Numerology in Bach’s St. Matthew Passion

Wilfred Meller’s book, Bach and the Dance of God, is a curious book used by musicians when turning to better understand Bach’s numerology. First published in 1981, Meller claims that it ,”makes explicit as never before the connections between Bach’s works, whether sacred or secular, and the myths, dogma and liturgy of his Church”. Heinrich Spitta’s two volume work on Bach may be more accurate.

If you wish to bypass all nearly 1,000 pages of writing you may be interested in the online articles published by noted organist and choirmaster, John Bertalot.

During this Holy Week take a look as Bertalot’s quick overview on the St. Matthew Passion which Christoph Wolff hailed as ,”the first significant momumental work of music history still shining in a splendour undimminished by the passage of time.”