St Matthew Passion
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General information
The St Matthew Passion (German: Matthäuspassion), BWV 244, is a musical composition written by Johann Sebastian Bach for solo voices, double choir and double orchestra, with libretto by Picander (Christian Friedrich Henrici). It sets chapters 26 and 27 of the Gospel of Matthew to music, with interspersed chorales and arias.
Musical Setting
See the score page for editions.
Part One
1.
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(Chorus I) Kommt, ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen, Chorale |
(Chorus I)Come, ye daughters, share my mourning, |
Recitative
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Evangelist Jesus |
Evangelist Jesus |
3. Chorale
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Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen, |
O dearest Jesus, how hast thou offended, |
Recitative
Evangelist
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Da versammleten sich die Hohenpriester und Schriftgelehrten und die Ältesten im Volk in dem Palast des Hohenpriesters, der da hieß Kaiphas, und hielten Rat, wie sie Jesum mit Listen griffen und töteten. Sie sprachen aber: |
There assembled themselves the high priests and the scribes together, and the elders of the people within the palace of the chief priest, whose name was Caiphas; and there took counsel, how with stealth they might capture Jesus and put him to death. They said however: |
Chorus I and II
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Ja nicht auf das Fest, auf daß nicht ein Aufruhr werde im Volk. |
Not upon the feast, lest there be an uproar in the people. |
Recitative
Evangelist
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Da nun Jesus war zu Bethanien, im Hause Simonis des Aussätzigen, trat zu ihm ein Weib, die hatte ein Glas mit köstlichem Wasser und goß es auf sein Haupt, da er zu Tische saß. Da das seine Jünger sahen, wurden sie unwillig und sprachen: |
When now Jesus visited Bethany and was in the house of the leper called Simon, unto him came a woman who carried a jar of precious ointment and poured it on his head as he sat at the table. But when his disciples saw it, they became indignant and said: |
Chorus I
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Wozu dienet dieser Unrat? Dieses Wasser hie mögen teuer verkauft und den Armen gegeben werden. |
What end serveth all this nonsense? For this ointment might indeed have been sold for much, and the sum to the poor been given. |
Recitative
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Evangelist Jesus |
Evangelist Jesus |
Recitative
Alto
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Du lieber Heiland du, |
Belovèd Savior thou, |
Aria
Alto
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Buß und Reu |
Guilt and pain |
Recitative
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Evangelist Judas Evangelist |
Evangelist Judas Evangelist |
Aria
Soprano
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Blute nur, du liebes Herz! |
Bleed alway, O thou my heart! |
Recitative
Evangelist
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Aber am ersten Tage der süßen Brot traten die Jünger zu Jesu und sprachen zu ihm: |
But on the first day of Unleavened Bread came the disciples to Jesus and said unto him: |
Chorus I
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Wo willst du, daß wir dir bereiten, das Osterlamm zu essen? |
What place wouldst thou have us prepare thee, the paschal lamb to eat now? |
Recitative
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Evangelist Jesus Evangelist Jesus |
Evangelist Jesus Evangelist Jesus |
Recitative
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Evangelist |
Evangelist |
Chorus I
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Herr, bin ich's? |
Lord, is it I? |
Chorale
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Chorus I and II |
Chorus I and II |
Recitative
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Evangelist Jesus Evangelist Judas Evangelist Jesus Evangelist Jesus Evangelist Jesus |
Evangelist Jesus Evangelist Judas Evangelist Jesus Evangelist Jesus Evangelist Jesus |
Recitative
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Soprano |
Soprano |
Aria
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Soprano |
Soprano |
Recitative
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Evangelist Jesus |
Evangelist
|
Chorale
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Chorus I and II |
Chorus I and II |
Recitative
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Evangelist Peter Evangelist Jesus Evangelist Peter Evangelist |
Evangelist
Evangelist Jesus Evangelist Peter Evangelist |
Chorale
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Chorus I and II |
Chorus I and II |
Recitative
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Evangelist Jesus Evangelist Jesus |
Evangelist Jesus Evangelist Jesus |
Recitative and Chorale
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Chorus I and II Alto Chorus I and II Alto Chorus I and II Alto Chorus I and II |
Chorus I and II Alto Chorus I and II Alto Chorus I and II Alto Chorus I and II |
Aria and Chorus
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Tenor Chorus II Tenor Chorus II |
Tenor Chorus II Tenor Chorus II |
Recitative
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Evangelist Jesus |
Evangelist
|
Recitative
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Bass |
Bass |
Aria
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Bass |
Bass |
Recitative
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Evangelist Jesus Evangelist Jesus |
Evangelist
Evangelist Jesus |
Chorale
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Chorus I and II |
Chorus I and II |
Recitative
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Evangelist Jesus Evangelist Judas Evangelist Jesus Evangelist |
Evangelist
Evangelist Judas Evangelist Jesus Evangelist |
Duet and Chorus
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Soprano and Alto Chorus II Soprano and Alto Chorus II Soprano and Alto |
Soprano and Alto Chorus II Soprano and Alto Chorus II Soprano and Alto |
Chorus I and II
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Sind Blitze, sind Donner in Wolken verschwunden? |
Hath lightning, hath thunder in clouds fully vanished? |
|
Evangelist Jesus Evangelist Jesus Evangelist |
Evangelist
Evangelist Jesus Evangelist |
Chorale
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Chorus I and II |
Chorus I and II |
Part Two
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Chorus I Chorus II |
Chorus I
|
Recitative
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Evangelist |
Evangelist |
Chorale
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Chorus I and II |
Chorus I and II |
Recitative
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Evangelist Alto and Tenor Evangelist Bass Evangelist |
Evangelist
Evangelist Bass Evangelist |
Recitative
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Tenor |
Tenor |
Aria
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Tenor |
Tenor |
Recitative
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Evangelist Bass Evangelist Jesus Evangelist Bass Evangelist |
Evangelist Bass Evangelist Jesus Evangelist Bass Evangelist |
Chorus I and II
Er ist des Todes schuldig! He is of death deserving!
Recitative
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Evangelist |
Evangelist |
Chorus I and II
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Weissage uns, Christe, wer ist's, der dich schlug? |
Foretell it us, Christ Lord, tell us who struck thee! |
Chorale
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Chorus I and II |
Chorus I and II |
Recitative
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Evangelist Soprano Evangelist Peter Evangelist Soprano Evangelist Peter Evangelist |
Evangelist
Evangelist Peter Evangelist Soprano Evangelist Peter Evangelist |
Chorus II
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Wahrlich, du bist auch einer von denen; denn deine Sprache verrät dich. |
Truly, thou art one of those men also; for thine own speech doth betray thee. |
Recitative
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Evangelist Peter Evangelist |
Evangelist Peter Evangelist |
|
Alto |
Alto |
Chorale
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Chorus I and II |
Chorus I and II |
Recitative
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Evangelist Judas Evangelist |
Evangelist Judas Evangelist |
Chorus I and II
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Was gehet uns das an? Da siehe du zu! |
How doth that us concern? See to it thyself! |
Recitative
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Evangelist Bass |
Evangelist
|
Aria
|
Bass |
Bass |
Recitative
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Evangelist Bass Evangelist Jesus Evangelist Bass Evangelist |
Evangelist
Evangelist Jesus Evangelist Bass Evangelist |
Chorale
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Chorus I and II |
Chorus I and II |
Recitative
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Evangelist Bass Evangelist Soprano Evangelist Bass Evangelist Chorus I and II Evangelist Bass Evangelist |
Evangelist
Evangelist Soprano Evangelist Bass Evangelist Chorus I and II Evangelist Bass Evangelist |
Chorus I and II
Laß ihn kreuzigen! Have him crucified!
Chorale
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Chorus I and II |
Chorus I and II |
Recitative
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Evangelist Bass |
Evangelist
|
Recitative
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Soprano |
Soprano |
Aria
|
Soprano |
Soprano |
Recitative
|
Evangelist |
Evangelist |
Chorus I and II
Laß ihn kreuzigen! Have him crucified!
Recitative
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Evangelist Bass Evangelist |
Evangelist
Evangelist |
Chorus I and II
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Sein Blut komme über uns und unsre Kinder. |
His blood come upon us then and on our children. |
Recitative
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Evangelist |
Evangelist |
Recitative
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Alto |
Alto |
Aria
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Alto |
Alto |
Recitative
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Evangelist |
Evangelist |
Chorus I and II
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Gegrüßet seist du, Jüdenkönig! |
All hail now to thee, King of the Jews! |
Recitative
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Evangelist |
Evangelist |
Chorale
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Chorus I and II |
Chorus I and II |
Recitative
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Evangelist |
Evangelist |
Recitative
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Bass |
Bass |
Aria
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Bass |
Bass |
Recitative
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Evangelist |
Evangelist |
Chorus I and II
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Der du den Tempel Gottes zerbrichst und bauest ihn in dreien Tagen, hilf dir selber! Bist du Gottes Sohn, so steig herab vom Kreuz! |
Thou who dost God's own temple destroy and buildest it within three days' time, save thyself now! If thou art God's Son, then climb down from the cross! |
Recitative
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Evangelist |
Evangelist |
Chorus I and II
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Andern hat er geholfen und kann sich selber nicht helfen. Ist er der König Israel, so steige er nun vom Kreuz, so wollen wir ihm glauben. Er hat Gott vertrauet, der erlöse ihn nun, lüstet's ihn; denn er hat gesagt: Ich bin Gottes Sohn. |
Others brought he salvation and can himself yet not save now. Is he the King of Israel? Let him climb down from the cross and we will then believe him. In God hath he trusted, let him save him then now, if he will, for he hath declared: "I am Son of God." |
'Recitative
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Evangelist |
Evangelist |
Recitative
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Alto |
Alto |
Aria and Chorus
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Alto |
Alto |
Recitative
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Evangelist Jesus Evangelist |
Evangelist
Evangelist |
Chorus I
Der rufet dem Elias! He calleth to Elias!
Recitative
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Evangelist |
Evangelist |
Chorus II
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Halt! laß sehen, ob Elias komme und ihm helfe? |
Stop! Let us see if Elias will come forth and save him. |
Recitative
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Evangelist |
Evangelist |
Chorale
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Chorus I and II |
Chorus I and II |
Recitative
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Evangelist |
Evangelist |
Chorus I and II
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Wahrlich, dieser ist Gottes Sohn gewesen. |
Truly, this man was God's own Son most truly. |
Recitative
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Evangelist |
Evangelist |
Recitative
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Bass |
Bass |
Aria
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Bass |
Bass |
Recitative
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Evangelist |
Evangelist |
Chorus I and II
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Herr, wir haben gedacht, daß dieser Verführer sprach, da er noch lebete: Ich will nach dreien Tagen wieder auferstehen. Darum befiehl, daß man das Grab verwahre bis an den dritten Tag, auf daß nicht seine Jünger kommen und stehlen ihn und sagen zu dem Volk: Er ist auferstanden von den Toten, und werde der letzte Betrug ärger denn der erste! |
Sire, we have taken thought how once this deceiver said when he was still alive: "I will in three days' time again stand here arisen." Therefore, command that now the tomb be guarded until the three days pass, so none of his disciples come forth and steal him hence and to the people say: "He is risen from the dead," for thus will the final deceit be worse than the first one! |
Recitative
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Evangelist Bass Evangelist |
Evangelist
Evangelist |
Recitative and Chorus
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Bass Chorus II Tenor Chorus II Alto Chorus II Soprano Chorus II |
Bass
Tenor Chorus II Alto Chorus II Soprano Chorus II |
Chorus I and II
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Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder |
We lay ourselves with weeping prostrate |
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This page is awaiting cleanup. Page requires some spacing cleanup |

