Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Table of Contents -- Preface -- Abbreviations -- Under the Spell of Opera? Bach's Oratorio Trilogy -- Johann Sebastian Bach and Barthold Heinrich Brockes -- Drama and Discourse: The Form and Function of Chorale Tropes in Bach's Oratorios -- Oratorio on Five Afternoons: From the Lubeck Abendmusiken to Bach's Christmas Oratorio -- The Triumph of "Instrumental Melody": Aspects of Musical Poetics in Bach's St. John Passion -- Bach's Ascension Oratorio: God's Kingdoms and Their Representation -- Contributors -- General Index -- Index of Bach's Compositions -- Index of Other Compositions.