Notes on Notes: Why is Jesus a Bass in the St. Matthew Passion?

Notes from James: Why Is Jesus a Bass in the St. Matthew Passion?

Watch James Kim’s explanation here. 

“Audience members are used to tenors taking the male lead, but Bach had some very different ideas. In the St. Matthew Passion, and nearly all his sacred works, he cast Jesus as a bass. Why would he select the lowest voice to represent the highest spiritual being?

The message Bach wants to convey is that, during the Passion, Jesus has descended from heaven to the earthly plane. Conversely, the evangelist in the St. Matthew Passion is a tenor because he is a mortal speaking of the highest heavenly things.

The bass voice also symbolizes Jesus’s humility, his earthly suffering, and the weight of his divine nature as he anticipates his impending sacrifice. Finally, it imbues his words with an authoritative power and gravity that’s free of the “heroic” or “tragic” connotations of the tenor range.

It’s one of many powerful musical devices that make Bach’s St. Matthew Passion such a magnificent and expressive experience.”

— James Kim, Artistic Director, Colorado Bach Ensemble

To learn more about Bach and experience his music, explore the Colorado Bach Ensemble’s upcoming events.  (Psst! The Cantata Insight series is free!)