Bach's St. John Passion for the Twenty-First Century - Musical and Theological Perspectives

With the 21st century audience in mind, the scholarship in this book focuses on how Johann Sebastian Bach used his compositional creativity to interpret the message of the Johannine passion narrative from a Lutheran perspective.The book begins by introducing St. John Passion in terms of its ongoing importance and relevance by providing a brief historical context as well as exploring its enduring legacy. It provides an update on important points of biblical and theological scholarship for the libretto itself. The book then focuses on the performance history of the work, featuring fresh translations of the libretto along with musical and theological commentary for each of the forty movements and highlighting Bach's compositional creativity. The book also deals with important questions regarding the Gospel of John, Martin Luther's theology, and questions about anti-Judaism and antisemitism in the libretto.

List of contents

Table of Contents
Foreword by Christoph Wolff
Preface
Chapter One The St. John Passion: Historical Context and 21st-Century Relevance
Chapter Two Interpreting the St. John Passion Libretto for the 21st Century
Chapter Three Performance History and Practice
Chapter Four Bach's Musical Composition
Chapter Five Responding to Questions About Antisemitism and Anti-Judaism in the St.
John Passion
Bibliography

About the author

Michael Fuchs is director of choral activities and associate professor of music at the University of Wisconsin, Superior. Dr. Fuchs is also the director of choral activities at First Lutheran Church in Duluth, Minnesota. Rev. Bradley C. Jenson is an ordained minister for over thirty years. He is the author of Luther and Bach on the Magnificat: For Advent and Christmas.Rev. Bradley C. Jenson is an ordained minister for over thirty years. He is the author of Luther and Bach on the Magnificat: For Advent and Christmas.

Product details

• Authors: Michael Fuchs, Michael Jenson Fuchs, Fuchs Michael, Bradley Jenson
• Assisted by: Christoph Wolff (Foreword)
• Publisher: Rowman and Littlefield
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 01.10.2023
• EAN: 9781538179963
• ISBN: 978-1-5381-7996-3
• No. of pages: 218
• Dimensions: 160 mm x 237 mm x 23 mm
• Series: Print on Demand
• Subjects: Education and learning > Teaching preparation > Vocational needs; Humanities, art, music > Music > Music history; Music, History: specific events & topics, MUSIC / History & Criticism, MUSIC / Religious / Christian, MUSIC / Religious / General, MUSIC / Genres & Styles / Classical, History of Music, Music reviews & criticism, Music reviews and criticism, Relating to Christian people and groups, Classical Music (C 1750 To C 1830), Classical style, Art music, orchestral and formal music, Sacred and religious music, Sacred & Religious Music, Western "classical" music