History of the St Matthew Passion in Bach & Co

Govert Jan Bach has been presenting for more than 10 years the daily programme ” Bach ad Infinitum “, in which works by Bach, his family members and contemporaries are covered. In each episode there’s a cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach

A good tip would be to listen to our podcast, during which (Govert Jan) ‘Bach’ & (Hans Meerman) ‘Co’ go deeper into Bach’s music. If you want to hear the episodes about the St John and St Matthew Passion, subscribe here via this link to ‘Bach & Co’.

Are you interested in the backgrounds, history and explanation of the St Matthew Passion?

Then listen to the episode below of ‘Bach & Co’

Bach & Co, afl. 12 – 15 maart 2021

How thanks to his collaboration with poet Christian Friedrich Henrici (Picander) Bach finally got the best texts for his St Matthew Passion. About the continuous battle with the Leipzig council, who thought performances with double choir and orchestras were too expensive and wanted to cut costs, exactly when Bach wanted to expand .How Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847) dusted off the St Matthew Passion and performed it. How conductor Willem Mengelberg (1871-1951) conducted the St Matthew Passion with the Concertgebouw orchestra for many years three times per year and so as it were implanted it into the DNA of the Dutch nation.
How the Dutch Bach Society brought the performance back to the church with Historically Informed Performance (HIP), whereby authentic vocal and playing techniques and original instruments were restored to the performances.

Musical fragments:
0. Tune Bach & Co
J.S. Bach – From Sonata for violin and harpsichord nr.4 in c-klein, BWV 1017: 1. Siciliano (Largo)
Janine Jansen & Friends

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
From St Matthew Passion BWV 244:
1. Chor I, II – Kommt Töchter, Helft Mir Klagen
Concertgebouw Orchestra andn Amsterdams Toonkunst Koor conducted by Willem Mengelberg
(cd St. Matthew’s Passion)

2. Aria soprano – Blute Nur, Du Liebes Herz!
J.S. Bach-Stiftung conducted by Rudolph Lutz
(cd J.S. Bach Matthäuspassion, BWV 244)

3. Aria alt – Erbarme Dich
Delphine Galou, alt. Holland Baroque conducted by Reinbert de Leeuw
(dvd/cd J.S. Bach – Matthäus Passion – Reinbert de Leeuw, Interakt, 2017)

4. Choral – Befiehl Du Deine Wege
Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin & RIAS Kammerchor conducted by René Jacobs
(Concertzender-recording Festival Oude Muziek 2012, Utrecht)

5. Choral – Wie wunderbarlich ist doch diese Strafe!
J.S. Bach-Stiftung conducted by Rudolph Lutz
(cd J.S. Bach Matthäuspassion, BWV 244)

From St John’s Passion BWV 245:
6. Mensch, Bewein’ Dein Sünde Groß
Collegium Vocale Gent conducted by Philippe Herreweghe
(cd St. John Passion, BWV 245)

From St Matthew Passion BWV 244:
7. Aria sopraan – Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben
J.S. Bach-Stiftung conducted by Rudolph Lutz
(cd J.S. Bach Matthäuspassion, BWV 244)

Bach & Co afl. 13 – 22 maart 2021

In the story about the St Matthew Passion we’ve arrived at the moment when Johann Sebastian Bach begins. He instructs Picander  about the texts and works on a piece for the Passion.

And Bach goes for a double orchestra and choir, even three choirs. In his own inimitable style he changes between instruments and the result is impressive.

All through this period he was fighting with the council, who found it all too expensive and wanted to cut costs.

Musical fragments:

0. Tune Bach & Co

J.S. Bach – From Sonata for violin and harpsichord nr.4 in c-klein, BWV 1017: 1. Siciliano (Largo) – Janine Jansen & Friends

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

From St Matthew Passion BWV 244:

1. nr. 40 Choral “Bin ich gleich von dir gewichen”
J.S. Bach-Stiftung conducted by Rudolf Lutz

2. nr. 52 Aria “Können Tränen meiner Wangen” (alt)
J.S. Bach-Stiftung conducted by Rudolf Lutz

3. Uit Köthener Trauermusik BWV 244a: Aria Erhalte mich
Ensemble Pygmalion conducted by Raphaël Pichon

4. nr. 49 Aria “Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben” (soprano)
J.S. Bach-Stiftung conducted by Rudolf Lutz

5. nr. 57 Aria “Komm, süsses Kreuz” (bas)
J.S. Bach-Stiftung conducted by Rudolf Lutz

6. nr. 68 Chor “Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder”
J.S. Bach-Stiftung conducted by Rudolf Lutz

Bach & Co afl. 14 – 29 maart 2021

Music fragments:
0. Tune Bach & Co
J.S. Bach – From Sonata for violin and harpsichord nr.4 in c-klein, BWV 1017:
1. Siciliano (Largo)
Janine Jansen & Friends

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
From St Matthew Passion BWV 244:
1. nr. 61. Rezitativ und Chor. “Und von der sechsten Stunde an” (Evangelist, Jezus)
2. nr. 46. Choral. “Wie wunderbarlich ist doch diese Strafe!”
3. Part I. Aria. Buss und Reu (alt)
4. nr. 39. Aria. “Erbarme dich” (alt)
5. nr. 49. Aria. “Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben” (soprano)
6. nr. 54. Choral. “O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden”
7. Part I. Choral. O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde gross
8. nr. 60. Aria en Koor. “Sehet, Jesus hat die Hand” (alt)

Evangelist: Charles Daniels, tenor. Jezus: Peter Harvey, bass. Joanne Lunn, soprano. Margot Oitzinger, alt. Charles Daniels, tenor. Wolf Matthias Friedrich, bass. J. S. Bach-Stiftung conducted by Rudolf Lutz

Bach & Co afl. 15 – 5 april 2021

Musical fragments:
0. Tune Bach & Co
J.S. Bach – From Sonata for violin and harpsichord nr.4 in c-klein, BWV 1017: 1. Siciliano (Largo)
Janine Jansen & Friends

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
From St Matthew Passion BWV 244:

1. “O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde gross”
Holland Baroque and Nederlands Kamerkoor conducted by Reinbert de Leeuw

2. “Kommt, Ihr Tochter, helft mir klagen”
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Thomanerchor Leipzig and Tolzer Knabenchor conducted by Riccardo Chailly

3. “So ist mein Jesus’
Arnold Schönberg Chor, Vienna Boys Choir and Concentus Wien conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt

4. “Blute nur, du liebes Herz”
Jongenssopraan, Nikolaus Harnoncourt

5. “Wie wunderbarlich ist doch diese Strafe!”
J.S. Bach-Stiftung conducted by Rudolf Lutz

6. “Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben” (Soprano)
J.S. Bach-Stiftung conducted by Rudolf Lutz

7. “Können Tränen meiner Wangen”
J.S. Bach-Stiftung conducted by Rudolf Lutz