What is the St Matthew Passion? What to listen for

1)
Easter celebrates Jesus Christ's resurrection. This year, 2024, Easter falls on March 31. Churches spend 40 days, excluding the Sunday before Easter, in a period called Lent, and the Passion was performed on the last Friday of this period. J.S. Bach's St Matthew Passion is a masterpiece loved by many people in Japan.

This time, we will introduce the background of the work and what to listen for for those who would like to listen to the St Matthew Passion.

2)
Content:
Bach's source, the reformer Martin Luther
Bach's education
The structure of the St Matthew Passion
The structure of the St Matthew Passion
Explanation of musical terms
Prologue no. 1
Passion Chorus Nos. 15, 17, 44, 54, 62
St Peter's Denial Nos. 38a-c
Have mercy, O God No. 39
Barabbas No. 45a
What is the difference between St John's and St. John's Passion?
Things to consider when listening to the St Matthew Passion
A summary

3)
Bach's source, the reformer Martin Luther
Bach spent most of his life as a church musician and left behind many religious works, including church cantatas, oratorios, Passions, and organ works. At the end of most of his manuscripts, Bach signed 'SDG' (Soli Deo Gloria), suggesting that he composed with a calling to serve God.

4)
Bach's birthplace, Eisenach, is also closely associated with Martin Luther, who led the Protestant Reformation. Luther translated the New Testament from Latin into German in a room in the Wartburg on the outskirts of Eisenach. The source of Bach's rich works is the Protestant Lutheran church music tradition.

5)
The Protestant Reformation began with Luther posting his "95 Theses" in 1517. He protested that the Catholic Church was selling indulgences to the people and leading them into heresy.

Luther aimed to provoke theological debate, not to create a new denomination. Even Luther did not expect the 95 Theses to become a turning point in Europe.

6)
The Reformation movement developed around three core concepts: "Scripture alone", "grace alone", and "faith alone". Luther first translated the Bible into German so ordinary people could read it.

However, the literacy rate of ordinary people at that time was not high, so priests needed to explain the Bible to them to spread the teachings of the Bible.

So Luther introduced German sermons into church services. Until then, all masses in the Catholic Church were conducted in Latin, and the ordinary people could understand nothing.
His next reform was to create German hymns for the congregation to sing.

In an area where the Lutheran tradition was strong, Bach became active as a church musician.

7)
Bach's upbringing

Bach was born on March 21, 1685, in Eisenach, a town in central Germany, and was the youngest child of a musical family. He showed musical talent early on and seems to have sung in a choir as a child.

In his youth, he worked as a violinist in the court orchestra and as a church organist, and he began to work energetically on the composition of cantatas. After serving at the courts of Weimar and Köthen, he became cantor (director of music) of the Thomaskirche in Leipzig in 1723.

8)
Bach's work as a cantor was hectic. In addition to composing cantatas for the weekly Sunday service, he conducted the church choir, performed at civil weddings and funerals, and taught at the Thomas School.

The St Matthew Passion was also composed during this busy period. In those days, churches did not perform music during Advent before Christmas and Lent before Easter, so it is thought that he used this time to compose the lengthy Matthew Passion and St John Passion.

9)
Structure of the St Matthew Passion
It is recorded that Bach wrote five passions, but today, we can only hear two: the St John Passion and the St Matthew Passion. The St. Matthew Passion was composed in 1727 and premiered in St. Thomas Church on April 11.

10)
As mentioned at the beginning, the Passion is the music performed on Good Friday, the last week of Lent.

When Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, believers are silent, remembering Jesus Christ's suffering and crucifixion. Then, on Good Friday, the last week of Lent, they listen to the Passion and look forward to the Resurrection on Sunday.

11)
Structure of St Matthew's Passion
It is a mixture of "gospel passages"—Bible passages set to music—"free words" and "chorale words."
Gospel passages are sung as recitatives, and free words are sung as arias or recitatives.

12)
Explanation of musical terms
Recitative: A part sung as a recitation in opera, oratorio and cantata.
In St Matthew's Passion, the Evangelist sings the part explaining the situation from St Matthew's Gospel.

Aria: A melodic, lyrical solo part. It is the climax of the song.
In the Matthew Passion, the believers sing the part expressing their feelings about Jesus' Passion's events.

Chorale: A hymn sung by congregations in the Evangelical Lutheran Church. The melody is simple and easy to sing. An organ sometimes accompanies it.

13)
The first part begins with the plot to arrest Jesus and describes the events leading up to his arrest. The second part describes Jesus' trial, crucifixion and burial.

If you read chapters 26-27 of the Gospel of Matthew, you will understand the whole story, so please read it before listening to the Matthew Passion.

14)
The Matthew Passion is a long piece, lasting just under three hours. It has 29 songs in the first part and 39 in the second part.

Below are some of the highlights.

15)
Prologue 1
This is the prologue to the entire piece. It is a large choral piece that foreshadows the passion drama that is about to begin.

The chorus is divided into two parts: "The Daughters of Zion" (a poetic expression of the Holy City of Jerusalem) and "The Faithful". There is a dialogue across time and space between the witnesses of Jesus' Passion in Jerusalem and today's believers who react to it with joy, anger, sorrow and happiness.

16)
The opening chorus shows Jesus, condemned to death by a plot, carrying the cross and walking away while the Daughters of Zion watch from a distance. In the middle of the piece, the hymn "O Lamb of God", sung by the soprano in reprise (the part sung by the children's choir), is inserted like a voice pouring down from heaven.

17)
Passion chorale Nos. 15, 17, 44, 54, 62
This is the symbolic "Passion Chorale" of St Matthew's Passion. It occurs five times in different keys.

The melody is taken from Hans Leo Hassler's song "Mein Herz ist in tausend Teile" and the words from another hymn by Paul Gerhardt.

18)
Compared to the poignant sound of No. 54, No. 62, which comes immediately after the scene in which Jesus breathes his last, is full of sadness and serenity. Bach harmonised this psalm in the Phrygian mode (a mode that hovers between heaven and earth and comes to a standstill).

The Passion Chorale No. 62 evokes a mystical feeling of being held eternally before Jesus's cross. Please listen to both versions and compare.

19)
Peter's denial, no. 38a-c

This is the well-known scene from the Passion of Christ where Peter denies knowing Jesus three times.

At the Last Supper, Jesus says to Peter, "Tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times," and Peter denies it. But after Jesus is arrested, Peter is afraid and denies every time he is asked, "Are you a disciple of Jesus?"

The moment he answers "I don't know" for the third time, the rooster crows and Peter is filled with remorse and tears, realising that Jesus was right.

Please listen carefully to the words "wept bitterly" sung by the Evangelist.

20) Have Mercy, O God, No. 39
An aria following Peter's weeping.
The contralto sings, "Have mercy, O God, on my tears", and Peter's deep sorrow and repentance seem like our own.

21) Barabbas, No. 45a
After his arrest, Jesus is brought before the governor, Pilate.
At that time, it was customary to pardon one prisoner at each Passover. Pilate asked the people whom they wanted to release. "Barabbas or Jesus?" The crowd shouted, "Barabbas!" The sudden chorus made a strong impression.

22)
What is the difference between St John's and St. John's Passion?
As mentioned above, Bach also composed the St. John Passion, but the music of this and the St. Matthew Passion is very different.

The St John's Passion has many songs that sing the Bible passages and are structured to convey the content of the Bible to the congregation.

The St Matthew Passion, on the other hand, is characterised by a high proportion of songs with free lyrics (original texts not based on biblical passages). It contains many arias that express personal feelings and emphasise deepening personal faith.

23)
Places to listen to St Matthew's Passion
St Matthew's Passion is a masterpiece that lasts over three hours, and listening to it entirely requires much patience.

The author recommends that you first "read the Passion passage in the Bible (Matthew 26-27) from beginning to end" and then "listen to it, taking Jesus' Passion as something that concerns you".

24)
People commit various sins, regardless of their severity. Jesus Christ was crucified to atone for our sins. Listen to Matthew's Passion with the awareness that "it was none other than I who crucified Jesus."

You will find yourself in all the characters, such as Peter, who denied knowing Jesus; Judas, who betrayed Jesus; or one of the crowds who called for Jesus' crucifixion.

Easter will feel incredibly joyful and festive after reliving the events of Jesus' Passion through time and space.

25) Summary
I have introduced Bach's St Matthew Passion.

Lent is the perfect time to reflect on the meaning of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Why not listen to the St Matthew Passion before Easter this year?

What is the Matthew Passion? Here is a look at what to listen for

https://www.newlifeministries.jp/matthew-passion/

Listen to Bach's "Matthew Passion"

https://note.com/hideyuki158/n/n432e36ce87b5

Bach's "Matthew Passion" [Synopsis, commentary, and 3 great recordings | Lyrics] A masterpiece! Expressing a true story from 2,000 years ago through music

https://www.alpacablog.jp/entry/bach-matthaus-passion

Bach's St. Matthew Passion: When you come into contact with the depth of human suffering, the music suddenly comes to you

https://ontomo-mag.com/article/column/dangerous-works-6/

St. Matthew Passion - Chorales

Chorales from St. Matthew Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach. Excerpted from the live-recorded Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall concert on April 2, 2021. Conducted by Masato Suzuki, the principal conductor of Bach Collegium Japan.

https://youtu.be/BmM95ZMCP0g

Hymn No. 267 "God Is My Tower"

https://youtu.be/_G5yik1KpkY

Hymn 136 "Dripping Blood"

https://youtu.be/yl-RQRqxUEs

Add info)

Q1. Please tell me about Bach's St. Matthew Passion.

A1.
Bach's St. Matthew Passion is a magnificent piece of religious music considered one of Bach's greatest masterpieces. The piece is based on chapters 26 and 27 of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and depicts the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ.

Main features:
Composition: A large-scale work consisting of 68 pieces in total, divided into two parts. The first part covers the arrest of Jesus, and the second part covers the arrest, crucifixion, and burial.

Performance time: Work lasts over three hours, depending on the performance.

Musical features:
Two orchestras and a choir are used to create a dialogue effect.
String accompaniment is added to Jesus' lines, giving them a unique presence.
Chorales (Protestant hymns) are inserted between the stories, giving the audience time to reflect on the story.

Instrumentation: Two orchestras, including flute traverso, oboe, violin, viola, and other instruments, and two choirs, each consisting of 12 people.

Historical background: This work was composed during Bach's busy period as cantor (music director) of the Thomaskirche in Leipzig.

Resurrection: Long forgotten after Bach's death, it was revived by Mendelssohn in 1829, leading to a reevaluation of Bach's music.

The St. Matthew Passion is widely recognised as one of the most important works of classical music due to its musical depth and religious significance.

Q2. Karl Richter's 1958 recording of Bach's St. Matthew Passion is known for its traditional interpretation and high technique. Why is this?

A2.
Karl Richter's 1958 recording of Bach's St. Matthew Passion is highly regarded for the following reasons:

Traditional interpretation: Richter was known as the "authority on Bach" and deeply understood the essence of Bach's music. His performance faithfully reflects Bach's intentions while emphasising the work's solemnity and beauty.

High technique: Richter and the Munich Bach Orchestra's performance is technically excellent, allowing them to clearly express the complex musical structure.

Drama: Richter gives the music a dramatic quality, realistically expressing the biblical story. In particular, the music vividly conveys the emotions in scenes involving the people.

Interpretation of chorales: Richter treats melodies, Protestant hymns, as layered choruses, changing the harmony for each song. This allows the music to change according to the story's progression while staying close to the audience's hearts.

A well-balanced performance: Richter's conducting maintains an excellent balance between the choir and orchestra, clearly expressing the role of each part.

Timeless appeal: Although recorded in 1958, it was modernly mastered in 2012, and its musical value has been reevaluated.

These elements combine to make Richter's 1958 recording of the St. Matthew Passion a masterpiece, which continues to impress many listeners.