Bach revised his St. John Passion multiple times throughout his life, with the work accompanying him until shortly before his death.
Performer Biography
The ensemble frauenkirche dresden is composed of musicians from the Saxonian Staatskapelle and the Dresden Philharmonic, focusing on historical performance practice with modern instruments.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Bach's St. John Passion reflects his Lutheran belief that God ordered everything 'by number and measure,' resulting in impressive structural and formal design.
Performer Biography
Matthias Grünert, the conductor, is the first cantor of the Frauenkirche Dresden and is artistically responsible for all church music in the rebuilt Baroque building.
Historical Context
The tradition of 'oratorical passions' was established relatively late in Leipzig, requiring official approval in 1721 to move beyond choral passions to complex works with instrumental accompaniment and free texts.
Critical Reception
Some people, including Robert Schumann, considered Bach's St. John Passion to be even 'more daring, awesome and poetic' than the St. Matthew Passion.
Compositional Technique
Bach's St. John Passion uses a great wealth of imagery, from hurrying souls and flowing tears to the rending of the temple veil and descending melodies for entombment.
