April 17, 2011


The Master of the Baptist, Entry of Christ into Jerusalem, from Très Belles Heures du Duc de Berry, Museo Civico d'Arte Antica, 
Palazzo Madama, Turin, 1409

When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?" The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee [NRSV, Matt 21:10-11]."


Christ Church Cathedral Choir Notes  
Passion / Palm Sunday

Click to go immediately to:



The Mass setting for Passion / Palm Sunday is Arthur Wills, Missa Passionis Christi 

"Full of Wills," a recording of Arthur Wills' music, including his Missa Brevis, performed by the Boys of Ely Cathedral Choir; Jonathan Lilly, piano and organ; Paul Trepte conducting.  [We7] (info)

Wondrous Machine, organ works by Arthur Wills, performed by Jeremy Filsell at the 1995 Marcussen organ of Tonbridge School. [We7] (info)



The anthem for evensong for Passion / Palm Sunday is Kenneth Leighton, Solus ad victimam.  Click to go to Peter Abelard's text, with translation by Helen Waddell, and performances by the Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford; the Choir of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and the Queen's College Choir, Oxford.  


Rogier van der Weyden, Entombment of Christ, Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, 1450


To listen to George Frideric Handel , Messiah: Part II and III, The Passion, Resurrection and Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ, performed by Kathleen Battle, Florence Quivar, John Aler, Samuel Ramey, The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, And The Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Davis conducting, while following the English text, right-click here, then left-click on "Open in New Window," then click here . Arrange windows.



Performance of George Frideric Handel, Messiah, Parts II and III, The Passion, Resurrection and Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by The Academy of Ancient Music and the Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, Christopher Hogwood conducting, To listen while following the English text, right-click here, then left-click on "Open in New Window," then click here. Arrange windows. 

Ibrahim and Uhanna the Armenian, The Christ, Alexandria Library, 1464


To listen to Johann Sebastian Bach, St Matthew Passion, BWV 244, performed by  Barbara BonneyAnn MonoyiosAnne Sofie von OtterHoward CrookMichael ChanceOlaf BärCornelius HauptmannAndreas SchmidtAnthony Rolfe JohnsonEnglish Baroque SoloistsMonteverdi ChoirLondon Oratory Junior Choir, John Eliot Gardiner conducting; click here. For the German and English text, right-click here, then left-click on "Open in New Window," then arrange windows.


Annibale Caracci, Crucifixion, Santa Maria della Carità, Bologna, 1583




To listen to Johann Sebastian Bach, St Matthew Passion, BWV 244, performed by The Gabrieli Players and Chorus (full cast), Paul McCreesh conducting; click here. For the German and English text, right-click here, then left-click on "Open in New Window," then arrange windows.  

Francesco Francia, Crucifixion, San Giacomo Maggiore, Bologna, 1500s



To listen and watch Johann Sebastian Bach, St Matthew Passion, BWV 244, performed by
Christoph Prégardien, tenor; Tobias Berndt, baritone; Dorothee Mields, soprano; Hana Blažíková, soprano; Damien Guillon, countertenor; Robin Blaze, countertenor; Colin Balzer, tenor; Hans Jörg Mammel, tenor; Matthew Brook, bass; Stephan MacLeod, bass; Collegium Vocale Gent; Philippe Herreweghe conducting; click here. For the German and English text, right-click here, then left-click on "Open in New Window," then arrange windows. 



Jacques Blanchard, Flagellation, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Rennes, c. 1630






To listen and watch Johann Sebastian Bach, St Matthew Passion, BWV 244, performed by Peter Schreier, Evangelist; Ernst Gerold Schramm, Jesus; Siegmund Nimsgern, Judas & Pilatus; Helen Donath, soprano; Julia Hamari, alto; Horst R. Laubenthal, tenor; Walter Berry, bass; Münchener Bach Orchester, Chor and Chorbuben, Karl Richter conducting, with English subtitles, click here. For the German text, click on "show more."

Francesco Bacchiacca, Flagellation of Christ, National Gallery of Art, Washington, c. 1512-15

To watch Johann Sebastian Bach, St Matthew Passion, BWV 244, performed by the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ton Koopman conducting, while following the text in both German and English, right-click here, the left-click on "Open in New Window," then click here. Arrange windows.
Nicolas Maes, Mocking of Christ, State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, 1650s