St. Matthew Passion BWV 244, Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Test your knowlege. Click at the link at the end for the answers.

1. The St. Matthew Passion was written in what language?

1. English
2. Hebrew
3. German *
4. Latin

2. For what church in Leipzig did Bach compose the St. Matthew Passion?

1. St. Thomas *
2. St. Nicholas
3. St. Matthew
4. St. John

3. What did Bach’s family call the St. Matthew Passion?

1. St. Matthew
2. Mother of all Passions
3. "Great Passion" *
4. Little Johann’s latest composition

4. What does a trio sonata consist of?

1. basso continuo only
2. two melodic instruments plus continuo *
3. three violins playing at the same time
4. none of the above

5. An obbligato part is:

1. a part which may or may not be played
2. an alternate vocal line
3. an instrumental part to be played in the absence of a solo singer
4. a part which must be played *

6. Bach’s librettist for the St. Matthew Passion was:

1. C. F. Heinrici
2. Picander *
3. Thomas Kirche
4. None of the above

7. A tritone is a(n):

1. 3 tritators
2. augmented fourth *
3. a triple sounding tone
4. a Greek god of the sea

8. What is a tremolo?

1. a new kind of marshmallow candy
2. a rapid repetition on a single pitch *
3. a breathing techniques used by singers performing in St. Matthew Passion
4. both b and c

9. Matthew, author of this Passion story, worked as a:

1. physician
2. fisherman
3. tax collector *
4. scribe

10. Bach used word painting to describe the crucified Christ nailed to the Cross without anything to stand on by leaving out the:

1. basso continuo *
2. basso ostinato
3. obbligato instruments
4. soloist

See the answers.