Johann Sebastian Bach: Johannespassion

On Good Friday, April 7, 1724, Johann Sebastian Bach's St. John Passion was heard for the first time in Leipzig's St. Nicholas Church. The two-hour, frequently performed work is one of the most impressive settings of the Passion of Jesus. On the foundation of late baroque and at the same time highly expressive sound worlds, word and sound unite to form an interpretation of the Bible that is still fascinating today. Meinrad Walter illuminates Bach's St. John Passion with a view to the complex history of its creation, the word-sound relationship, and its spiritual content. Theologically sound and descriptive, the author leads the reader through the individual parts of the work, providing a lively insight into Bach's musical language for the Passion. For the first time, the lesser-known second version from 1725, which has been available from Carus-Verlag for several years, is also discussed in detail. A further level of interpretation is opened up.