Bettina Hoffmann
Catalogue of Solo and Chamber Music for Viola da Gamba
Bach, Johann Sebastian
Passio secundum Matthaeum, BWV 244
Items with viola da gamba:
n° 34, recitativo “Mein Jesus schweigt” for tenor, 2 oboi, viola da gamba and basso continuo
n° 35, aria “Geduld” for tenor and basso continuo (with viola da gamba)
n° 56, recitativo “Ja freilich will in uns das Fleisch und Blut” for bass, 2 flutes, viola da gamba and basso continuo
n° 57, aria “Komm süsses Kreuz”, for bass, viola da gamba and basso continuo
manuscript
D-B Mus.ms. Bach St 110
The first version of the oratorio (Schmieder, Wolfgang, Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis. Thematisch-systematisches Verzeichnis der musikalischen Werke von Johann Sebastian Bach, Wiesbaden, Breitkopf & Härtel, 1950 and 1990 244b or 244.1) did not include any part for viola da gamba; nos. 34 and 35 were scored with simple basso continuo, in nos. 56 and 57 the obligato instrument was the lute. The viola da gamba replaced the lute in a new version in 1736; a second viola da gamba was added to nos. 34 and 35 in a further performance in the 1740s.
