Bach St. Matthew's Passion, BWV 244 Johann Sebastian BachChoir and OrchestraSt. Matthew's Passion, BWV 244 The St. Matthew's Passion (Matthäus-Passion), BWV 244 is a sacred oratorio by J.S. Bach, written in 1727 for solo voices, double choir and double orchestra, with libretto by picander. It sets chapters 26 and 27 of the Gospel of Matthew (in Luther's German translation) to music, with chorales and arias. One of the masterpieces of Western Music, its original latin title is Passio Domini Nostri J.C. Secundum Evangelistam Matthaeum. Bach revised the work in 1736 and included two organs, and revised it again on 1742 for a new performance, switching (probably due to practical motives) the second organ to harpsichord, adding a viola to the continuo group in Chorus II and inserting a ripieno soprano in both. There is evidence of a further revision in 1743–1746.