Johann Sebastian Bach, St. John Passion : genesis, transmission, and meaning / Alfred Dürr ; translated by Alfred Clayton.
| Author/creator | Dürr, Alfred |
| Format | Book |
| Publication Info | Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2000. |
| Description | xiii, 182 pages : facsimiles, music ; 23 cm |
| Subjects |
| Uniform title | Johannes-Passion von Johann Sebastian Bach. English |
| Spine title | Johann Sebastian Bach's St. John Passion |
| Contents | Genesis. Introduction: did Bach compose a Passion before 1724?. Version I (1724) ; Version II (1725) ; Version III ; Version IV (c. 1749) ; Score A 2 -- Transmission. The lost original score X (1724?) ; The revised score (source A, c. 1739-1749) ; The original parts. General introduction ; Set I ; Set II ; Set III ; Set IV ; Parts no longer extant -- Meaning. Protestant settings of the Passion ; The text of the St John Passion. The depiction of the Passion in the Gospel according to St John ; The Gospel text ; The chorale verses ; The free poetry -- Bach's music. The setting of the biblical narrative ; The chorale movements ; The choruses ; The arias and ariosos -- Problems associated with the overall formal design and the different versions -- Performance practice. General remarks ; The execution of the continuo ; Specific problems -- Appendices. Problematical Points. The participation of transverse flutes in Version I ; The reconstruction of Movement 33 in Version I ; The chronology of the Passions Bach performed in Leipzig ; The problem of symmetry in Bach's work. |
| Abstract | This book is a guide to the genesis, transmission, structure, and performance considerations of Bach's St. John Passion. The St. John Passion is one of Bach's most fascinating works. Its text demonstrates a profound understanding of St. John's Gospel. The musical design of the choruses, with their numerous interrelationships, is unique and requires some explanation. The fact that the Passion exists in four different versions leads Durr to ask which changes were intentional and which were the result of practical constraints or of orders issued by church authorities. The introduction to the work is preceded by a detailed account of its genesis and transmission, and the uniquely complicated nature of the sources. The discussion of the Passion itself is based on the assumption that what Bach wanted to say to the Leipzig congregation on Good Friday was designed to be understood in verbal and musical terms. Number symbolism, 'eye music', and encrypted information do not form the essence of what Bach was trying to communicate to us. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 129-131) and index. |
| Language | Text of the St. John Passion in German and English. |
| LCCN | 99032937 |
| ISBN | 0198162405 |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music | Music Stacks | ML410.B13 D813 2000 | ✔ Available | Place Hold |