Podcast on Bach, episode 61
‘Bach and Death’ – part 9
During the following episodes of Bach & Co we will see how people in in Johann Sebastian Bach’s time dealt with death. We’ve had to interrupt this 11-part series due to the Passion season and our episodes featuring Nikolaus Matthes’ St Mark Passion.
1731. Bach concludes what we assume to be his trilogy of passions with the St Mark Passion. In the previous episodes, we’ve focused on Nikolaus Matthes, and we’ve concluded that we can’t be entirely sure if Bach ever composed the St Mark Passion. It’s merely an assumption. Musicologists assume that Bach reused the music from the Trauerode (BWV 198) for this. Matthes had composed an entirely new St Mark Passion to the text of Pikander, and even he clearly incorporates the Trauerode into his newly composed St Mark Passion. Towards the end of Bach’s life, we see his resilience grow ever stronger as he begins to compose almost cheerful music even in the face of adversity, as if he has mourned enough throughout his life.
JOHANN GOTTFRIED BERNHARD BACH (1715 – 1739) Picture: Pantheon World
Fragments of:
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
0. Tune Bach and Death
From: Ich Hatte Viel Bekümmernis, BWV 21
– Sinfonia
Akademie Für Alte Musik Berlin conducted by Bernhard Forck
Isabelle Faust, violin
Nikolaus Matthes (*1981)
1. Jesu, geh zu deiner Pein
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
From: Laß, Fürstin, laß noch einen Strahl (Trauer-Ode), BWV 198
2. – Lass, Fürstin, Lass Noch Einen Strahl
3. – Der Ewigkeit Saphirnes Haus
Tenor: Gerd Türk;
Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki
From: Messe h-Moll, BWV 232
4. I. Kyrie “Kyrie eleison” (Chor)
Chor & Orchester Der J.S. Bach-Stiftung, conducted by Rudolf Lutz
From: Weihnachtsoratorium, BWV 248
5. – Part 1/ Jauchzet, Frohlocket, Auf, Preiset Die Tage
6. – Part 4/ Immanuel, O Susses Wort
Chor & Orchester Der J.S. Bach-Stiftung, conducted by Rudolf Lutz
Miriam Feuersinger, Soprano
Tobias Wicky, Bass
From: Messe h-Moll, BWV 232
7. XX. Credo “Confiteor” (Chor)
8. XXVII. Agnus Dei (Alt)
Chor & Orchester Der J.S. Bach-Stiftung, conducted by Rudolf Lutz
Alex Potter, Alto
From: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988
9. – Variatio 1
Mahan Esfahani, harpsichord
