The most important (only) information about how and where the Leipzig Passion (recited first, music later) was performed comes from a register kept by a sexton of St Thomas, Johann Christoph Rost (1716-1739). He first refers to ‘the other church’ (Neue Kirche, where there is a tradition of ‘vespers’ on Good Friday. He doesn’t mention the (not irrelevant) fact that in that church during in 1717 already a full-scale musical passion was performed under the direction of Gottfried Vogler (Telemann’s Brockespassion). Then he turns to ‘his church’ (St. Thomas), writing down when and how St. Thomas also started with a musicierte Passion: 1721 (Johann Kuhnau is cantor: St. Marks Passion, the scholars tell me). He skips mentioning 1722, but continues with “Item 1723 the same also” (I interpret this as: also at St. Thomas, same procedure).
Then he mentions that in 1723 there was for the first time a vesper in St. Nicolai (payed for/instituted by – a gift – from Mrs. Koppin, a widow, I read elsewhere). Then in 1724 the ‘musicierte Passion‘ is performed in St. Nicolai, while in St Thomas the vesper was a sober one (singing a passion choral, in which the entire story is told, f.i. Jesu Leiden, Pein und Tod (23 stanzas) or Oh Mensch, bewein dein Sünde gross (34 stanzas) An evocation of a complete service: click here. From 1724 onwards the musicierte vesper alternates between St Thomas and St Nicolai.
source: Bach-Dokumente II, nr. 180 (I marked the hymntitles, and added some interpunction for readability.
Original: Deutsch
»In der Neuen Kirche wird am Charfreytage auch eine vesper gehalten, welche Hor. 3. [um 3 Uhr] angehet. Anno 1721 ward am Charfreytag in der vesper die Passion zum 1stmahl musiciret, 1 Viertel auf 2. wurde gelautet mit dem gantz gelaute, als ausgelautet, wurd auf dem Chor das Lied gesungen ›Da Jesus an dem Creutze stund‹. Dann ging gleich die Musicirte Passion an und ward vor der Predigt halb gesungen. Dise Helfte schloß sich mit dem verß ›O Lamb gottes unschuldig‹, damit ging der Prister auf die Cantzel. Auf der Cantzel ward a[uch] ›Herr Jesu Christ dich zu uns wend‹ gesungen. Dann ging die andre Helffte der Music an, als solche aus, ward die Motete ›Ecce quomodo moritur justus‹ gesungen, alsdenn der Passions vers intoniret und Colle[c]te gesprochen. Alsdenn ›Nun dancket alle gott‹ gesungen. It[em]. 1723 eben also.
Anno 1723. ward zum ersten mahl die Vesper zu St. Nicolai gehalten, die Predigt hielte der Herr Superintend[ent]. Herr D[octor]. Deyling, welche Fr. Koppin gestiftet.
Anno 1724. wurde die Passion [von den Cantore] zu St. Nic. zum ersten mahl Musiciret, etc. Zu St. Thom. aber wurden nur Lieder gesungen, wie vor diesem gebräuchlich.
1725. zu St. Thom:
1726. zu St. Nicol.
1727. zu St. Thom:
1728. zu St. Nicol.
1729. St. Thomae.
1730. St. Nicolai.
1731. St. Thomae.
1732. St. Nicol.
1733, war die Trauer Zeit; des Königes.
1734. St. Thomae.
1735. St. Nicolai.
1736. St. Thomae mit beyden orgeln.
1737. St. Nicol.
1738. St. Thom.
English Translation
In the New Church (University) there was also a Vesper on Good Friday, which began at Three o’clock. Anno 1721, for the first time, the Passion was performed with full music.
A Quarter to two the bell started to toll at full force, and when it stopped, the hymn Da Jesus an dem Kreuze stund (When Jesus stood at the cross) was sung from the choir gallery. Then the concerted Passion began immediately, half of which was performed before the sermon. This half was completed with the hymn verse, O Lamm Gottes unschuldig (O innocent Lamb of God) during which the priest made his way to the pulpit. After he reached the pulpit, Herr ]esu Christ, dich zu uns wend (Turn to us, Lord Jesus Christ) was sung. After the sermon, the other half of the music began. When it was finished the motet Ecce quomodo moritur iustus (Behold how the Righteous dies) was sung. Then the Passion verse was intoned, a collect prayed, and the hymn Nun danket alle Gott (Now thank we all our God) sung…
1723: For the first time, Vespers were held at St. Nicholas Church. The sermon was given by the Superintendent, Dr. Deyling, and was endowed by Mrs. Koppin.
1724: The Passion was performed by the cantor for the first time at St. Nicholas, etc. (This is Bach’s St.Johns passion.) At St. Thomas, however, only hymns were sung, as had been the custom previously.
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