One of the most moving of all the musical settings of the Passion of the Christ, Bach's St. John Passion was first performed on Good Friday 1723 or 1724 in Thomaskirche, Leipzig. This majestic work would undergo several major transformations before being cast in the final form we know today. In this final version, undertaken in the last years before his death, Back revoked many of his previous changes, restored the original sequence of movements, and scored the music for a larger performing ensemble. In its solos and choruses, the St. John Passion follows the biblical text that relates the events leading to Christ's crucifixion, death, and resurrection. Contemplative reflections in freely composed verse and highly expressive chorales intersperse the narrative to comment poignantly and powerfully on events as they unfold. This choral masterpiece, one of the most frequently performed of all religious choral works, is reprinted here from the authoritative Bach-Gesellschaft edition published by Breitkopf & H#65533;rtel, Leipzig. A full score that is ideal for study in the classroom, at home, or in the concert hall, this affordable, high-quality, conveniently sized volume will be the edition of choice for music students and music lovers alike.