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St John Passion

Bach’s Passion according to St John was written during the composer’s first year at St Thomas’ Church, Leipzig (1724). Bach’s St John and later his St Matthew were much more passionate and theatrical than settings that preceded them and the term “Passion” has become synonymous in music with these, its two greatest examples. Many of the instruments chosen for the St John were rarely heard even in Bach’s time: the viola da gamba and oboes da caccia lend a distinctive and contrasting sound to some of the solo arias. When such a work is performed using modern instruments, much of its unique character is lost.