St Matthew Passion

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/st-matthew-passion

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the composer?Johann Sebastian Bach
2. What is the year of completion?1727
3. Why does the St Matthew Passion have two choirs and two orchestras?Bach used two choirs and two orchestras to create a rich, layered sound that lets different parts of the story talk to each other and feel more dramatic.
4. How does the St Matthew Passion help people feel the story of Jesus?The music mixes dramatic singing, calm chorales, and solo songs so listeners can hear the story, feel the emotions, and think about faith together.

Oratorio: A large-scale musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists, typically on a sacred theme, performed without staging or costumes.
Libretto: The text or script of an oratorio, opera, or musical.
Recitative: A style of singing that imitates the rhythm and intonation of speech, used to advance the plot in an opera or oratorio.
Chorale: A hymn tune, particularly in the Lutheran tradition, often sung by a choir or congregation.