Topic for Spring 2027: J.S. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and Christmas Oratorio: History and Analysis

This course offers students the opportunity to become familiar with two of Johann Sebastian Bach’s masterpieces for voices and instruments. What has made these works withstand the test of time and what makes them so popular today? Answering this question requires an exploration not only of the score itself, but its historical context. In the first half of the semester, alongside formal analysis we consider the controversial issues surround the St. Matthew Passion and its revival via the Mendelssohn family. For the Christmas Oratorio, we will investigate the secular origins of parts of the source material in relation to the religious theme of the piece. The six parts of the oratorio unfold chronologically during the remainder of the semester.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 10

Prerequisites: MUS 100 or exemption from MUS 100.

Distribution Requirements: ARS - Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Film and Video

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Spring

Notes: This is a topics course and can be taken more than once for credit as long as the topic is different each time.