(c) Sven Cichowicz
The chorale cantata year-cycle and the St. John Passion
In honor of the 300th anniversary, Carus editor-in-chief Dr. Uwe Wolf looks at Bach’s chorale cantata year-cycle from 1724/1725.
St. John Passion
The following articles on the keyword "St. John Passion" have previously appeared in the CARUS blog.Tag Archive for: St. John Passion
© Sven CichowiczGood Friday 2024 – 300 years of Johann Sebastian Bach’s St. John Passion
How do we get as close as possible to the 1724 version of the St. John Passion in 2024? What performance material is needed? Here you will find some practical performance thoughts, also on the 1725 version, from chief editor Dr. Uwe Wolf.
J. S. Bach: St. John Passion
Bach pulled out everything in his St. John Passion: the orchestra included almost every conceivable instrument in the original version of the piece. His lyricist used very pictorial language. Bach added a sea of musical affects to the powerful language, which in its diversity and complexity is overwhelming and, in the best sense of the word, “theatrical”.
J. S. Bach: St. John Passion 1725
The St. John Passion was performed under Bach’s direction in Leipzig at least four times, but each time in a different form. And not all versions survive complete, so decisions need to be made for each performance nowadays. Increasingly the 1725 version with the opening chorus “O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß” is performed. The omission of “Herr, unser Herrscher” in this performance version is coupled with new discoveries. We hear the part of the evangelist as it was sung back then in Leipzig. In addition, highly dramatic arias such as “Himmel reiße, Welt erbebe” are heard to their best advantage.
