Johann Sebastian Bach's St John Passion: Genesis, Transmission, and Meaning

by Alfred Dïrr, Alfred Clayton

Overview

This book (published in German by Bärenreiter in 1988 and now available in English translation for the first time) is a comprehensive guide to the genesis, transmission, structure, meaning, and performance considerations of Bach's St John Passion. One of Bach's most fascinating works, its text demonstrates a profound understanding of St John's Gospel.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198162407
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	02/01/2001
Pages:	196
Product dimensions:	8.74(w) x 5.82(h) x 0.73(d)

About the Author

Alfred Dürr is one of the principal editors of the Neue Bach Ausgabe in which he edited Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier. He is the author of the standard work in German on Bach's cantatas. (An English translation of this book, by Richard D.P. Jones, is in progress.) He holds honorary doctorates of music at Baldwin-Wallace College, Ohio and at Oxford University.

Alfred Clayton (translator) has translated numerous books, including (for OUP) Paul Badura-Skoda: Interpreting Bach at the Keyboard.

Table of Contents

Preface1. GenesisIntroduction. Did Bach compose a Passion before 1724-1. Version I (1724)2. Version II (1725)3. Version III (c. 1730)4. Version IV (c. 1749)5. Score A2. Transmission1. The lost original score X (1724?)2. The revised score (source A, c. 1739-1749)3. The original parts: Introduction; Set I; Set II; Set III; Set IV; Parts no longer extant3. Meaning1. Protestant settings of the Passion2. The text of the St John Passion: a. The depiction of the Passion in the Gospel according to St John; b. The Gospel text; c. The chorale verses; d. The free poetry3. Bach's music: a. The setting of the biblical narrative; b. The chorale movements; c. The choruses; d. The arias and ariosos4. Problms associated with the overall formal design and the different versions5. Performance practice: a. General remarks; b. The execution of the continuo; c. Specific problems, Appendices: Problematical PointsAppendix I The participation of transverse flutes in Version IAppendix II The reconstruction of Movement 33 in Version IAppendix III The chronology of the Passions Bach performed in LeipzigAppendix IV The problem of symmetry in Bach's workBibliographyPicture CreditsText of the St John Passion (German & English)