or one of my seminary courses, we were required to spend some time doing something to “nourish our artistic side”. I chose to spend time with Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. Each student must present for 2 minutes on what they did for their project, as well as provide a list of resources for their classmates to study further. Because the printer at RTS is spotty (and that’s a kind word of description), I’ve provided the list here on the website.

Libretti, background information and lists of recordings:
www.bach-cantatas.com

Books for further information:
Pelikan, Bach Among the Theologians
Stapert, My Only Comfort: Death, Deliverance and Discipleship in the Music of Bach
(Stapert, a professor at Calvin College uses the Heidelberg Catechism and illustrates principles with the music of Bach.)

Recordings:
The Harmonia Mundi label produces excellent (though expensive) recordings. Their recording of the St. Matthew Passion conducted by Philippe Herreweghe includes a CD-ROM with background information, a full libretto and descriptions of each of the chorale tunes used in the piece.