MUSIC AT MARSH CHAPEL 10|11
Scott Allen Jarrett Music Director
Sunday, April 10, 2011 – 9:45A.M.
The Bach Experience
Hearing Bach’s Passions
with excerpts from BWV 244: Matthäus-Passion
Marsh Chapel Choir and Collegium Scott Allen Jarrett, DMA, presenting
BWV 244: Matthäus-Passion (St. Matthew Passion) - Known in the Bach family as the ‘Great Passion,’ the St. Matthew Passion is one of Bach’s two surviving settings of the passion story. - Composed for Good Friday services, we are certain that the Matthew Passion was performed in 1729, with some evidence suggesting performance in 1727. - Scoring: Two complete performing ensembles. Ensemble I: SATB soloists; SATB choir; 2 flutes, 2 oboes (doubling on oboe d’amore and oboe da caccia); viola da gamba; the usual compliment of strings; and basso continuo. Ensemble II: SATB soloists; SATB choir; 2 flutes 2 oboes (doubling on oboe d’amore); viola da gamba; the usual compliment of strings; and basso continuo - Part I of the Passion narrative begins with ‘The Anointing in Bethany’ and ends with ‘The Arrest of Jesus’ in the garden of Gethsemane. Part II takes up the story with ‘Jesus’ Interrogation by the High Priests’ and concludes with His ‘Crucifixion’ and ‘Burial’. The Biblical texts are from the Gospel according to Matthew, chapters 26 and 27. The libretto was compiled by Bach’s frequent collaborator, Picander, no doubt with great influence from the composer. - The Passion settings of Bach are as close to opera as Bach would ever come. The structures are similar, with narrative action taking place in the recitative, emotional and personal commentary in the arias. - The Chorus has special (even temporal) function: o Greek Chorus -- the great opening and closing movements serve as the Greek chorus’s timeless invitation and lament; o Chorales -- Inserted often at the end of a scene, these age-old hymns give voice to the modern congregation and instill the Church’s response to the events of Christ’s passion; and, o Turba-choruses -- In movements called ‘turba-choruses’ (turba is Latin for ‘crowd’), the choir assumes the role of the disciples, the standers-by in the High Priest’s courtyard, or the crowd assembled to sway Pilate to crucify Jesus. - A full translation of the this morning’s excerpts may be found in today’s bulletin. - This mornings excerpts will include three chorale settings. We invite you to sing these with us in the English translation provided.
Some helpful music terms to know . . . Continuo – generally used in Baroque music to indicate the group of instruments who play the bass line, and thereby, establish harmony; usually includes the keyboard instrument (organ or harpsichord), and a combination of cello and bass, and sometimes bassoon. Da capo – literally means ‘the head’ in Italian; in musical application this means to return to the beginning of the music. As a form (i.e. ‘da capo’ aria), it refers to a style in which a middle section, usually in a different tonal area or key, is followed by an exact restatement of the opening section: ABA. [Both arias of Cantata 171 are in modified ‘da capo’ form. Though these arias follow an ABA structure, the return of the A is often shorter and, by necessity, written out.] Recitative – a style of singing in which the delivery is guided by the rhythm of regular speech; most often heard in opera and oratorio; recitatives can be either secco (dry) or accompagnato (accompanied). The first recitative is strictly secco, but the second, with the presence of the two oboes, is accompagnato. BWV - this is an acronym, which stands for Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis, or Bach Works Catalogue. Many composers’ works are catalogued by Opus (work) numbers, but some use a slightly different system. For instance, Mozart’s works are usually indicated by a ‘K’ number, named after the man who first catalogued Mozart’s music, Ludwig Ritter von Köchel. Whereas opus numbers tend to arrange compositions chronologically, BWV numbers are arranged thematically.
Highlights of the Marsh Chapel Choir’s 2010/2011 concert season:
Bach Cantatas 34, 62, and 171 as part of the 4th Annual Bach Cantata Series
Robert Schumann - Paradise and the Peri Saturday, November 6, 2010 – 7:30P.M.performed in observance of the 200th anniversary of Schumann’s birth
The 37th Annual Service of Lessons and Carols – Friday, December 3 – 6P.M.
Bach’s St Matthew Passion - Saturday, April 16 – 7:30P.M.
Buxtehude – Membra Jesu nostri – Good Friday, April 22, 2011 – Noon
Rev. Dr. Robert Allan Hill Dean and Chaplain of the University
Br. Lawrence A. Whitney, LC+ University Chaplain for Community Life
Ray Bouchard Director of Marsh Chapel
Scott Allen Jarrett, DMA Director of Music
Justin Thomas Blackwell Associate Director of Music
Elizabeth Fomby Hall Director of Hospitality
Marsh Chapel 735 Commonwealth Avenue 617.353.3560 Boston, MA 02215 www.bu.edu/chapel