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St. John Passion There Is So Much We Could Say About J

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St. John Passion There Is So Much We Could Say About J J.S. BACH ST. JOHN PAssION There is so much we could say about J. S. collaborative, organic, and historically Bach’s St. John Passion. It was his first large- informed music-making. scale work—and it was among the first of its Like all of Bach’s musical output, the kind, which must have made for a startling St. John Passion is characterized by density— Good Friday experience for his congregation. of melody, of harmony, of counterpoint, of Unusual for Bach, he made four substantial meaning. Its richness is almost too much to revisions to the work, plus an additional, handle. It is the closest Bach ever came to unfinished one—each revision a window opera. into Bach’s experimental mind as he tried For Bach, this music was no intellectual different valid, convincing approaches to the exercise, no abstract artistic statement nor Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) dramatic arc of the story. mere entertainment. His only imagined The libretto comes not from a single “performance” would have been during a source (as in the St. Matthew Passion), but The Passion according to St. John includes words directly from the Gospel of solemn Good Friday service with an hour- St. John in Martin Luther’s translation with long sermon between its two parts. He poetic responses by Brockes, Weise, Postel, believed that this is the story of our salvation, and possibly others. John’s literal words in and that it was his responsibility to manifest recitative are interspersed with emotional that truth and move people with it. arias, masterful chorales—whose words So what, then, is our responsibility as and tunes would have been very familiar to musicians and music-lovers in 2017? his listeners—, and dramatic turbae (crowd For some, it undoubtedly holds some of choruses). The numerous turbae in particular, the same spiritual meaning that it did for help to unify the text through recurring those in Bach’s time. Being raised Jewish musical motifs and theatrical impulses. The myself, my experiences of Christianity have theological implications of the text, includ- been entirely musical—Passions and cantatas, ing the work’s problematic treatment of “the masses and Messiahs. Since performing my Jews,” have filled many books. first Bach Passion as an undergraduate, I’ve Here is what I can say about the perfor- struggled to come to terms with this story mance of the St. John Passion that you will and my place in it. hear tonight: it represents a year-long col- Really, though, I don’t want to answer laborative effort between TENET and the that question for you. The St. John Passion Sebastians and is only happening because of is a work that inspires dialogue. You get to the support of many musicians, donors, and decide what it means to you. audience members. This is truly our “dream All I know is that when the clock strikes production,” and you are helping make that dream a reality just by being here tonight. seven and we begin “Herr, unser Herrscher,” Part of that dream was to perform we musicians will be doing what we love without a conductor—to remove a barrier most: living in the moment of the music, between you and Bach’s thrilling work. sharing our experience of this magnificent We have worked to balance an intimate piece with you, relishing the electric “chamber music” approach with the gran- exchange of energy between us, and trying deur the music demands. Leading this to forget everything we’ve learned—the process from the organ, my goal has been density, the history, the too-muchness of it to create a musical atmosphere that fosters all—so that Bach can speak for himself. — Jeffrey Grossman 2 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) The Passion according to St. John 1724, rev. 1725–49 bwv 245 Evangelist Violin I Aaron Sheehan Daniel Lee, Nicholas DiEugenio, and Edson Scheid Soprano soloists Jolle Greenleaf Violin II Molly Quinn Beth Wenstrom, Chloe Fedor, and Francis Liu Alto soloists Viola Luthien Brackett Jessica Troy and Kyle Miller Reginald Mobley Cello Tenor soloists Ezra Seltzer Owen McIntosh Jason McStoots Viola da gamba Shirley Hunt Bass soloists Violone Mischa Bouvier (Jesus) Nathaniel Chase Sumner Thompson (Pilate) Oboe, Oboe d’amore, Oboe da caccia Ripieno chorus Priscilla Herreid and Meg Owens Anna Lenti (Maid), Tim Keeler, Donald Meineke (Servant), Traverso and Andrew Padgett (Peter) David Ross and Immanuel Davis Bassoon Nate Helgeson Music Director Archlute Jeffrey Grossman Hank Heijink Artistic Director Organ Jolle Greenleaf Jeffrey Grossman 3 TEXTS & TRANSLATIONS Erster Teil Part One 1. Chor 1. Chorus Herr, unser Herrscher, dessen Ruhm Lord, our ruler, Whose fame In allen Landen herrlich ist! In every land is glorious! Zeig uns durch deine Passion, Show us, through Your passion, Daß du, der wahre Gottessohn, That You, the true Son of God, Zu aller Zeit, Through all time, Auch in der größten Niedrigkeit, Even in the greatest humiliation, Verherrlicht worden bist! Have been glorified! 2. Evangelist 2. Evangelist Jesus ging mit seinen Jüngern über den Bach Kidron, Jesus went with His disciples over the brook Cedron, da war ein Garten, darein ging Jesus und seine Jünger. where there was a garden, into which Jesus entered Judas aber, der ihn verriet, wußte den Ort auch, denn with His disciples. Judas, however, who betrayed Jesus versammlete sich oft daselbst mit seinen Jüngern. Him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there Da nun Judas zu sich hatte genommen die Schar und with His disciples. Now Judas, having gathered a der Hohenpriester und Pharisäer Diener, kommt er band of servants of the high priests and Pharisees, dahin mit Fackeln, Lampen und mit Waffen. Als nun came there with torches, lamps, and weapons. Now Jesus wußte alles, was ihm begegnen sollte, ging er hin- Jesus, knowing all that would happen to Him, went aus und sprach zu ihnen: out and said to them: Jesus Jesus Wen suchet ihr? Whom do you seek? Evangelist Evangelist Sie antworteten ihm: They answered Him: Chor Chorus Jesum von Nazareth. Jesus of Nazareth. Evangelist Evangelist Jesus spricht zu ihnen: Jesus said to them: Jesus Jesus Ich bin’s. I am He. Evangelist Evangelist Judas aber, der ihn verriet, stund auch bei ihnen. Als Judas, however, who betrayed Him, stood also with nun Jesus zu ihnen sprach: Ich bin’s, wichen sie zurücke them. Now when Jesus said to them: I am He, they und fielen zu Boden. Da fragete er sie abermal: drew back and fell to the ground. Then He asked them again: Jesus Jesus Wen suchet ihr? Whom do you seek? Evangelist Evangelist Sie aber sprachen: They said, however: Chor Chorus Jesum von Nazareth. Jesus of Nazareth. Evangelist Evangelist Jesus antwortete: Jesus answered: 4 Jesus Jesus Ich hab’s euch gesagt, daß ich’s sei, suchet ihr denn I have told you, that I am He, if you seek Me, then let mich, so lasset diese gehen! these go! 3. Choral 3. Chorale O große Lieb, o Lieb ohn alle Maße, O great love, o love beyond measure, Die dich gebracht auf diese Marterstraße! that brought You to this path of martyrdom! Ich lebte mit der Welt in Lust und Freuden, I lived with the world in delight and joy, Und du mußt leiden. and You had to suffer. 4. Evangelist 4. Evangelist Auf daß das Wort erfüllet würde, welches er sagte: Ich So that the word might be fulfilled, which He spoke: habe der keine verloren, die du mir gegeben hast. Da “I have lost none that You have given to me.” Then hatte Simon Petrus ein Schwert und zog es aus und Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it out and struck schlug nach des Hohenpriesters Knecht und hieb ihm at the servant of the high priest and cut off his right sein recht Ohr ab; und der Knecht hieß Malchus. Da ear; and the servant’s name was Malchus. Then Jesus sprach Jesus zu Petro: said to Peter: Jesus Jesus Stecke dein Schwert in die Scheide! Soll ich den Kelch Put your sword in its sheath! Shall I not drink the nicht trinken, den mir mein Vater gegeben hat? cup, which My Father has given to Me? 5. Choral 5. Chorale Dein Will gescheh, Herr Gott, zugleich Your will be done, Lord God, likewise Auf Erden wie im Himmelreich. on earth as in heaven. Gib uns Geduld in Leidenszeit, Grant us patience in time of sorrow, Gehorsam sein in Lieb und Leid; to be obedient in love and suffering; Wehr und steur allem Fleisch und Blut, check and guide all flesh and blood Das wider deinen Willen tut! that acts contrary to Your will! 6. Evangelist 6. Evangelist Die Schar aber und der Oberhauptmann und die Diener The band, however, and the captain and the servants der Jüden nahmen Jesum und bunden ihn und führeten of the Jews took Jesus and bound Him and led Him ihn aufs erste zu Hannas, der was Kaiphas Schwäher, first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caia- welcher des Jahres Hoherpriester war. Es war aber Kai- phas, the high priest that year. It was Caiaphas, how- phas, der den Juden riet, es wäre gut, daß ein Mensch ever, who counselled the Jews, that it would be good würde umbracht für das Volk. for one man to be destroyed for the people. 7. Arie 7. Aria Ms. Brackett Von den Stricken meiner Sünden To untie me Mich zu entbinden, from the knots of my sins, Wird mein Heil gebunden. my Savior is bound. Mich von allen Lasterbeulen To completely heal me Völlig zu heilen, of all blasphemous sores, Läßt er sich verwunden.
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