Commentaries and Sermon Collections Consulted in Preparation

Abstract

Examination of the libretto and music of the St John Passion strongly suggests that Bach and his collaborating librettist or librettists made regular use of three works in his collection for the preparation of the libretto and setting of this work. Among them are Abraham Calov's three-volume commentary, Johannes Olearius' five-volume commentary, and Luther's Weekly Sermons on St John's Gospel. It is highly likely that Bach and his collaborators also drew on a number of sermon collections contained in his estate in the preparation of this work. Leaver explains that the fact that Bach owned both the Altenburg and Jena editions of Luther's works 'means that after 1742 Bach's library contained all key works of Luther in at least two, sometimes three and four, editions'. Bach not only owned multiple editions of the work, but Luther's sermons also form the mainstay of Calov's commentary in his annotated Bible.Keywords: Abraham Calov's three-volume commentary; Bach; Johannes Olearius' five-volume commentary; Luther's Weekly Sermons; St John Passion; St John's Gospel