Friday, April 14, 2017


The Passion of Our Lord 
According to St. Matthew


Johann Sebastian Bach

Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam
Willem Mengelberg, Conductor

Karl Erb, Tenor (Evangelist)
Willem Ravelli, Bass (Jesus)
Jo Vincent, Soprano
Ilona Durigo, Alto
Louis van Tuler, Tenor
Herman Schey, Bass
Amsterdam Toonkunst Choir "Zanglust" Boys' Choir

Recorded 2nd Apr. 1939, Amsterdam

  1. Coro I & II & Chorale: Kommt, ihr Töchter, 
  2. helft mir klagen 0:00
2. Evangelist, Jesus: Da Jesus diese Rede 
vollendet hatte 10:52
3. Chorale: Herzliebster Jesu 11:58
4. Evangelist: Da versammleten 
sich die Hohenpriester 13:29
5. Coro I & II: Ja nicht auf das Fest 14:03
6. Evangelist: Da nun Jesus war zu Bethanien 14:20
7. Coro I: Wozu dienet dieser Unrat? 14:59
8. Evangelist, Jesus: Da das Jesus merkete 15:36
9. Recitativo (alto): Du lieber Heiland du 18:00
10. Aria (alto): Buß und Reu 19:17
11. Evangelist, Judas: Da ging 
hin der Zwölfen einer 24:41
12. Aria (soprano): Blute nur, du liebes Herz! 25:33
13. Evangelist: Aber am ersten Tag 31:21
14. Coro I: Wo willst du 31:39
15. Evangelist, Jesus: Er sprach: Gehet hin in die Stadt; 
Coro I: Herr, bin ich's? 32:08
16. Chorale: Ich bin's, ich sollte büßen 34:36
17. Evangelist, Jesus, Judas: 
Er antwortete und sprach 36:24
18. Recitativo (soprano): Wiewohl mein Herz 40:58
19. Aria (soprano): Ich will dir mein Herze schenken 42:50
20. Evangelist, Jesus: Und da sie den Lobgesang 47:35
21. Chorale: Erkenne mich, mein Hüter 49:20
22. Evangelist, Peter, Jesus: Petrus aber antwortete 51:22
23. Evangelist, Jesus: Da kam Jesus mit ihnen 52:53
24. Recitativo (tenor) and Coro II: O Schmerz! 55:36
25. Aria (tenor) and Coro II: 
Ich will bei meinem Jesu wachen 58:36
26. Evangelist: Und ging hin ein wenig 1:04:39
27. Recitativo (basso): Der Heiland fällt 1:05:53
28. Evangelist, Jesus: Und er kam 
zu seinen Jüngern 1:07:23
29. Chorale: Was mein Gott will 1:09:29
30. Evangelist, Jesus, Judas: Und er 
kam und fand sie 1:11:43
31. Aria (soprano) and Coro II: So ist mein 
Jesus nun gefangen 1:15:25
32. Evangelist, Jesus: Und siehe, einer aus denen, 
die mit Jesu waren 1:20:45
33. Chorale: O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß 1:24:19
34. Aria (alto) and Coro II: Ach, nun 
ist mein Jesus hin! 1:32:35
35. Evangelist: Die aber Jesum gegriffen hatten 1:37:28
36. Chorale: Mir hat die Welt trüglich gericht't 1:38:16
37. Recitativo (tenor): Mein Jesus schweigt 1:39:12
38. Evangelist, High Priest, Jesus: Und der Hohenpriester antwortete; 
Coro I & II: Er ist des Todes schuldig! 1:40:53
39. Evangelist: Da speieten sie in sein Angesicht 1:42:54
40. Chorale: Wer hat dich so geschlagen 1:43:38
41. Evangelist, Maid, Peter, Maid II: Petrus 
aber saß draußen im Palast 1:45:30
42. Evangelist, Peter: Da hub er an sich 
zu verfluchen 1:46:47
43. Aria (alto): Erbarme dich, mein Gott 1:48:31
44. Evangelist, Judas: Des Morgens 
aber hielten alle Hohepriester 1:56:58
45. Evangelist, Pilate, Pilate's wife: Auf das Fest aber hatte der Landpfleger; 
Coro I & II: Barrabam! 1:57:29
46. Evangelist, Pilate: Der Landpfleger sagte 1:59:18
47. Recitativo (soprano): Er hat uns allen wohlgetan 1:59:30
48. Aria (soprano): Aus Liebe will mein 
Heiland sterben 2:00:59
49. Evangelist: Sie schrieen aber noch mehr; Coro I & II: Laß ihn kreuzigen! Evangelist, Pilate: Da aber Pilatus sahe; Coro I & II: Sein Blut komme über; 
Evangelist: Da gab er ihnen Barrabam los 2:06:44
50. Recitativo (alto): Erbarm es, Gott! 2:08:53
51. Evangelist: Da nahmen die Kriegsknechte; 
Coro I & II: Gegrüßet seist du, Jüdenkönig! 
Evangelist: Und speieten ihn an 2:10:30
52. Chorale: O Haupt, voll Blut und Wunden 2:11:49
53. Evangelist: Und da sie ihn verspottet hatten 2:14:21
54. Evangelist: Und da wurden zween Mörder; Coro I & II: Der du den Tempel; Evangelist: Desgleichen auch die Hohenpriester; 
Coro I & II: Andern hat er geholfen 2:15:03
55. Evangelist: Desgleichen schmäheten 
ihn auch die Mörder 2:17:31
56. Recitativo (alto): Ach Golgatha, 
unselges Golgatha! 2:17:53
57. Evangelist, Jesus: Und von der sechsten Stunde an; 
Coro I: Der rufet dem Elias! Evangelist: Und bald lief einer unter ihnen; 
Coro II: Halt! Laß sehen; 
Evangelist: Aber Jesus schriee abermal laut 
und verschied. 2:20:05
58. Chorale: Wenn ich einmal soll scheiden 2:23:27
59. Evangelist: Und siehe da; Coro I & II: 
Wahrlich, dieser ist Gottes Sohn gewesen 2:26:11
60. Recitativo (basso): Am Abend, 
da es kühle war 2:29:01
61. Evangelist: Und Joseph nahm den Leib 2:31:36
62. Recitativo (basso, tenor, alto, soprano) and 
Coro II: Nun ist der Herr zur Ruh gebracht 2:32:29
63. Coro I & II: Wir setzen uns 
mit Tränen nieder 2:35:11

15 comments:

  1. The St. Matthew Passion is one of the greatest testaments to Western Civilization we have, and gives clear proof –– to me at least –– that the Holy Spirit lives in each one of us, though most don’t realize it. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion HAS to be the Voice of God, Himself, speaking THROUGH J.S. Bach. I can think of no other explanation for it.

    I sang the soprano part when I was a boy of nine in a countywide performance of the work, and even at that tender age I was aware I was in the Presence of Something MAGNIFICENT, Awe-Inspiring, and Humbling.

    It marked me for life. I’ve carried that experience all through the past sixty-five years, and still get goose bumps every time I think of it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh yeah. If this doesn't send that awe feeling up your spine, you seriously need a chiropractor. It's really cool that you had the opportunity to perform this. That's just really cool. The closest I came to such a thing was singing Amazing Grace at funeral, though moving and touching, not exactly the exalted Bach!

    JMJ

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JMJ,
      Glad to see that you appreciate the miraculous J.S. Bach!

      Delete
    2. Oh yeah, you gotta love Bach. Heavy metal guitarists ALL study at least some Bach. Among HM guitarists, Bach is considered the Great Grandfather of Heavy Metal. He can be quite campy too. But spine-tinglingly inspiring.

      JMJ

      Delete
  3. Glorious!

    I have the privilege, about 50 years ago, of singing in the chorus for this masterpiece -- under the baton of Norman Scribner. I was in the alto section of the Choral Arts Society. We performed in Constitution Hall as there was yet no Kennedy Center.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Little Old MeApril 14, 2017 at 11:18 AM
    May the love of God and the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ bless and console us and gently wipe every tear from our eyes:in the name of the Father,and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit Kick the living Shit out of our enemies. And may God Bless out President Donald J. Trump.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Question: What is the title of the English-language hymn using the same chorale as Erkenne mich, mein Hüter (49:20)? We frequently sang that particular chorale in the Methodist Church.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is one of several settings of Herzlich tut much verlangen –– an ancient tune that began life as a secular love song in Mediaeval Germany. The early text begins "My heart belongs to a fair young maiden," and goes on from there.

      In our Protestant services it is best known as "O, Sacred Head how wounded," and is most often sung at Communion.

      Now the German text you cited given here is just one of several different sets of verse from the St.Matthew Passion that Bach set to Herzlich tut mich verlangen. He used a different harmonization for each to aid in expressing the particular meaning of each different text.

      The one you cited is given here in full:

      Erkenne mich, mein Hüter
      mein Hirte, nimm mich an!
      Von dir, Quell aller Güter,
      ist mir viel Guts getan.
      Dein Mund hat mich gelabet,
      mit Milch und süßer Kost,
      dein Geist hat mich begabet,
      mit mancher Himmelslust.


      Roughly translated it reads as follows:

      Recognize and accept me, my Shepherd.
      From Thee, the Source of all goodness,
      Has come to me many blessings.
      Thy mouth and Thy Spirit
      Have nourished and filled me with milk and sweetness
      .

      Most music scholars and church musicians refer to Herzlich tut mich verlangen simply as "The Passion Chorals."

      Many composers, including myself, have written variations on it for organ solo. I believe i shared that with you several years ago.

      Delete
    2. "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" is the one I meant. We used to sing it during Good Friday services. I couldn't remember the name of the hymn, and getting to my Methodist hymnal nearly requires gymnastic because the hymnal is buried in one of my music cabinets.

      Wikipedia offers this information.

      Delete
    3. Yes, the tune has been around since c. 1600, and was first used as a hymn in 1611.

      Delete

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