JS Bach's St. John Passion

Classical Music / Sacred Music  

Johann Sebastian Bach's St. John Passion: facts, the cast, brief history, and other related information.

Johann Sebastian Bach, a Protestant German composer of the Baroque era, composed St. John Passion (Passio secundum Johannem). With interspersed chorales and arias, the gospel of St. John (Chapters 18 and 19) from the Holy Scriptures is set to music.  

Facts about St. John Passion

Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) 

Original Title: Passio secundum Johannem

Original Language: German

Text: From the Gospel of St. John, Chapters 18 and 19; in addition, excerpts from Barthold Heinrich Brockes's poem "Jesus Martyred and Dying for the sins of the world" (1715.)

Form: In two parts, including a total of 40 musical numbers (68 according to the old numbering system).  

Date of Writing: Anhalt-Kothen, 1722-1723; revised in 1725, around 1730, and then again, around 1739.  

First Performance: April 7, 1724, performed as part of Good Friday liturgy in the church of St. Nicholas in Leipzig, and not as a concert.  

Brief History of Bach's St Matthew Passion

The St. John Passion seems to have been the first work of its kind composed by Bach. An earlier St. Luke Passion, presented under his name, has since turned out to be fairly certainly spurious. Bach, exceptionally receptive to other musicians' cocmpostiions, probably performed this rather weak work and for that purpose copied it out. However, the view that there were, in addition to the St. John and St. Matthew Passions, two other Bach works in this genre stubbornly persists, but thteyu are thought to have been lost.

When Bach was certain that he had obtained the position in Leipzig and would soon begin his work there, he began to compose the St. John Passion while still in Kothen. He could not find a suitable libretto so he wrote one himself, using the text of the Gospel according to St. John, and adding some excerpts by the poet and town councilor of Hamburg, Barthold Heinrich Brockes. It's not easily explained why JS Bach chose to compose this Passion upon assuming his new office.

Generally, Bach's St. Matthew Passion is preferred than his setting of this Passion, although contrary opinions have been voiced, like that of Robert Schumann. 

Brief Synopsis of St. John Passion

This work tells the story of the capture of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, a place frequented by him and his disciples; his being interrogated by Annas, a brother-in-law of the High-Priest Caiphas; his being handed over to Caiphas and then to the Roman governor Pilate, who was convinced that Jesus had committed no crime; the insistence of the Jews that Jesus be condemned to death because he had called himself their "king;" of his crucifixion and death; his removal from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea and the hasty burial due to the approaching Sabbath.

Below, JS Bach St. John Passion BWV 245.  (New Recording). Stephen Cleobury and the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge are joined by the Academy of Ancient Music in Bach’s much-loved St John Passion. Captured live in 2016 during Easter celebrations at the College, it features an all-star line-up of soloists who are renowned for their handling of the repertoire, including King’s alumnus James Gilchrist as the Evangelist and Neal Davies, Cardiff Singer of the World prize winner, as Jesus. Accessed July 26, 2020.

Orchestration: two flutes, two oboes, oboe d'amore, two oboes da caccia, viola da gamba, two violas d'amore, viola da gamba, strings, continuo with cello, bassoon, contrabass, organ or harpsichord.    


The Cast of Characters of St Matthew Passion  

Evangelist (tenor)

Jesus (bass)

Peter (bass)

Pilate (bass)

Four solo voices (soprano, alto, tenor, bass),

Four-part mixed chorus

Orchestra.

Trivia:  Our Sydney Philharmonia Choirs (Symphony Chorus, Chamber Singers and Sydney Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra) will be performing Bach's St. John Passion Re-Imagined, with Brett Weymark conducting. Artists: Richard Butler (Evangelist), Andrew O'Connor (Christus), Celeste Lazarenko (Soprano), Anna Dowsley (Mezzo -Soprano), Brenton Spiteri (Tenor), David Greco (Bass). Saturday, 11 April 2020 at 3pm, Sydney Town Hall.  (Note: Sadly, this concert has been cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic. / Tel, March 24, 2020.)  

Bach Resources:

www.jsbach.net
JS Bach Biography  Biography.com

Suggested Recording:  

Bach-Handel Recitals

LPO, Sir Adrian Boult

Kathleen Ferrier

Historic Performances , recreated in Stereo, Decca

(Note: I first published this piece for Suite101.com, 19 March 2008. It's been re-printed in abridged form for this post. / Tel.) 

(c) March 21, 2010.  Updated February 25, 2020. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.     

Sor Introduction and Variations on a Theme from Mozart's 'The Magic Flute'

Classical Music / Classic Guitar 


Introduction and Variations on a Theme by Mozart, Op. 9, is one of Fernando Sor's most famous works for guitar. It was first published in London in 1821 and dedicated to Sor's brother Carlos.

Note on Editions.  The title page of the first edition reads “As performed by the author, at the Nobilities’ Concerts.” The French edition was published by Meissonnier, dated roughly in the same period, and had one less variation, no coda, and some differing notes. However, in 1826 or 27, Meissonnier brought out another version, this one identical to the London first edition.

The Introduction and Variations on a Theme from Mozart's The Magic Flute, Op 9, embodies the best characteristics of Fernando Sor as a composer, requiring great technique. It is a frequently performed classic guitar piece that serves as a “testing ground for every aspiring guitarist.” The work is based by Sor on a melody from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's famous opera The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte) to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. The opera was first performed in Vienna in 1791, and in German, while the first performances in Italian took place in 1794, three years after Mozart had died. It is more likely that he was inspired to write the piece when the first major production was premiered in England in May 1819, when Sor was in the area.

Video below, guitarist Ana Vidovic plays Sor's Variations on a Theme from Mozart's The Magic Flute. YouTube, uploaded by SiccasGuitars. Accessed July 19, 2023. 

The theme and the variations are based on this one that was used in numerous composer's arrangements, some being by the flutist Drouet, by Herz, and by Mikhail Glinka. It is the theme played near the end of Act I called “Das klinget so herrlich”, in Italian either translating to "O dolce armonia" as Sor chose to use. This last translation was also used in the vocal score of The Magic Flute published in Birchall, London in around 1813.

Sor's theme differs somewhat from Mozart's original, as may be seen in the comparison. The time and key signatures of the originals have been changed. None of the bars/measures are exactly the same but most only differ slightly.


Image Credit:

The original cover of Sor's Variations on a Theme of Mozart, Op. 9, published in Paris in 1821. en.wikipedia.org. Public Domain.  


Resource:

Introduction and Variations on a Theme by Mozart (Sor). en.wikipedia.org. Accessed February 14, 2020.



(c) February 2020. Updated July 19, 2023. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. all rights reserved.   

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs (VOX) - CONSIDERING MATTHEW SHEPARD

Choral Music / Choral Singing 


Presented by Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and City Recital Hall.
Thursday 20 February, 7:30pm
City Recital Hall

Considering Matthew Shepard

In 1998 Matthew Shepard, a first-year college student in Wyoming, was kidnapped, beaten and left to die. This brutal anti-gay hate crime inspired anguish and outrage. Nearly 20 years later it inspired composer Craig Hella Johnson to contemplate suffering, death and the flame of love and led him on a challenging creative journey. “In composing Considering Matthew Shepard,” he says, “I wanted to create, within a musical framework, a space for reflection, consideration and unity around his life and legacy.”

The result is a fusion-oratorio, stylistically eclectic music that moves between Lutheran hymnody, chant, blues, cowboy songs and Broadway as it captures the fullness of Matthew’s life and the legacy of his death. In the background are the Passion settings of JS Bach – offering musical comfort as their listeners reflect on a story of intense suffering. And Considering Matthew Shepard begins with Bach: the serene sounds of the first prelude from the Well-Tempered Clavier (the music that underpins Gounod’s Ave Maria).

Considering Matthew Shepard will be performed by Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' young adult choir,  VOX – some of its members the same age as Matthew himself when he died – in a semi-staged presentation. Join the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs (VOX) at City Recital Hall for this musical memorial that reverberates with hope and serenity.


“…this modern-day Passion will move many listeners to tears even as it reaches beyond tragedy to peace, understanding and forgiveness.” -  The Chicago Tribune




PROGRAM
Craig Hella JOHNSON Considering Matthew Shepard


ARTISTS
Elizabeth Scott conductor
Shaun Rennie director
VOX with soloists from the choir
Sydney Philharmonia Ensemble


Photo Credit: 

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs: VOX.  Accessed February 1, 2020. 




Resources:

City Recital Hall. Considering Matthew Shepard. Accessed February 4, 2020. (Available at the time of posting.) 


Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Considering Matthew Shepard. Accessed February 1, 2020.(Available at the time of posting.)

(c) February 1, 2020. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights Reserved.