Bach: St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244
Expected to ship in about a week.
- Format: Facsimile
- Binding: Hardcover
- ISBN:
- Size: 9.6 x 14.8 inches
- Pages: 205
- Urtext / Critical Edition
Description
"I have never experienced such silence or seen an audience moved in this way." Felix
Up to the present day there has scarcely been a work in the history of music which has fascinated listeners and performers more than Bach's "St Matthew Passion". Originally composed for Vespers on Good Friday, and even longer in duration than the "St John Passion", it reconstructs the story of Christ's Passion with immense musical, emotional and spiritual intensity.
And so, this monumental and complex composition has come to rank amongst the high points of Western culture. for good reason the "rediscovery" of Johann Sebastian Bach's music began in 1829 with the performance of this work by Felix and the Berlin Singakademie.
The autograph manuscript is regarded as one of Bach's most beautiful – the fair copy demonstrates the importance he attached to the careful preservation of the work for posterity. A further spezial feature is the coloured ink with which he wrote the biblical text and the music of the chorale "O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig".
This facsimile edition reproduces the autograph score of the "St Matthew Passion" for the first time in high-quality colour printing. The Bach specialist Christoph Wolff introduces the background to the work's composition and the characteristics of the manuscript.
Barbara Schneider-Kempf and Martina Rebmann (Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin) provide further details regarding the history of the autograph manuscript.
Publishers use a lot of words to describe what they sell, and we know it can be confusing. We've tried to be as clear as possible to make sure you get exactly what you are looking for. Below are descriptions of the terms that we use to describe the various formats that music often comes in.
Choral Score
A score for vocalists that only contains the vocal lines. The instrumental parts are not there for reference. Generally, cheaper than a vocal score and requires multiple copies for purchase.
Facsimile
Reproductions of the original hand-written scores from the composer.
Full Score
For ensemble music, this indicates that the edition contains all parts on a single system (there are not separate parts for each player). In larger ensembles, this is for the conductor.
Hardcover
Hardbound. Generally either linen-covered or half-leather.
Orchestral Parts
Similar to a wind set, this is a collection of parts. In the case of strings, the numbers listed are the number of copies included, though generally these are available individually (often with minimum quantities required).
Paperback
When publishers offer multiple bindings (e.g. hardcover) or study scores, this is the "standard" version. If you're planning to play the music, this is probably what you want.
Performance / Playing Score
A score of the music containing all parts on one system, intended for players to share. There are not separate parts for each player.
Set of Parts
For ensemble music, this indicates that there are separate individual parts for each player.
Solo Part with Piano Reduction
For solo pieces with orchestra, this is a version that contains a piano reduction of the orchestra parts. For piano pieces, two copies are typically needed for performance.
Study Score
A small (think choral size) copy of the complete score meant for studying, and not playing. They make great add-ons when learning concertos and small chamber works.
Vocal Score
A score prepared for vocalists that includes the piano/organ part or a reduction of the instrumental parts.
Wind Set
For orchestral music, this is a collection of wind and percussion parts. The specific quantities of each instrument are notated.
With Audio
In addition to the printed music, the edition contains recordings of the pieces. This may be an included CD, or access to files on the internet.
With / Without Fingering (Markings)
Some publishers prepare two copies - a pure Urtext edition that includes no fingering (or bowing) suggestions and a lightly edited version that includes a minimal number of editorial markings.
Bach: St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244
