What does BWV 244 mean?
The St Matthew Passion
The St Matthew Passion (German: Matthäus-Passion), BWV 244, is a Passion, a sacred oratorio written by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1727 for solo voices, double choir and double orchestra, with libretto by Picander.
What is St Matthews passion about?
The St. Matthew Passion (German: Matthäuspassion) is a musical composition written by Johann Sebastian Bach. The words tell the story of Jesus’s death on the cross as told in chapters 26 and 27 of the Book of St Matthew in the Bible. The work is for a choir, solo voices and orchestra.
Why was Matthew Passion written?
Johann Sebastian Bach wrote his St. Matthew Passion for a single purpose — to present the Passion story in music at Good Friday vesper services.
Is St. Matthew Passion a chorale?
Bach’s large choral composition was written to present the Passion, as told in the Gospel of Matthew, in a vespers service on Good Friday. It is composed in two parts, that were to be performed before and after the sermon of that service….St Matthew Passion structure.
St Matthew Passion | |
---|---|
Text | Picander |
Bible text | Matthew 26–27 |
How long does St. Matthew Passion Last?
three hours
Matthew Passion is divided into two parts, and its performance takes somewhat less than three hours. The first part concerns Jesus Christ’s betrayal, the Last Supper, and his prayers and arrest in Gethsemane.
How long is St John Passion?
two-hour-
Performed without an interval but with a couple of pauses – including a moment of meditative silence following Jesus’s death – the two-hour-long structure of choruses, chorales, arias and recitatives maintained consistent impetus and impact.
When did Bach compose the Passions?
Bach wrote the St Mark Passion, BWV 247 for 1731.
What key is St Matthew Passion in?
Matthew Passion;4 or the fairly frequent statements by Moser and others that widely separated movements in C-major and c-minor in both passions are to be thought of as being in the same key;5 or Dieter Weiss’s inclusion of the C- major chorus, “Lasset uns den nicht zerteilen” in the St.