Johann Sebastian Bach St. Matthew Passion Early version BWV 244b Bärenreiter URTEXT Edited by Andreas Glöckner BA 5099 Parts each EUR 9.95 Wind set EUR 80.00 Organ EUR 29.95 Vocal score (Ger./Eng.) by Martin Focke BA 5099a* EUR 18.95

Bach's St. Matthew Passion: the early version Bach’s St. Matthew Passion as we know it today evidently had a long history dating back before 1727. It is unclear whether the work performed at the Thomaskirche on Good Friday 1729 was based on a still earlier version. Whatever the case, the surviving version of 1729 presents the work in a form strikingly different from its later incarnation. For example, the opening section ends with the chorale »Jesum lass ich nicht von mir« which was replaced by the large-scale cantus firmus chorus »O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde gross« for the 1736 performance. The well-known alto aria »Ach! nun ist mein Jesus hin« is still assigned to a bass in the earlier version, and the aria »Komm süsses Kreuz« calls for a lute instead of the later viola da gamba. Moreover, the pieces for double chorus only require a single continuo group. Other differences can be found in the instrumental scoring and voice-leading. The early version of the St. Matthew Passion is thus a most interesting addition to the great concert repertoire. The corresponding volume of the »New Bach Edition« (series II/volume 5b), issued in 2004, serves as a conducting score. Already published: Johann Sebastian Bach St. Matthew Passion Early version BWV 244b Edited by Andreas Glöckner. »New Bach Edition« (series II/volume 5b) BA 5099 · EUR 160.00