J S Bach (attribution)

The St. Luke Passion

This Work was originally attributed to Bach because a publication source was a manuscript copy of the Score partially in Bach's own hand. Subsequently, however, this attribution was questioned, and it was then thought likely that the Work was composed by Johann Melchior Molter. Even this, though, is now doubted, and so the Work now appears in the catalogues under the heading "apocryphal" or "anonymous" (see the Wikipedia entry).

Complete German-language Vocal Scores (SATB plus piano reduction) versions of this Work can be downloaded from IMSLP (the Petrucci Music Library), together with Midi Files for the entire Work. The present Midis, however, relate to a shortened and simplified English-language Score version of the Work as prepared by Rev. A Hastings Kelk and J Michael Diak and published by Paterson (a copy of which Score is available from Boosey & Hawkes). They are transposed down a semitone to match the recording mentioned below.

There is an excellent performance of the full Work in its entirety by the Alsfelder Vokalensemble, under Wolfgang Helbich, on YouTube starting here. There does not seem to be any published recording of the present shortened and simplified version. If anyone knows of such a published (and freely available) version, please let me know its location.

Here is a "clickable" Table of the available Midi Files for this Work. In these Files the SATB Chorus Voices are sounded by piccolo, clarinet, French horn and bassoon.

The St. Luke Passion
UNemphasized	Soprano	Alto	Tenor	Bass
1: Lord, beholding Thy dread passion
2: Now the feast of unleaven'd bread drew nigh	None	None	None	None
3: To save our souls
3: To save our souls (alternative version)
4: And Jesus came out	None	None	None	None
5: Lead us not into temptation
6: And while He yet spake	None	None	None	None
7: Forgive us, Lord, our trespasses
8: Then Jesus said to the high priests	None	None	None	None
9: Lord, who giv'st Thyself for me
10: And the men that held Jesus 10a: Prophesy, who is he?
11: And many other things spake they 11a: Art Thou the Christ?
12: But He said unto them 12a: Art Thou the Son of God?
13: And He said unto them 13a: What need we any further witness?
14: Jesus, who for our salvation
14: Jesus, who for our salvation (alternative version)
15: And the whole company 15a: We have found this man 15b: And Pilate asked him
16: Christ, our Saviour, God and King
17: And Pilate said 17a: He stirreth up the nation 17b: And when Pilate heard of Galilee
18: The Lamb is dumb	None	None	None	None
19: And the chief priests 19a: Away with this man
20: And Pilate spake unto them 20a: Crucify Him 20b: And Pilate said the third time
21: Foul wrong, by hate engendered
21: Foul wrong, by hate engendered (alternative version)
22: And as they led Him away	None	None	None	None
23: Gracious Father, hear Thy Son
24: And parting his garments among them 24a: He hath saved others
25: And the soldiers also mocked Him 25a: If Thou be King of Judah 25b: And a superscription
26: O Sacred Head, sore wounded
26: O Sacred Head, sore wounded (alternative version)
27: One of the malefactors	None	None	None	None
28: In Thy love remember me
29: And it was about the sixth hour	None	None	None	None
30: Dear Lord, beneath Thy Cross I bow
31: O Jesu Christ	None	None	None	None
32: It is finished

That's the end of the Work.

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