florida state university college of music performance practice

Several conductors utilized gradual increases in dynamics, with the purpose of
adding expressiveness. Neumann (1999) shows an increase in volume in the descending
continuo line present in measure 51. Additionally, Carrington (2006) shows an increase
of volume beginning in measure 90. Rilling (1996) presents an interesting interpretation
in phrasing melismas in measures 21-22 and 64-65. Where other conductors surveyed
simply connected the three groupings of four eighth notes together, Rilling adds a
luftpause after each three eighth notes. Lastly, Carrington (2006) made the unique choice
from other interpretations to apply a molto ritardando in measure 95, five bars before the
actual end of the movement.
40 II Christe, du Lamm Gottes (Chorale)
The provenance of this G minor chorale, composed in the style of an elaborate
chorale prelude, is more assured. “Christe, du Lamm Gottes” was used as the final
chorale in Cantata no. 23 Du wahrer Gott und Davids Sohn. 441 The text is a German
translation of the Latin “Agnus Dei.” 442 Like in the first movement of the 1725 version,
Rilling (1996) and Neumann (1999) perform this movement in a fuller sound than their
cohort group of conductors. This movement has fewer written trills in the score than the
beginning chorus of the 1725 version. Only measures 24 and 57 have definite indications
to trill. However, as practiced in the beginning chorus, the conductors reviewed for this
movement were assiduous in incorporating ornamentation within the movement. Below
is a list of places within the score of this movement that conductors made cognizant
decisions to ornament by using trills.
Measure 4 Beat 4 Oboe 1
Measure 8 Beat 4 Oboe 1
Measure 19 Beat 2 Oboe 1
Measure 31 Beat 4 Oboe 1
Measure 38 Beat 2 Oboe 1
Measure 43 Beat 1 Oboe 1
Measure 48 Beat 2 Oboe 1
Measure 53 Beat 2 Oboe 1
441 Dürr, Johann Sebastian Bach’s St. John Passion, 6.
442 Roehrig, “The St. John Passion by J.S. Bach in the light of the Neue Bach-Ausgabe edition 1973,” 89.
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