Most of the English-speaking choral singers who make up their country's thriving choirs and choral societies will have sung Bach's great Passions in English at some time or other. This edition is in both English and German, giving the individual choir the option of which language to perform in.

This book contains a preface by the editor, Neil Jenkins, and a suggested 'on the day' rehearsal schedule by Sir David Willcocks. St. Matthew Passion was written for solo voices, ripieno choir, 2 SATB choirs and 2 orchestras. The vocal score contains all voice parts and a piano accompaniment.