Northwest SinfoniettaMusic off the Record

Johann Sebastian BachSt. John Passion

Dr. Ken Owen

J.S. Bach (1685-1750)What do you know about Bach?Prolific

◦Every genre except opera◦300 cantatas in 3 years

Fugues & fugal writing◦Well Tempered Klavier

Remarkable craftsmanship

Bach Family Tree (selective)

Bach professional musiciansGreat grandfatherGrandfather & his two brothersFather, 2 uncles, 6 cousins once-

removedJohann Sebastian Bach (1685-

1750)At least 5 of his sons

Youngest of 8 children

Family tradgedy9yrs old – mother diesDad remarriesDad dies

◦Stepmom left w/5 children under 12◦Asked by Count of Schwarzburg-

Arnstadt “whether there was not another Bach

available who would like to apply for Johann Christoph’s (Dad’s twin) post, for I should and must have a Bach again”

“the springs of musical talent in the Bach family have run dry within the last few years”

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)Lives with older brother Johan

Christoph◦Student of Johannes Pachelbel◦Church organist

Graduated from school at a young age◦St. Michael’s church◦Choral scholar

CareerOrganist in ArnstatdEgo gets him in trouble

◦Fight with a student basoon player, Geyserbach Older than Bach

◦Because Bach had called him a “Zipple fagottist” Translated “greenhorn” or “nanny-goat”

basoonist

Didn’t get along w/instrumentalists and wouldn’t help

CareerOrganist in Mülhausen

◦Marries Maria BarbaraConcert Master in Weimar 1714-

1717◦Thrown in jail for quitting job◦4 weeks!

CareerCapellmeister in Cöthen 1717-

1723◦Wife dies◦Marries Anna Magdalena – singer

Cantor & director of music at Leipzig 1723-1750◦3rd choice – settled for Bach◦1724 – St. John Passion◦1750 – eye surgeries for cateracts◦1750 – dies of stroke

LeipzigDuties included teaching LatinOversight of music at the three

churches in Leipzig – mostly the 2 big ones

Audition new music students◦Scholarships for Sunday

performanceTeach student musicians and

prepare them for Sunday performances◦Always frustrated with student

abilities

St. Thomas Church in Leipzig

St. John PassionPassion = musical setting of

Jesus’ suffering and death.Leipzig stuck in a rut

◦Tradition of singing a passion by Johann Walter from 1530!

◦No Instruments allowed in passion!◦Avoided the trend to set it in operatic

style, like an oratorio.

St. John Passion1720 – Bach’s predecessor

convinces them to allow orchestra and write a new passion◦Rules:

Text from New Testament – no alterations

1723 – want a famous musician to draw in the Easter crowds◦Still stuck to text rules (unlick

composers in other cities)◦Aria problems

St. John Passion3 text sources

◦New Testament direct quotes Recitative Tells the story - characters

◦Non-scriptural Lutheran poetry Arias Anonymous reflection on story &

devotion

◦Lutheran Chorales – hymns Sung in chorale style by choir Familiarity to congregation

Recitatives, Arias & Chorales, Oh My!Recitative

◦speech-like flexible rhythms◦One note per syllable◦Intended to be dramatic, musical

speechAria

◦more melodic ◦regular beat◦Words extended over musical lines

Chorales = hymns in 4 part harmony

Recitative http://youtu.be/hh8UvEGpbA4

Evangelist

“Jesus spricht zu ihnen”

Jesus

“Ich bin’s.”

Evangelist

“Judas aber, der ihn verriet, stund auch bei ihnen. Als nun Jesus zu ihnen sprach: Ich bin’s, wichen sie zurück und fielen zu Boden. Da fragte er sie abermal. ”  

Jesus

“Wen suchet ihr?”

Evangelist

“Sie aber sprachen:”

Evangelist

“Jesus said to them”

Jesus

“I am He.”

Evangelist

“Judas also, who had betrayed him, stood though beside them. And when Jesus had said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Then he asked them for a second time:”

Jesus

“Whom do ye seek?”

Evangelist

“And they did answer:”

Soprano Aria 35 http://youtu.be/GtvwKIYoV0E

“Zerfließe, mein Herze, in Fluten der Zähren,

Dem Höchsten zu Ehren!

Erzähle der Welt und dem Himmel die Not:

Dein Jesus ist tot!”

“O melt now, my bosom, in rivers of weeping,

The Most High to honor!

Declare to the world and to heaven thy woe:

Thy Jesus is dead!”

Chorale http://youtu.be/wGXu30k-AO0

Ach grosser König

Part IBetrayal and Capture (John 18:1–14)

Peter’s Denial (John 18:15–27, Matthew 26:75)

 Part IIInterrogation and Flagellation (John 18:28–

40, 19:1)

Condemnation and Crucifixion (John 19:2–22)

The Death of Jesus (John 19:23–30)

Burial (Matthew 27:51–52, John 19:31–42)

Story

Evangelist: TenorJesus: BassPetrus (Peter): BassMagd (Maid): SopranoDiener (Servant): TenorSolos: Soprano, Alto, Tenor and

BassChorus: Soprano, Alto, Tenor,

Bass

VOICES AND CHARACTERS

Devotion & Symbolism in BachBach’s markings on scores

◦JJ = Jesu Juva◦SDG = Soli Deo Gloria

Symmetry in movement planNumber symbolismMusical figures

◦Cross? Scoring

Soprano Aria “I follow thee”◦2 flutes in unison

Duality of God/man

◦Musically following

Enjoy the concertYou can find this Powerpoint atwww.choralconductor.org

Thank you for coming!- Ken Owen