Die Johannes-Passion von Johann Sebastian Bach

Alfred Dürr’s monograph on Johann Sebastian Bach's St. John Passion serves as a definitive scholarly examination of one of the most complex works in the choral repertoire. Published in 1988, this volume emerged from Dürr’s lifelong dedication to Bach research, particularly his work with the Johann Sebastian Bach Institute in Göttingen. The text was intended to provide both musicologists and performers with a rigorous structural analysis, exploring the history of the work’s composition, its various versions, and the theological underpinnings of the libretto.

Bärenreiter, a publisher synonymous with critical editions of classical scores, produced this work to align with their commitment to high-level musicology. Dürr’s design approach is deeply analytical, eschewing popular biography in favor of a technical reconstruction of Bach's creative process. Upon its release, the volume was received as an essential reference for those seeking to understand the St. John Passion beyond its musical surface, reinforcing Dürr’s status as a primary authority on the Bach canon.