Composed in 1727, it’s one of two surviving J.S. Bach accounts of the last days of Jesus. Bill begins by examining the history of the Lutheran church in Germany and the early musical representations of Christ’s last days, including Bach’s earlier St. John Passion. Before the week is over, we will also sample Haydn’s Seven Last Words of Christ and Osvaldo Golijov’s La Pasión Según San Marcos.
St. Matthew Passion
Playlist
Episode 1
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion (excerpts) Under reading of Frank Kermode
Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/Solti
Bach: Matthäus-Passion – Arias & Chorus /Solti Chicago Symphony
Decca 425691
2:20
Bach, JS: St. John Passion, “Herr, unser Herrscher”
Staatskapelle Dresden and Rundfunkchor Leipzig/Schrier
Bach: St John Passion / Schreier, Alexander, Holl
Phil 422088
9:45
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion: opening (excerpt)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/ Solti
Bach: Matthäus-Passion – Arias & Chorus /Solti Chicago Symphony
Decca 425691
2:49
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion: (First chorus excerpt)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/ Solti
Bach: Matthäus-Passion – Arias & Choruses / Solti, et al
Decca 425691
1:25
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion, “Kommt, Ihr Töchter”
English Baroque Soloists and Monteverdi Choir/ Gardiner
Bach: St Matthew Passion / Gardiner, Rolfe Johnson, Et Al
Archiv 427648
6:46
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra /Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
:42
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra /Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
:46
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra /Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
8:14
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra /Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
7:55
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra /Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
:40
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra /Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
9:44
Episode 2
Bach, JS: St Matthew Passion (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
1:01
Bach, JS: St Matthew Passion (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
3:41
Bach, JS: St Matthew Passion (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
6:29
Bach, JS: St Matthew Passion (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
:40
Bach, JS: St Matthew Passion (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
:57
Bach, JS: St Matthew Passion (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
4:15
Bach, JS: St Matthew Passion (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
2:27
Bach, JS: St Matthew Passion (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
:45
Bach, JS: St Matthew Passion (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
2:21
Bach, JS: St Matthew Passion (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
4:37
Bach, JS: St Matthew Passion: close of part one (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
8:00
Bach, JS: Christ lag in Todes Banden, BWV 4 (excerpts)
American Bach Soloists/ Thomas
American Bach Soloists
Koch 7235
:28
Bach, JS: Christ lag in Todes Banden, BWV 4 (excerpts)
American Bach Soloists/ Thomas
American Bach Soloists
Koch 7235
10:10
Bach, J.S. arr. Stokowski: “Easter Cantata,” BWV 4: Chorale
BBC Philharmonic/ Matthais Bamert
Bach: Transcriptions by Stokowski
Chan 9259
3:47
Bach, J.S. arr. Stokowski: “Easter Cantata,” BWV 4: Chorale (excerpt)
BBC Philharmonic/ Matthais Bamert
Bach: Transcriptions by Stokowski
Chan 9259
:26
Episode 3
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion (excerpt)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: St. Matthew Passion / Herreweghe, Collegium Vocale Gent
HM 951676-78
00:31
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion (excerpt)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: St. Matthew Passion / Herreweghe, Collegium Vocale Gent
HM 951676-78
:46
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion: Part 2 (excerpt)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: St. Matthew Passion / Herreweghe, Collegium Vocale Gent
HM 951676-78
11:36
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion (excerpt)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: St. Matthew Passion / Herreweghe, Collegium Vocale Gent
HM 951676-78
2:01
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion (excerpt)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: St. Matthew Passion / Herreweghe, Collegium Vocale Gent
HM 951676-78
:53
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion (excerpt)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: St. Matthew Passion / Herreweghe, Collegium Vocale Gent
HM 951676-78
2:14
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion: Erbarme Dich and finale Chorale (excerpts)
Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus/Klemperer Christa Ludwig
Bach: St Matthew Passion / Klemperer, Pears, Ludwig, Et Al
EMI 67542
9:00
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion (excerpt)
Gabrieli Consort & Players/McCreesh
Bach: St Matthew Passion McCreesh, Gabrieli Consort
Archiv 000005702
00:36
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion (excerpts)
Gabrieli Consort & Players/ McCreesh
Bach: St Matthew Passion McCreesh, Gabrieli Consort
EMI 67542
00:15
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion (excerpts)
Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus/ Klemperer Christa Ludwig
Bach: St Matthew Passion McCreesh, Gabrieli Consort
EMI 67542
1:00
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion (excerpts)
Gabrieli Consort & Players/ McCreesh
Bach: St Matthew Passion McCreesh, Gabrieli Consort
EMI 67542
00:18
Bach, JS: Brandenburg Concerto No. 4, II and III
Academy of St. Martin in-the-Fields/ Marriner
Trio – Bach: Brandenburg Concertos – Marriner
Phil 470934
8:40
Bach, JS: Cantata BWV 82: “Ich habe genug”
Camerata Academica Salzburg/ Norrington
Bach: Cantatas BWV 82, 56, 158 / Goerne, Norrington
Decca 466570
6:50
Gould, Glenn: “So, You Want to Write a Fugue?”
Juilliard String Quartet & Benson-Guy, soprano. Darian, mezzo soprano. Bressler, tenor; Gramm, bass
Glenn Gould Edition – Gould: Quartet; Shostakovich, Et Al
Sony 52679
4:27
Episode 4
Haydn, Joseph: The Seven Last Words of Our Savior on the Cross, I.
Orchestra of St. Lukes/ Rudel
The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour On the Cross
Musicmasters 60238
6:18
Golijov, Osvaldo: La Pasión Según San Marcos (excerpts)
Orquesta La Pasión and Scola Cantorum de Caracas/ Guinand
Golijov: La Pasion Segun San Marcos / Guinand, Souza, Et Al
Hänssler Cl 98404
12:24
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion: Part 2 (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
2:47
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion: Part 2 (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
6:07
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion: Part 2 (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
2:17
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion: Part 2 (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
1:03
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion: Part 2 (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
5:52
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion: Part 2 (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
2:46
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion: Part 2 Conclusion (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe, Et Al
HM 951676-78
6:47
Bach, JS: “Bist Du Bei Mir,” BWV 508
Kathleen Battle, soprano, Anthony Newman, Nancy Allen, Robert Sadin, American Boychoir
Grace/ Kathleen Battle
Sony 62035
2:19
Episode 5
Bach, JS: The Well-Tempered Clavier: Prelude & Fugue No. 13
Till Fellner, piano
Das Wohltemperierte Klavier
ECM 1853
3:18
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion: Part 3 (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe
HM 951676-78
4:49
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion: Part 3 (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe
HM 951676-78
5:48
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion: Part 3 (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe
HM 951676-78
3:29
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion: Part 3 (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe
HM 951676-78
4:32
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion: Part 3 (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe
HM 951676-78
3:48
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion: Part 3 (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe
HM 951676-78
2:31
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion: Part 3 (excerpts)
Ghent Collegium Vocale and Orchestra/ Herreweghe
Bach: Matthaus-passion / Bostridge, Selig, Herreweghe
HM 951676-78
7:43
Bach, JS: St. Matthew Passion: Part 3 (excerpts)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/ Solti
Bach: Matthäus-Passion – Arias and Choruses/ Solti
Decca 425691
11:08
Bach, JS: The Well-Tempered Clavier: Prelude No. 13
Till Fellner, piano
Das Wohltemperierte Klavier
ECM 1853
1:14
