St. Matthew Passion: three transitions

2023-04-03

Sometimes the most meaningful moment is the in-between. After learning that one of them would betray Jesus, the disciples (Choir 1 in the St. Matthew Passion) all clamor to exclaim: "Lord, is it me?" We pause. Christ doesn't answer immediately. We know the answer. Both choirs admit: "It is me whose sin binds you." This chorale response which follows the bible passage shows that the answer is more than just Judas. These pauses between are often profound, introspective, or even crushingly sad. The second m...

Sometimes the most meaningful moment is the in-between. After learning that one of them would betray Jesus, the disciples (Choir 1 in the St. Matthew Passion) all clamor to exclaim: "Lord, is it me?"

We pause. Christ doesn't answer immediately. We know the answer. Both choirs admit: "It is me whose sin binds you." This chorale response which follows the bible passage shows that the answer is more than just Judas.

These pauses between are often profound, introspective, or even crushingly sad. The second moment in this episode is one of contrite pleading after the Erbarme Dich aria and before a penitent chorale. The third is the stark silence of the moment after Christ's death.

For Bach the expert storyteller, these transitions have an essential power of their own.

Moment 1

Moment 2

Moment 3

Thank you listener Dave for inspiring the concept for this episode, and suggesting the second moment.

Special thanks to the Netherlands Bach Society for the use of the audio examples and links to video examples.

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