying Christ). The next call by Chorus I is Seht ihn (See him!), followed by the question Wie? (How?) by Chorus II, to which Chorus I answers als wie ein Lamm (just like a lamb – another reference to Christ).

The dialogue with these questions is repeated, and then, from measure 30, Chorus I sings the text of the incipit again while in ripieno sopranos sing the first two lines of Nikolaus Decius' chorale "O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig" (O Lamb of God, innocent) as cantus firmus. All sentences of the first stanza of Decius' hymn are used as cantus firmus throughout the movement by the ripienists.

The opening chorus continues by taking up the questions and answers by Chorus I and II again, now adding: Sehet — Was? — seht die Geduld (See it! — What? – See the endurance) and ultimately Seht — Wohin? — auf unsre Schuld (Look! — Where? — to our guilt), after which Chorus I and II sing the last lines of Picander's text in separate blocks. When the cantus firmus has died out, Chorus I and II return to the first three lines of the text, from measure 82 until the conclusion of the chorus in measure 90.

Opening chorus, measure 17–18, vocal part of Chorus I

Last measures of movement 1 and start of movement 2 in Bach's autograph score

2. Mt 26:1–2

2. Evangelist, Jesus: Da Jesus diese Rede vollendet hatte

Matthew 26:1–2 places the first scene two days before the Passover feast. After a few words of introduction by the Evangelist, the first words of Christ, set as an accompagnato recitative with slow strings, contain an ominous prediction of his imminent fate.

3. Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen

Chorale: first stanza of Johann Heermann's "Herzliebster Jesu". The first two lines of the hymn are a rhetorical question: "My dearest Jesus, which crimes have you committed, that such dire judgement has been passed?"

4. Mt 26:3–13

4a. Evangelist: Da versammleten sich die Hohenpriester und Schriftgelehrten

4b. Chorus I & II: Ja nicht auf das Fest

4c. Evangelist: Da nun Jesus war zu Bethanien

4d. Chorus I: Wozu dienet dieser Unrat?

4e. Evangelist, Jesus: Da das Jesus merkete, sprach er zu ihnen

5–6. Du lieber Heiland du – Buß und Reu

Recitative and Aria for alto. <score vorbis="1"> { \new ChoirStaff <<

 \new Staff << 
   \new Voice \relative c { \stemUp \clef treble \key fis \minor \time 3/8 s4. | <gis' dis>8^.^( <gis dis>^. <gis dis>^.) | s4. | <fis cis>8^.^( <fis cis>^. <fis cis>^.) | s4. | fis16^( eis dis cis) <b' gis>8^. | <a fis>^. r r | s4 } 
   \new Voice \relative c { \stemDown cis8[ d] cis | bis4. | b!32_([ cis d16 cis8)] b | ais4. | b8 a![ gis] | a fis[_( eis)] | fis \grace { e(} d4) | cis } \addlyrics { Buß - und Reu,– Buß4 und8 Reu– knirscht das - Sün- den- herz ent- zwei }
 \new Staff \relative c { \clef bass \key fis \minor \time 3/8 fis4.~_"Bar 13" | fis8 gis16( fis eis dis) | eis4. | e!8 fis16( e d cis) | d8( cis b) | cis4.~ | cis8 b16( a gis fis) | eis ^"173 bars"}
  >> >> }

</score>

7. Mt 26:14–16

7. Evangelist, Judas: Da ging hin der Zwölfen einer mit Namen Judas Ischarioth

8. Blute nur, du liebes Herz!

Aria (soprano)

9. Mt 26:17–22

9a. Evangelist: Aber am ersten Tage der süßen Brot

9b. Chorus I: Wo willst du, daß wir dir bereiten das Osterlamm zu essen?

9c. Evangelist, Jesus: Er sprach: Gehet hin in die Stadt

9d. Evangelist: Und sie wurden sehr betrübt

9e. Chorus I: Herr, bin ich's?

10. Ich bin's, ich sollte büßen

Chorale

11. Mt 26:23–29

11. Evangelist, Jesus, Judas: Er antwortete und sprach

12–13. Wiewohl mein Herz in Tränen schwimmt – Ich will dir mein Herze schenken

Recitative and Aria (soprano)

14. Mt 26:30–32

14. Evangelist, Jesus: Und da sie den Lobgesang gesprochen hatten

15. Erkenne mich, mein Hüter

Chorale

16. Mt 26:33–35

16. Evangelist, Peter, Jesus: Petrus aber antwortete und sprach zu ihm

17. Ich will hier bei dir stehen

Chorale

In the 1727/1729 version without music and text "Es dient zu meinem Freude"

18. Mt 26:36–38

18. Evangelist, Jesus: Da kam Jesus mit ihnen zu einem Hofe, der hieß Gethsemane

19–20. O Schmerz! Hier zittert das gequälte Herz – So schlafen unsre Sünden ein

Recitative (with Chorus II: Was ist die Ursach aller solcher Plagen?) and Aria (with Chorus II: Ich will bei meinem Jesu wachen) for tenor

21. Mt 26:39

21. Evangelist: Und ging hin ein wenig, fiel nieder auf sein Angesicht und betete

22–23. Der Heiland fällt vor seinem Vater nieder – Gerne will ich mich bequemen, Kreuz und Becher anzunehmen

Recitative and Aria (bass)

24. Mt 26:40–42

24. Evangelist, Jesus: Und er kam zu seinen Jüngern und fand sie schlafend

25. Was mein Gott will, das gscheh allzeit

Chorale

26. Mt 26:43–50

26. Evangelist, Jesus, Judas: Und er kam und fand sie aber schlafend

27. So ist mein Jesus nun gefangen – Sind Blitze, sind Donner in Wolken verschwunden?

Aria for soprano and alto (with Chorus II: Laßt ihn, haltet, bindet nicht!) and Chorus (I & II)

28. Mt 26:51–56

28. Evangelist, Jesus: Und siehe, einer aus denen, die mit Jesu waren, reckete die Hand aus

29. O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß

Part I is closed by a four-part Chorale Fantasia (both choirs) on the chorale O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß (O mankind, mourn your great sins), recapitulating that Jesus was born of the Virgin to "become the intercessor". The sopranos sing the cantus firmus, the other voices interpret aspects of the narration. In the 1742 and 1743–1746 versions a ripieno soprano choir was added to soprano line.

In the 1727/1729 version, this part is concluded by a four-part setting of verse 6 of the Chorale "Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht (Jesum laß ich nicht von mir)".

Part Two

The first scene of Part Two is an interrogation at the High Priest Caiaphas (No. 37) where two witnesses report Jesus having spoken about destroying the Temple and building it again in three days. Jesus is silent to this, but his answer to the question if he is the Son of God is considered a sacrilege calling for his death. Outside in the courtyard (No. 38) Peter is told three times that he belongs to Jesus and denies it three times – then the cock crows. In the morning (No. 41) Jesus is sent to Pontius Pilate while Judas is overcome by remorse and kills himself. Pilate interrogates Jesus (No. 43), is impressed and is inclined to release him, as it was customary to release one prisoner for the holiday, supported in this by his wife. But the crowd, given the choice to have Jesus released or Barabbas, a thief, insurrectionist and murderer, asks with one voice "Barrabam!". They vote to crucify Jesus, Pilate gives in, washing his hands claiming his innocence, and delivers Jesus to torture and crucifixion. On the way to the crucifixion site (No. 55) Simon of Cyrene is forced to carry the cross. At Golgatha (No. 58) Jesus and two others are crucified and mocked by the crowd. Even his last words are misunderstood. Where he cites Psalm 22, "Eli, Eli" (My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?), he is supposed to have called Elijah. He dies. St. Matthew describes the tearing of the Temple curtain and an earthquake – set to music by Bach. In the evening (No. 63c) Joseph of Arimathea asks Pilate for the corpse for burial. The following day (No. 66) officials remind Pilate of the talk of resurrection and ask for guards and a seal for the grave to prevent fraud.

30. Ach, nun ist mein Jesus hin!

Part Two is opened by a dialog between the alto soloist deploring her lost Jesus and choir II offering help in searching for him, quoting Song of Songs 6:1 (Wo ist denn dein Freund hingegangen). In the 1727/1729 version, the soloist is a bass.

31. Mt 26:57–60a

31. Evangelist: Die aber Jesum gegriffen hatten, führeten ihn zu dem Hohenpriester Kaiphas

32. Mir hat die Welt trüglich gericht't

Chorale

33. Mt 26:60b–63a

33. Evangelist, Witnesses, High Priest: Und wiewohl viel falsche Zeugen herzutraten, funden sie doch keins.

34–35. Mein Jesus schweigt zu falschen Lügen stille – Geduld, Geduld! Wenn mich falsche Zungen stechen

Recitative and Aria (tenor)

36. Mt 26:63b–68

36a. Evangelist, High Priest, Jesus: Und der Hohenpriester antwortete

36b. Chorus I & II: Er ist des Todes schuldig!

36c. Evangelist: Da speieten sie in sein Angesicht und schlugen ihn mit Fäusten

36d. Chorus I & II: Weissage uns, Christe, wer ists, der dich schlug?

37. Wer hat dich so geschlagen

Chorale

38. Mt 26:69–75

38a. Evangelist, Maid, Peter, Maid II: Petrus aber saß draußen im Palast; und es trat zu ihm eine Magd

38b. Chorus II: Wahrlich, du bist auch einer von denen; denn deine Sprache verrät dich.

38c. Evangelist, Peter: Da hub er an sich zu verfluchen und zu schwören

39. Erbarme dich, mein Gott, um meiner Zähren Willen!

Aria (alto)

40. Bin ich gleich von dir gewichen

Chorale

41. Mt 27:1–6

41a. Evangelist, Judas: Des Morgens aber hielten alle Hohepriester und die Ältesten des Volks einen Rat

41b. Chorus I & II: Was gehet uns das an? Da siehe du zu!

41c. Evangelist, High Priests: Und er warf die Silberlinge in den Tempel

42. Gebt mir meinen Jesum wieder!

Aria (bass)

43. Mt 27:7–14

43. Evangelist, Pilate, Jesus: Sie hielten aber einen Rat und kauften einen Töpfersacker

44. Befiehl du deine Wege

Chorale

45. Mt 27:15–22

45a. Evangelist, Pilate, Pilate's wife: Auf das Fest aber hatte der Landpfleger Gewohnheit, dem Volk einen Gefangenen loszugeben

Chorus I & II: Barrabam!

45b. Chorus I & II: Laß ihn kreuzigen!

46. Wie wunderbarlich ist doch diese Strafe!

Chorale

47. Mt 27:23a

47. Evangelist, Pilate: Der Landpfleger sagte

48–49. Er hat uns allen wohlgetan – Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben

Recitative and Aria (soprano)

50. Mt 27:26

50a. Evangelist: Sie schrieen aber noch mehr und sprachen

50b. Chorus I & II: Laß ihn kreuzigen!

50c. Evangelist, Pilate: Da aber Pilatus sahe, daß er nichts schaffete

50d. Chorus I & II: Sein Blut komme über uns und unsre Kinder.

50e. Evangelist: Da gab er ihnen Barrabam los

51–52. Erbarm es, Gott! Hier steht der Heiland angebunden. – Können Tränen meiner Wangen

Recitative and Aria (alto)

53. Mt 27:27–30

53a. Evangelist: Da nahmen die Kriegsknechte des Landpflegers Jesum zu sich

53b. Chorus I & II: Gegrüßet seist du, Jüdenkönig!

53c. Evangelist: Und speieten ihn an und nahmen das Rohr und schlugen damit sein Haupt.

54. O Haupt, voll Blut und Wunden

Chorale

55. Mt 27:31–32

55. Evangelist: Und da sie ihn verspottet hatten, zogen sie ihm den Mantel aus

56–57. Ja, freilich will in uns das Fleisch und Blut zum Kreuz gezwungen sein – Komm, süßes Kreuz, so will ich sagen

Recitative and Aria (bass) Lute instead of Viola da gamba in 1727/1729 version.

58. Mt 27:33–44

58a. Evangelist: Und da sie an die Stätte kamen mit Namen Golgatha

58b. Chorus I & II: Der du den Tempel Gottes zerbrichst

58c. Evangelist: Desgleichen auch die Hohenpriester spotteten sein

58d. Chorus I & II: Andern hat er geholfen und kann ihm selber nicht helfen.

58e. Evangelist: Desgleichen schmäheten ihn auch die Mörder, die mit ihm gekreuziget waren

59–60. Ach Golgatha, unselges Golgatha! – Sehet, Jesus hat die Hand uns zu fassen ausgespannt, kommt!

Recitative and Aria for alto (from Chorus I), with a dialogue with Chorus II ("Wohin?") in the Aria

61. Mt 27:45–50

61a. Evangelist, Jesus: Und von der sechsten Stunde an war eine Finsternis über das ganze Land

61b. Chorus I: Der rufet dem Elias!

61c. Evangelist: Und bald lief einer unter ihnen, nahm einen Schwamm

61d. Chorus II: Halt! Laß sehen, ob Elias komme und ihm helfe.

61e. Evangelist: Aber Jesus schriee abermal laut und verschied.

62. Wenn ich einmal soll scheiden

Chorale

63. Mt 27:51–59

63a. Evangelist: Und siehe da, der Vorhang im Tempel zerriß in zwei Stück

63b. Chorus I & II: Wahrlich, dieser ist Gottes Sohn gewesen.

63c. Evangelist: Und es waren viel Weiber da, die von ferne zusahen

64–65. Am Abend, da es kühle war – Mache dich, mein Herze, rein

Recitative and Aria (bass)

66. Mt 27:59–66

66a. Evangelist: Und Joseph nahm den Leib und wickelte ihn in ein rein Leinwand

66b. Chorus I & II: Herr, wir haben gedacht, daß dieser Verführer sprach

66c. Evangelist, Pilate: Pilatus sprach zu ihnen

67. Nun ist der Herr zur Ruh gebracht.

Recitative for bass, tenor, alto and soprano, with Chorus II singing Mein Jesu, gute Nacht!.

68. Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder

The work is closed by a grand scale chorus in da capo form, choir I and II mostly in unison for the first part Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder (We sit down in tears), but in dialog in the middle section, choir II repeating "Ruhe sanfte, sanfte ruh!" ("Rest gently, gently rest!"), choir I reflecting: "Your grave and headstone shall, for the anxious conscience, be a comfortable pillow and the resting place for the soul. Highly contented, there the eyes fall asleep." These are the last words (before the recapitulation), marked by Bach himself: p pp ppp (soft, very soft, extremely soft).

Performance history

The St Matthew Passion was probably first performed on 11 April 1727 in the St. Thomas Church, and again on 15 April 1729, 30 March 1736, and 23 March 1742. Bach then revised it again between 1743 and 1746 (the version most commonly performed is this version). The Passion was performed under the Cantor of St. Thomas until about 1800. Specifically, in 1780, the Cantor, Doles, had three of Bach's Passions performed, assumed to include the St. John and St. Matthew, and "possibly the St. Luke". The St. Matthew Passion was not heard in more or less its entirety outside of Leipzig until 1829, when the twenty-year old Felix Mendelssohn performed a version in Berlin, with the Berlin Singakademie, to great acclaim. Mendelssohn's revival brought the music of Bach, particularly the large-scale works, to public and scholarly attention (although the St John Passion had been performed in 1822). Appreciation, performance and study of Bach's composition have persisted into the present era.

Meanwhile, William Sterndale Bennett became a founder of the London Bach Society in 1849 with the intention of introducing Bach's works to the English public. Helen Johnston (a student at Queen's College, London) translated the libretto of the Passion, and Bennett conducted the first English performance at the Hanover Square Rooms London on 6 April 1854 (the same year that it appeared in print by the Old Bach Society (Alte Bach-Gesellschaft). The soloists included Charlotte Helen Sainton-Dolby. The Sterndale Bennett edition was to be the first of many, the latest being by Neil Jenkins (1997) and Nicholas Fisher and John Russell (2008).

Excerpts of the work were performed on the American television program Omnibus on 31 March 1957 in the episode "The Music of J.S. Bach." The presenter and explicator was Leonard Bernstein, who introduced the St Matthew Passion as "that glorious work that started me off on my own private passion for Bach."

The St Matthew Passion has been presented in staged performances. Typically, these are done with all performers in street clothes or neutral costumes, the orchestras on stage, at least the soloists singing without scores from memory, and the words acted out in a solemn, melodramatic fashion with only a minimal stage set. On the other hand, George Balanchine staged it in 1943 with Stokowski conducting, and the Hamburg Ballet presented a Saint Matthew Passion under John Neumeier with Peter Schreier in 1981. Notable staged performances include Jonathan Miller's 1997 production in English; Lindy Hume's 2005 production for the Perth International Arts Festival, restaged in 2013 for Opera Queensland with sv, Sara Macliver, Tobias Cole; and Peter Sellars' 2010 production with the Berlin Philharmonic under Simon Rattle with Mark Padmore, Camilla Tilling, Magdalena Kožená, Topi Lehtipuu, Christian Gerhaher and Thomas Quasthoff.

Notable recordings

Main article: St Matthew Passion discography

Sources

• Amati-Camperi, Alexandra. "Notes: Bach St. Matthew Passion" at San Francisco Bach Choir website. 2005.
• Applegate, Celia: Bach in Berlin: Nation and Culture in Mendelssohn's Revival of the St. Matthew Passion. Cornell University Press, 2005.
• Bach-digital:
  • St. Matthew passion BWV 244
  • Klagt, Kinder, klagt es aller Welt BWV 244a
  • St Matthew Passion (early version) BWV 244b
• Casino (1995 Film) "Matthaus Passion" chapters 26 and 27.
• Platen, Emil. Die Matthäus-Passion von Johann Sebastian Bach. Kassel: Bärenreiter, 1991.
• Picander (Christian Friedrich Henrici). Ernst-Scherzhaffte und Satyrische Gedichte: Anderer Theil. Leipzig. 1729. Second edition: 1734.
• Rifkin, Joshua. "The Chronology of Bach's Saint Matthew Passion". In The Musical Quarterly, lxi (1975). 360–87
• Spitta, Philipp. "Fünftes Buch: Leipziger Jahre von 1723—1734" in Johann Sebastian Bach, Zweiter Band. Breitkopf & Härtel, 1880.
  • "Fünftes Buch: Leipziger Jahre von 1723—1734" pp. 3-479 in Johann Sebastian Bach, Zweiter Band. Dritte unveränderte Auflage, Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1921.
  • "Book V: Leipzig, 1723-1734" pp. 181-648 in Johann Sebastian Bach: his work and influence on the music of Germany, 1685–1750, translated by Clara Bell and John Alexander Fuller-Maitland, In Three Volumes, Vol. II. London, Novello & Co, 1884.
• Werker, W. Die Matthäus-Passion. Leipzig, 1923.

External links

• Matthäuspassion, BWV 244: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• Translation to many languages, commentary, musical examples, list of recordings on the bach-cantatas website
• The Passion according to Saint Matthew BWV 244 by Joshua Rifkin, on the bach-cantatas website
• "Liturgical drama in Bach's St. Matthew Passion" by Uri Golomb. Goldberg Early Music Magazine 39 (April 2006), pp. 48–59. On the Bach-Cantatas website and on Academia.Edu
• Text and translation to English, Emmanuel music
• The St. Matthew Passion, Minnesota Public Radio, text and translation, commentary, 2001
• St. Matthew Passion (1949) at IMDb
• Bach: St. Matthew Passion (1964) at IMDb, in NBC Television Opera Theatre
• Bach: Matthäus-Passion (1971) at IMDb
• St. Matthew Passion (Flash) Helmuth Rilling
• Performance of the St Matthew Passion by the Netherlands Bach Society (video and background information)