St Matthew Passion structure

Johann Sebastian Bach's St Matthew Passion (Matthäuspassion), BWV 244, is structured on multiple levels: the composition is structured in three levels of text sources (Gospel, libretto and chorales) and by the different forms that are used for musical expression (arias, recitatives and choruses).

St Matthew Passion
BWV 244
Passion by J. S. Bach
Schmerzensmann (Man of sorrows) by Lucas Cranach the Elder (1515)
Native namePassio Domini Nostri J.C. Secundum Evangelistam Matthaeum
RelatedBWV 244a
OccasionGood Friday
TextPicander
Bible textMatthew 26–27
Chorale
Performed11 April 1727 (1727-04-11): Leipzig
Movements68 in two parts (29 + 39)
Vocal
InstrumentalTwo orchestras, each of
  • 2 recorders
  • 2 flauti traversi
  • 2 oboes
  • 2 oboes da caccia
  • 2 oboes d'amore
  • bassoon
  • 2 violins
  • viola
  • viola da gamba
  • continuo

Bach's large choral composition was written to present the Passion of Jesus, 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. Part I covers the events until the arrest of Jesus and Part II concludes with his burial and the sealing of his grave.

Bach took the Gospel text for the composition from Martin Luther's German translation of Matthew 26 and 27. Contemporary poetry in Picander's libretto and chorales comment on the Bible text and open and close most scenes of the narration.[1][2][3]

Numbering of the movements

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Bach did not number the sections of the St Matthew Passion but twentieth-century scholars have done so. The Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (BWV, Bach Works Catalog) divides the work into 78 numbers (vocal movements), while the Neue Bach-Ausgabe (NBA, New Bach Edition) divides the piece into 68 movements. Both use lettered subsections in some cases.[4][5] Movement numbers in this article follow the NBA scheme, except for the table with the movements that cross-references both numbering systems.

Text based structure

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The text is taken from three sources: the biblical texts, contemporary poetry by Picander and chorales.

Scene division based on the Gospel text

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The St Matthew Passion can be divided in scenes or "stations" that follow the dramatic action of the Gospel account in different locations.[3] Whatever the chosen scene division (none of them indicated by the composer in the score), scenes end on an aria, a chorus, or in the midst of a Gospel text section. In the latter case the ending of the scene would usually be on a turba chorus, such as Wahrlich, dieser ist Gottes Sohn gewesen ending the scene where Jesus dies at the cross.

New scenes begin with Gospel text sung by the Evangelist, except the first scene of each of the two parts of the composition. In other words, except for the chorus and aria that open Part One and Part Two, chorales and arias are a meditation after the narration of the action in the sung Gospel text.

NBA 16 scenes[3] Archiv[6]
Part I
1–4a 1. "The chief priests seek to destroy Jesus" Anointing in Bethany
4b–6 2. "Jesus is anointed with precious ointment"
7–8 3. "Judas plans the betrayal of Christ" The Lord's Supper
9a–11 4. "The disciples prepare the Passover meal"
12–13 5. "The Last Supper"
14–17 6. "The Agony in the Garden"
18–25 In Gethsemane
26–29 7. "The arrest of Jesus"
Part II
30–35 8. "The hearing before high priest Caiaphas" False Witness
36–37 Interrogation by Caiaphas and Pilate
38–40 9. "Peter's denial of Christ, and his remorse"
41–44 10. "Judas' repentance and death"
45–52 11. "The trial before Pontius Pilate" Jesus' Delivery and Flagellation
53–54 12. "Soldiers crown Jesus with thorns, mocking him"
55–60 13. "Crucifixion" Crucifixion
61–63b 14. "Death of Jesus, followed by an earthquake"
63c–66a 15. "Descent from the Cross; Christ's burial" The Interment
66b–68 16. "Chief priests demand the tomb be sealed"

Libretto

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Christian Friedrich Henrici (Picander), who collaborated with Bach, wrote text for recitatives and arias, and for the large scale choral movements that open and close the Passion. Other libretto sections came from publications by Salomo Franck and Barthold Heinrich Brockes.[6]

Scenes can be opened and closed by arias: No. 6 Buß und Reu, an aria for alto, concludes the scene at Bethany. Part II opens with an aria, Ach! nun ist mein Jesus hin!.

Chorales

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The oldest chorale chosen for the Passion dates from 1525. Bach used the hymns in different ways, most are four-part setting, two are the cantus firmus of the two chorale fantasias framing Part I, one as a commenting element in a tenor recitative.

Three of the texts Bach used for chorale settings are written by Paul Gerhardt. Bach included five stanzas of his "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden" in the Passion, and he uses the first two stanzas of the poem to conclude the Flagellation scene.

Chorales in St Matthew Passion
Author Date Hymn; Stanza Stanza incipit No. Set as...
Nikolaus Decius 1541 O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig 1 O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig 1 cantus firmus[a] in choral movement
Johann Heermann 1630 Herzliebster Jesu 1 Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen 3 four-part chorale
Paul Gerhardt 1647 O Welt, sieh hier dein Leben 5 Ich bin's, ich sollte büßen 10 four-part chorale
Paul Gerhardt 1656 O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden 5 Erkenne mich, mein Hüter 15 four-part chorale
Paul Gerhardt 1656 O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden 7 Es dient zu meinen Freuden 17[b] four-part chorale
Paul Gerhardt 1656 O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden 6 Ich will hier bei dir stehen 17[c] four-part chorale
Johann Heermann 1630 Herzliebster Jesu 3 Was ist doch wohl die Ursach 19 coro II in tenor recitative
Albert, Duke of Prussia 1547 Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit 1 Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit 25 four-part chorale
Christian Keymann 1658 Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht 6 Jesum laß' ich nicht von mir 29[b] four-part chorale
Sebald Heyden 1525 O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß 1 O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß 29[c] cantus firmus in choral movement
Adam Reusner 1533 In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr 5 Mir hat die Welt trüglich gericht' 32 four-part chorale
Paul Gerhardt 1647 O Welt, sieh hier dein Leben 3 Wer hat dich so geschlagen 37 four-part chorale
Johann Rist 1642 Werde munter, mein Gemüte 6 Bin ich gleich von dir gewichen 40 four-part chorale
Paul Gerhardt 1656 Befiehl du deine Wege 1 Befiehl du deine Wege 44 four-part chorale
Johann Heermann 1630 Herzliebster Jesu 4 Wie wunderbarlich ist doch diese Strafe! 46 four-part chorale
Paul Gerhardt 1656 O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden 1 O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden 54 four-part chorale
Paul Gerhardt 1656 O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden 2 Du edles Angesichte 54, cont.[c] four-part chorale
Paul Gerhardt 1656 O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden 9 Wenn ich einmal soll scheiden 62 four-part chorale
Notes
  1. ^ Without text (played by organ only) in older versions of the Passion
  2. ^ a b Only in version BWV 244b
  3. ^ a b c Not in version BWV 244b

Musical structure

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Beginning of recitative No. 61a (NBA), the Biblical quotation written in red

The work is composed for double choir, double orchestra, and vocal soloists. The choirs are abbreviated Ch I and Ch II, individual voice parts as S (soprano), A (alto), T (tenor), and B (bass). Both choirs are four-part, SATB. The orchestra consists of woodwinds, strings, and basso continuo (Bc). Woodwinds are recorders, flauto traverso (transverse flute) (Ft), oboe (Ob), oboe d'amore (Oa), and oboe da caccia (Oc). Strings are violin (Vn), solo violin (Vs), viola (Va), lute (Lt), and viola da gamba (Vg). Continuo are violoncello, double bass, bassoon, and organ.

The Bible story is told by the Evangelist (Ev) in secco recitative, and by the characters that have direct speech in the narrative. The speech of Jesus sings in accompagnato recitative, except at the beginning of No. 61a where Jesus utters his last words "Eli, Eli, lama, lama asabthani" [sic] in recitative secco (see facsimile image on the right). The speech of other persons, called soliloquents, is also set as secco recitative. Soliloquents are Judas (B), Peter (B), two witnesses (A T), two high priests (B), two maids (S), Pilate (B), and his wife (S). The speech of groups such as the disciples and the crowd, are expressed in turba choruses.

Reflecting thoughts on contemporary poetry appear as sequence of recitatives (rec) and arias, sometimes just the latter, and in choral movements. Most chorales are four-part settings. Several movements use a combination of forms, such as an aria with chorale, a chorale fantasia, a chorus with a chorale as a cantus firmus. Chorales were performed by both groups combined,[citation needed] with each voice type in unison. Movement 63b, Wahrlich, dieser ist Gottes Sohn gewesen (Truly, this man was God's own Son most truly), is treated the same way. Part I ends with a chorale fantasia that is based on the opening chorus of the St John Passion in its second version, also performed by both choirs in unison, whereas the opening chorus is for double choir with the chorale "O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig" as the cantus firmus, which was originally played, later sung. The closing chorus is in da capo form for two choirs.

Movements

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Column 1 of the table is the movement number in the Neue Bach-Ausgabe; column 2 is this number in the Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis. The last column shows the incipit, the first measures of each movement with text.

Structure of St Matthew Passion, Part I
NBA BWV Gospel Ch 1 Ch II Key Time Instr. Beginning
of text
Source Incipit
1 1 Chorale S Ch I Ch II E minor 12
8
2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Kommt, ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen
+ chorale O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig as cantus firmus
Picander + Nicolaus Decius  
2 2 Ev, Jesus G major
→ B minor
  2Vn Va
Bc
Da Jesus diese Rede vollendet hatte Mt 26:1–2  
3 3 Chorale B minor   2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Herzliebster Jesu Johann Heermann  
4a 4 Ev D major
→ C major
  Bc Da versammleten sich die Hohenpriester Mt 26:3–4  
4b 5 Ch I Ch II C major   2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Ja nicht auf das Fest Mt 26:5  
4c 6 Ev C major
→ A minor
  Bc Da nun Jesus war zu Bethanien Mt 26:6–8a  
4d 7 Ch I A minor
→ D minor
  2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Wozu dienet dieser Unrat Mt 26:8b–9  
4e 8 Ev, Jesus B major
→ E minor
  2Vn Va
Bc
Da das Jesus merkete Mt 26:10–13  
5 9 Rec A B minor
→ F minor
  2Ft
Bc
Du lieber Heiland du Salomo Franck  
6 10 Aria A F minor 3
8
2Ft
Bc
Buß und Reu Picander  
7 11 Ev, Judas D major
→ B minor
  Bc Da ging hin der Zwölfen einer Mt 26:14–16  
8 12 Aria S B minor   2Ft
2Vn Va
Bc
Blute nur, du liebes Herz! Picander  
9a 13 Ev G major   Bc Aber am ersten Tage der süßen Brot Mt 26:17a  
9b 14 Ch I G major 3
4
2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Wo willst du, daß wir dir bereiten Mt 26:17b  
9c 15 Ev, Jesus G major
→ C major
  2Vn Va
Bc
Er sprach: Gehet hin in die Stadt Mt 26:18–21  
9d Ev B minor
→ F minor
  Bc Und sie wurden sehr betrübt Mt 26:22a  
9e Ch I F minor
→ C minor
  2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Herr, bin ich's? Mt 26:22b  
10 16 Chorale A major   2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Ich bin's, ich sollte büßen Paul Gerhardt  
11 17 Ev, Jesus, Judas F minor
→ G major
 6
4
2Vn Va
Bc
Er antwortete und sprach Mt 26:23–29  
12 18 Rec S E minor
→ C major
  2Oa
Bc
Wiewohl mein Herz in Tränen schwimmt Picander  
13 19 Aria S G major 6
8
2Oa
Bc
Ich will dir mein Herze schenken Picander  
14 20 Ev, Jesus B minor
→ E major
  2Vn Va
Bc
Und da sie den Lobgesang gesprochen hatten Mt 26:30–32  
15 21 Chorale E major   2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Erkenne mich, mein Hüter Paul Gerhardt  
16 22 Ev, Jesus, Peter A major
→ G minor
  2Vn Va
Bc
Petrus aber antwortete Mt 26:33–35  
17 23 Chorale E major   2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Ich will hier bei dir stehen Paul Gerhardt  
18 24 Ev, Jesus F major
→ A major
  2Vn Va
Bc
Da kam Jesus mit ihnen zu einem Hofe Mt 26:36–38  
19 25 Rec T Ch II Chorale F minor
→ G major
  2Fl 2Oc
2Vn Va
Bc
O Schmerz! Hier zittert das gequälte Herz Picander + Johann Heermann  
20 26 Aria T Ch II C minor   2Ft Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Ich will bei meinem Jesu wachen Picander  
21 27 Ev, Jesus B major
→ G minor
  2Vn Va
Bc
Und ging hin ein wenig Mt 26:39  
22 28 Rec B D minor
→ B major
  2Vn Va
Bc
Der Heiland fällt vor seinem Vater nieder Picander  
23 29 Aria B G minor 3
8
2Vn
Bc
Gerne will ich mich bequemen Picander  
24 30 Ev, Jesus F major
→ B minor
  2Vn Va
Bc
Und er kam zu seinen Jüngern Mt 26:40–42  
25 31 Chorale B minor   2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit Albert, Duke of Prussia  
26 32 Ev, Jesus, Judas D major
→ G major
  2Vn Va
Bc
Und er kam und fand sie aber schlafend Mt 26:43–50  
27a 33 Aria S A Ch II E minor   2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
So ist mein Jesus nun gefangen Picander  
27b Ch I Ch II E minor 3
8
2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Sind Blitze, sind Donner in Wolken verschwunden? Barthold Heinrich Brockes  
28 34 Ev, Jesus F major
→ C minor
  2Vn Va
Bc
Und siehe, einer aus denen Mt 26:51–56  
29 35 Chorale fantasia E major   2Ft 2Oa
2Vn Va
Bc
O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß Sebald Heyden  
Structure of St Matthew Passion, Part II
NBA BWV Form Key Time Instr. Beginning
of Text
Source Incipit
30 36 Aria A Ch II B minor 3
8
Ft Oa
2Vn Va
Bc
Ach! nun ist mein Jesus hin! Picander  
31 37 Ev B major
→ D minor
  Bc Die aber Jesum gegriffen hatten Mt 26:57–60a  
32 38 Chorale B major   2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Mir hat die Welt trüglich gericht' Adam Reusner  
33 39 Ev, 2 witnesses, high priest G minor   Bc Und wiewohl viel falsche Zeugen herzutraten Mt 26:60b–63a  
34 40 Rec T A major
→ A minor
  2Ob
Vg
Bc
Mein Jesus schweigt Picander  
35 41 Aria T A minor   Vg
Bc
Geduld! Wenn mich falsche Zungen stechen Picander  
36a 42 Ev, Jesus, high priest E minor   2Vn Va
Bc
Und der Hohepriester antwortete Mt 26:63b–66a  
36b Ch I Ch II G major   2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Er ist des Todes schuldig! Mt 26:66b  
36c 43 Ev C major
→ D minor
  Bc Da speieten sie aus Mt 26:67  
36d Ch I Ch II D minor
→ F major
  2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Weissage uns, Christe Mt 26:68  
37 44 Chorale F major   2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Wer hat dich so geschlagen Paul Gerhardt  
38a 45 Ev, Peter, 2 maids A major
→ D major
  Bc Petrus aber saß draußen Mt 26:69–73a  
38b Ch II D major
→ A major
  2Ft Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Wahrlich, du bist auch einer Mt 26:73b  
38c 46 Ev, Peter C major
→ F minor
  Bc Da hub er an, sich zu verfluchen Mt 26:74–75  
39 47 Aria A B minor 12
8
Vs 2Vn Va
Bc
Erbarme dich Picander  
40 48 Chorale F minor
→ A major
  2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Bin ich gleich von dir gewichen Johann Rist  
41a 49 Ev, Judas F minor
→ B major
  Bc Des Morgens aber hielten alle Hohepriester Mt 27:1–4a  
41b Ch I Ch II B major
→ E minor
3
4
2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Was gehet uns das an? Mt 27:4b  
41c 50 Ev, 2 high priests A minor
→ B minor
  Bc Und er warf die Silberlinge in den Tempel Mt 27:5–6  
42 51 Aria B G major   Vs 2Vn Va
Bc
Gebt mir meinen Jesum wieder! Picander  
43 52 Ev, Jesus, Pilate E minor
→ D major
  2Vn Va
Bc
Sie hielten aber einen Rat Mt 27:7–14  
44 53 Chorale D major   2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Befiehl du deine Wege Paul Gerhardt  
45a 54 Ev, Pilate, his wife Ch I Ch II E major
→ A minor
  Bc Auf das Fest aber hatte der Landpfleger Gewohnheit Mt 27:15–22a  
45b Ch I & II A minor
→ B major
  2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Laß ihn kreuzigen! Mt 27:22b  
46 55 Chorale B minor   2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Wie wunderbarlich ist doch diese Strafe! Johann Heermann  
47 56 Ev, Pilate B minor   Bc Der Landpfleger sagte Mt 27:23a  
48 57 Rec S E minor
→ C major
  2Oc
Bc
Er hat uns allen wohlgetan Picander  
49 58 Aria S A minor 3
4
Ft 2Oc Aus Liebe will mein Heiland sterben Picander  
50a 59 Ev E minor   Bc Sie schrieen aber noch mehr Mt 27:23b  
50b Ch I & II B minor
→ C major
  2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Laß ihn kreuzigen! Mt 27:23c  
50c Ev, Pilate C major
→ B minor
  Bc Da aber Pilatus sahe Mt 27:24–25a  
50d Ch I & II B minor
→ D major
  2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Sein Blut komme über uns Mt 27:25b  
50e Ev D major
→ E minor
  Bc Da gab er ihnen Barrabam los Mt 27:26  
51 60 Rec A F major
→ G minor
  2Vn Va
Bc
Erbarm es Gott! Picander  
52 61 Aria A G minor 3
4
2Vn
Bc
Können Tränen meiner Wangen Picander  
53a 62 Ev F major
→ D minor
  Bc Da nahmen die Kriegsknechte Mt 27:27–29a  
53b Ch I Ch II D minor
→ A major
  2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Gegrüßet seist du, Jüdenkönig! Mt 27:29b  
53c Ev D minor   Bc Und speieten ihn an Mt 27:30  
54 63 Chorale D minor
→ F major
  2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden Paul Gerhardt  
55 64 Ev A minor   Bc Und da sie ihn verspottet hatten Mt 27:31–32  
56 65 Rec B F major
→ D minor
  2Ft
Vg
Bc
Ja freilich will in uns Picander  
57 66 Aria B D minor   Vg
Bc
Komm, süßes Kreuz Picander  
58a 67 Ev C major
→ F major
  Bc Und da sie an die Stätte kamen Mt 27:33–39  
58b Ch I Ch II F major
→ B minor
  2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Der du den Tempel Gottes zerbrichst Mt 27:40  
58c Ev F major
→ E minor
  Bc Desgleichen auch die Hohenpriester Mt 27:41  
58d Ch I Ch II E minor   2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Andern hat er geholfen Mt 27:42–43  
58e 68 Ev G major
→ C minor
  Bc Desgleichen schmäheten ihn Mt 27:44  
59 69 Rec A A major   2Oc
Bc
Ach Golgatha Picander  
60 70 Aria A Ch II E major   2Ob 2Oc
2Vn Va
Bc
Sehet, Jesus hat die Hand Picander  
61a 71 Ev, Jesus E major
→ C minor
  Bc Und von der sechsten Stunde an Mt 27:45–47a  
61b Ch I C minor
→ F major
  2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Der rufet dem Elias! Mt 27:47b  
61c Ev F major
→ G minor
  Bc Und bald lief einer unter ihnen Mt 27:48–49a  
61d Ch II G minor
→ D minor
  2Ft Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Halt! laß sehen Mt 27:49b  
61e Ev D minor
→ A minor
  Bc Aber Jesus schriee abermal laut Mt 27:50  
62 72 Chorale A minor   2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Wenn ich einmal soll scheiden Paul Gerhardt  
63a 73 Ev C major
→ A major
  Bc Und siehe da, der Vorhang im Tempel zerriß Mt 27:51–54a  
63b Ch I & II A major   2Ft Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Wahrlich, dieser ist Gottes Sohn gewesen Mt 27:54b  
63c Ev E major
→ B major
  Bc Und es waren viel Weiber da Mt 27:55–59  
64 74 Rec B G minor   2Vn Va
Bc
Am Abend, da es kühle war Salomo Franck  
65 75 Aria B B major 12
8
2Oc
2Vn Va
Bc
Mache dich, mein Herze, rein Picander  
66a 76 Ev G minor
→ E major
  Bc Und Joseph nahm den Leib Mt 27:59–62  
66b Ch I Ch II E major
→ D major
  2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Herr, wir haben gedacht Mt 27:63–64  
66c Ev, Pilate G minor
→ E major
  Bc Pilatus sprach zu ihnen Mt 27:65–66  
67 77 Rec S A T B Ch II E major
→ C minor
  2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Nun ist der Herr zur Ruh gebracht Picander  
68 78 Ch I Ch II C minor 3
4
2Ft 2Ob
2Vn Va
Bc
Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder Picander  

References

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  1. ^ Huizenga, Tom (2012). "A Visitor's Guide to the St. Matthew Passion". National Public Radio. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  2. ^ Harbison, John (2012). "J.S. Bach: St. Matthew Passion". Emmanuel Music. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  3. ^ a b c Traupman-Carr, Carol (2003). "St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244". Bach Choir of Bethlehem. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  4. ^ Robert Greenberg. Bach and the High Baroque: Course Guidebook. pp. 214–243.
  5. ^ "St Matthew Passion – German to English translation in interlinear format". (uses NBA numbering)
  6. ^ a b Booklet of Johann Sebastian Bach: Matthäus-Passion Karl Richter, Münchener Bach-Orchester et al. Archiv Produktion 1980

Sources

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