Matthaus-Passion BWV 244b

By Johann Sebastian Bach

Item Number: BA.BA05099-01

ISBN 9790006545063. 33.1 x 25.6 cm inches. Language: German, Text Language: German.

Bach's St. Matthew Passion as we know it today evidently had a long history dating back before 1727. It is unclear whether the work performed at the Thomaskirche on Good Friday 1729 was based on a still earlier version. Whatever the case, the surviving version of 1729 presents the work in a form strikingly different from its later incarnation. For example, the opening section ends with the chorale"Jesum lass ich nicht von mir"which was replaced by the large-scale cantus firmus chorus"O Mensch , bewein dein Sunde gross"for the 1736 performance.

The well-known alto aria"Ach! nun ist mein Jesus hin"is still assigned to a bass in the earlier version, and the aria"Komm susses Kreuz"calls for a lute instead of the later viola da gamba .
Moreover, the pieces for double chorus only require a single continuo group. Other differences can be found in the instrumental scoring and voice-leading. The early version of the St. Matthew Passion is thus a most interesting addition to the great concert repertoire.

The corresponding volume of the"New Bach Edition"(series II/volume 5b) serves as a conducting score.