Lutheran Church Year
Dates of "Karfreitag" (Good Friday)

Good Friday (also called: Holy Friday, Black Friday, or Great Friday) a holiday observed primarily by adherents to Christianity commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and often coincides with the Jewish observance of Passover.
Based on the scriptural details of the Sanhedrin Trial of Jesus, the Crucifixion of Jesus was most probably on a Friday. The estimated year of Good Friday is AD 33, by two different groups, and originally as AD 34 by Isaac Newton via the differences between the Biblical and Julian calendars and the crescent of the moon. A third method, using a completely different astronomical approach based on a lunar Crucifixion darkness and eclipse model (consistent with Apostle Peter's reference to a "moon of blood" in Acts 2:20) arrives at the same date, namely Friday April 3, AD 33.
Good Friday is traditionally a time of fasting and penance, commemorating the anniversary of Christ's crucifixion and death. For Christians, Good Friday commemorates not just a historical event, but the sacrificial death of Christ, which with the resurrection, comprises the heart of the Christian faith.

Scriptural References: Matthew 26-27; Mark 14-15; Luke 23; John 17-19

Musical Context of Bach Cantatas: Motets & Chorales for Palm Sunday, Holy Week

Dates in the Lifetime of J.S. Bach

All dates are in ISO 8601 format: YYYY-MM-DD.
Abbreviations of German weekdays: Sonntag, Montag, Dienstag, Mittwoch, Donnerstag, Freitag, Samstag.

1685-04-20 Fr
1686-04-12 Fr
1687-03-28 Fr
1688-04-16 Fr
1689-04-08 Fr
1690-03-24 Fr
1691-04-13 Fr
1692-04-04 Fr
1693-03-20 Fr
1694-04-09 Fr
1695-04-01 Fr
1696-04-20 Fr
1697-04-05 Fr
1698-03-28 Fr
1699-04-17 Fr
1700-04-09 Fr
1701-03-25 Fr Mariä Verkündigung
1702-04-14 Fr
1703-04-06 Fr
1704-03-21 Fr
1705-04-10 Fr
1706-04-02 Fr
1707-04-22 Fr
1708-04-06 Fr
1709-03-29 Fr
1710-04-18 Fr
1711-04-03 Fr
1712-03-25 Fr Mariä Verkündigung
1713-04-14 Fr
1714-03-30 Fr - F.N. Brauns: Markus-Passion (including movements composed by J.S. Bach, 1^st performance, Weimar) (or 1713 or earlier (OCC); or c1710-12 (TLM))
1715-04-19 Fr
1716-04-10 Fr
1717-03-26 Fr - Lost Passion (not survived, Gotha)
1718-04-15 Fr
1719-04-07 Fr
1720-03-29 Fr
1721-04-11 Fr
1722-04-03 Fr
1723-03-26 Fr
1724-04-07 Fr - Johannes-Passion BWV 245 (1^st Version, 1^st performance, Leipzig)
1725-03-30 Fr - Johannes-Passion BWV 245 (2^nd Version, 2^nd performance, Leipzig)
1726-04-19 Fr - F.N. Brauns: Markus-Passion (including movements composed by J.S. Bach, 2^nd performance, Leipzig)
1727-04-11 Fr - Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 (Earliest Version, 1^st performance, Leipzig)
1728-03-26 Fr
1729-04-15 Fr - Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 (1^st performance, Leipzig)
1730-04-07 Fr - Lukas-Passion BWV 246 (1^st performance, Leipzig)
1731-03-23 Fr - Markus-Passion BWV 247 (1^st performance, Leipzig)
1732-04-11 Fr - Johannes-Passion BWV 245 (3^rd Version, 3^rd performance, Leipzig)
1733-04-03 Fr
1734-04-23 Fr - G.H. Stölzel: Passion Oratorio Ein Lämmlein geht und trät die Schuld
1735-04-08 Fr - Lukas-Passion BWV 246 (2^nd performance, Leipzig)
1736-03-30 Fr - Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 (Later Version, 2^nd performance, Leipzig)
1737-04-19 Fr
1738-04-04 Fr
1739-03-27 Fr - G.P. Telemann: Brockes Passion, TWV 5:1 (Leipzig)
1740-04-15 Fr
1741-03-31 Fr
1742-03-23 Fr - Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 (Later Version, 3^rd performance, Leipzig) (?)
1743-04-12 Fr - Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 (4^th performance, Leipzig) (?) (Later Version; with the revisions to the recitatives that Bach made [now only Jesus's recitatives had sustained notes, like we know it today])
1744-03-27 Fr - Markus-Passion BWV 247 (2^nd version; 2^nd performance, Leipzig)
1745-04-16 Fr - Lukas-Passion BWV 246 (3^rd performance, Leipzig) (including at least one movement by J.S. Bach, later version) (or 1743-1746) (?)
1746-04-08 Fr - G.F. Händel: Brockes Passion, HWV 48 (prepared for performance by J.S. Bach, 1^st performance, Leipzig)
1747-03-31 Fr - Pasticcio Passion, based on Markus-Passion by F.N. Brauns with insertion of 7 arias from Brockes Passion, HWV 48 by G.F. Händel (or 1748-04-12)
1748-04-12 Fr
1749-04-04 Fr - Johannes-Passion BWV 245 (4^th Version, 4^th performance, Leipzig)
1750-03-27 Fr - Johannes-Passion BWV 245 (4^th Version, 5^th performance, Leipzig)

Vocal works with no definite date

(1723-1750?) - C.H. Graun: Passion Oratorio (prepared for performance by J.S. Bach, performance uncertain, Leipzig)
(1724-1740) - J. Handl: Motet Ecce quomodo moritur (Multiple performances, Leipzig)
(after 1730) - C.H. Graun: Passion Oratorio Kommt her und schauet
(1732-1735) - G.P. Telemann: Passions-Oratorium Seliges Erwägen, TWV 5:2 (Leipzig)
(After 1733 or 1743-1748?) - So heb ich denn mein Auge sehnlich auf [Arioso for pasticcio Passion BWV 1088] (including music by G.F. Händel & Keiser, Leipzig)
(Aug 1748 - Oct 1749) - G.F. Händel: Brockes Passion, HWV 48 (prepared for performance by J.S. Bach, 2^nd performance, Leipzig)
(?) - Cantata BWV Anh 169 Erbauliche Gedanken auf den Grünen Donnerstag und Charfreitag ueber den Leidenden Jesum

Sundays and Holidays in the Lifetime of J.S. Bach

Prepared by Dr. Georg Fischer (April 2007), Aryeh Oron (March 2010 - May 2010)
Contributed by Dr. Georg Fischer (March 2010)
Thanks to contributors: David Glenn Lebut Jr. (April 2010)
Please direct any questions or comments to: Dr. Georg Fischer