Die Grosse Catholische Messe MASS IN B MINOR

Transcription

1 The internationally acclaimed AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER CHOIR introduces the MELBOURNE BAROQUE ORCHESTRA concert master David Irving directed by DOUGLAS LAWRENCE OAM Die Grosse Catholische Messe MASS IN B MINOR JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH Wednesday 16 March 2016, 8 pm St Paul s Church, Geelong Saturday 19 March 2016, 7:30 pm Community Theatre, Mornington Saturday 2 April 2016, 3 pm Church of the Resurrection, Macedon Sunday 3 April 2016, 3 pm Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Middle Park

2 It may seem odd at first glance that as a Buddhist I have theologically come to terms with one of the most Christian works of European music history, Bach s B Minor Mass. The conciliatory spirit which manifests itself in this work nevertheless encouraged me to do so. Thus a 1987 observation by a Japanese Bach expert, Yoshitake Kobayashi. And the late, brilliant American choral conductor Robert Shaw remarked: It may well be true that Bach s Mass in B Minor assembled, no less than created has become, some two hundred and fifty years after he bound its 27 movements together, the most remarkable musical allegory of human existence its pain, aspiration and promises. Assembled no less than created: this is the factor that differentiates the Mass (BWV 232) from anything else of comparable size that Bach wrote, though some of Bach s cantatas had a similarly heterogeneous origin. He was still working on it in the second-last year of his life (1749), but one part of it (the Crucifixus) is known to have been notated as early as The rest of it came in between: an earlier version of the Sanctus dates from 1724; the Kyrie and sections of the Gloria derived from a burst of activity in 1733; and the remainder has been ascribed mostly to Last of all, apparently, came the Et incarnatus est section of the Credo. It is somehow typical of the curiously unsystematic and protracted way in which Bach compiled this material that he never gave the final work the name posterity uses for it. Indeed the first traceable reference to it by its current title which is a misleading one, given that only five movements are in B minor throughout emanates from as recently as 1845; C.P.E. Bach, when referring to the work, had insisted on calling it Die Grosse Catholische Messe. The reference to Catholicity seems odd in the case of Bach the lifelong Lutheran, but it had a solid biographical reason. Bach originally produced the Kyrie and Gloria in the hope (which proved vain) of obtaining the prestigious and lucrative post of court composer to the newly elevated Elector of Saxony, the Catholic Augustus III. ( In deepest Devotion I present to your Royal Highness this small product of that science which I have attained in Music, with the most humble request that you will deign to regard it not according to the imperfection of its Composition, but with a most gracious eye... and thus take me into your most mighty Protection : thus Bach s dedicatory plea.) These movements might or might not have been publicly performed in 2

3 Bach s lifetime; the Mass as a whole most certainly was not. Even C.P.E. never got around to leading such a performance, though he did organise a rendition of the Credo in 1786, having supplemented his father s original with extra music of his own. The resultant textual confusions (making it hard for even specialists to determine exactly what was C.P.E. and what was J.S.) bedevilled the 1856 Bach Gesellschaft published edition of the complete Mass, superseded the very next year by yet another published edition, itself containing numerous faults. Only in the 1990s was anything like a definitive Urtext, purged of C.P.E. s emendations, made available in print, under the editorship of leading Bach scholar Christoph Wolff. Notes R. J. Stove, Kyrie eleison. 2. Christe eleison. 3. Kyrie eleison. 4. Gloria in excelsis Deo. 5. Et in terra pax, hominibus bonae voluntatis. 6. Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te. 7. Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam. 8. Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens. Domine Fili unigenite Jesu Christe. Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris. 1. Lord, have mercy upon us. Soloists: Erika Tandiono Ailsa Webb 2. Christ, have mercy upon us. 3. Lord, have mercy upon us. 4. Glory to God on high. 5. And on earth peace to men of good will. Soloist: Erika Tandiono 6. We praise Thee, we bless Thee. We adore Thee, we glorify Thee. 7. We give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory. Soloists: Michelle Clarke Christopher Roache 8. Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty, Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father 3

4 9. Qui tollis peccata mundi, Miserere nobis; Qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram. 10. Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, Miserere nobis. 11. Quoniam tu solus sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus altissimus, Jesu Christe. 12. Cum Sancto Spiritu, in gloria Dei Patris. Amen. 9. That takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us; That takest away the sins of the world, Receive our prayer. Soloist: Elizabeth Anderson 10. That sittest at the right hand of the Father, Have mercy upon us. Soloist: Oliver Mann 11. For Thou alone art holy, Thou alone art the Lord, Thou alone art the Most High, Jesus Christ. 12. With the Holy Spirit, in the Glory of God the Father. Amen. INTERVAL Come with us to Europe in 2017 We were delighted to have a group of friends accompanying us for the first 15 days of our 2015 European tour. We are planning to have a similar accompanying party with us on our 2017 tour. We will begin in Rome on 30 June 2017 and travel via Vienna and Innsbruck to finish in Bach s church, St Thomas Leipzig on 16 July. Keep your eye on our tours page for more information: auschoir.org/tours Register your interest with us at auschoir@auschoir.org to receive updates and we will keep you informed. Today only Buy a ticket to the ACC s BACH IN THE CASTLE OF HEAVEN and you can add a ticket to our BACH MAGNIFICAT also with the Melbourne Baroque Orchestra for just $15 Our box office staff are ready to help you 4

5 13 Credo in unum Deum; 14. Patrem omnipotentem, factorem coeli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium. 15. Et in unum Dominum Jesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum, Et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula. Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero, Genitum non factum, consubstantialem Patri: per quem omnia facta sunt. Qui propter nos homines, et propter nostram salutem descendit de coelis. 16. Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine: et homo factus est. 17. Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato, passus et sepultus est. 18. Et resurrexit tertia die secundum Scripturas. Et ascendit in coelum: sedet ad dexteram Patris. Et iterum venturus est cum gloria, judicare vivos et mortuos: cujus regni non erit finis. 13. I believe in one God; 14. The Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible. Soloists: Erika Tandiono Elizabeth Anderson 15. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; God of God, light of light, true God of true God, begotten not made; being of one substance with the Father, by Whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven. 16. And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, and was made Man. 17. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered, died, and was buried. 18. And on the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures: He ascended into heaven. He sitteth at the right hand of the Father; He shall come again in glory to judge the living and the dead; and His kingdom shall have no end. 5

6 19. Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum, et vivificantem: qui ex Patre Filioque procedit. Qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur: qui locutus est per Prophetas. Et in unam sanctam catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam. 20. Confiteor unum baptisma, in remissionem peccatorum. 21. Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen. 22. Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth, Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua. 23. Hosanna in excelsis. 24. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. 25. Hosanna in excelsis. 26. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, 27. Dona nobis pacem 6 Soloist: Oliver Mann 19. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and giver of life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, Who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified; who hath spoken through the prophets. I believe in One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. 20. I acknowledge one baptism unto the remission of sins. 21. And I await the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. 22. Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts, Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory. 23. Hosanna in the highest. Soloist: Christopher Roache 24. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 25. Hosanna in the highest Soloist: Elizabeth Anderson 26. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, 27. Grant us peace.

7 In July 2015, the AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER CHOIR undertook its fifth European concert tour, with sixteen concerts in Germany, Denmark and Switzerland. Following our concert in Copenhagen, a review in the Dagbladet was headlined Australian Choir in the Super League. (Think about joining us on our 2017 tour!) The choir has released five CDs, most recently a limited-release live recording of our 2015 European tour program, Kakadu Man (available today). We have performed in Canberra, Sydney, regional NSW and throughout Victoria. During 2016, the choir aims to establish a more regular program of visits to NSW. This next leap will require an increase in funds. We are grateful for all donations. Donations to the ACC are tax deductible. Cheques can be made payable to Credit Card donations Australian Chamber Choir Inc Brunswick Rd or ask our front of house staff. West Brunswick. Vic 3055 Please contact Elizabeth Anderson or Douglas Lawrence at the above address or at Auschoir@Auschoir.org if you would like to discuss making a donation or bequest. The singers (*soloists) Soprano 1 Michelle Clarke*, Erika Tandiono*, Alex Hedt, Megan Oldmeadow Soprano 2 Ailsa Webb*, Pippa Andrews, Elizabeth Lieschke, Jennifer Wilson-Richter Alto 1 Hannah Sprachlan-Holl, Ria Angelika Polo Alto 2 Elizabeth Anderson*, Melissa Lee, Isobel Todd Tenor 1 Christopher Roache*, Vaughan McAlley, Dan Walker Tenor 2 Alastair Cooper-Golec, Lyndon Greene, Joshua Lucena Bass 1 Oliver Mann*, Lachlan Macfarlane, Lucas Wilson-Richter Bass 2 Kieran Macfarlane, Nicholas Retter The players Violin 1 David Irving (leader), Shane Lestideau, Emma Williams Violin 2 Stephanie Eldridge, Briar Goessi, Arun Patterson Viola Christian Read, Dovi Hanner Cello Ellen Walker, Margaret Waugh Double-bass Chloe Smith Flute Greg Dikmans, Kim Tan Oboe Kirsten Barry, Andrew Angus Bassoon Brock Imison and Natasha Thomas (Geelong, Macedon, Middle Park) John Myatt and Harley Milano (Mornington) Trumpet 1 Joel Brennan Trumpet 2 David Musk (Geelong, Macedon, Melbourne)/Oscar Mason (Mornington) Horn Darryl Poulson (Baroque horn courtesy of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra) Timpani Arwen Johnson Organ David Macfarlane Subscribe to our enews letter: Give your address to our front of house staff or go to Visit our website: Visit our new YouTube Channel: Like us on Facebook: 7

8 Thank you to all who support the choir, including our friends and sponsors: Warren and Iris Anderson, Jörg and Elisabeth Bahner, Vicki and Peter Balabanski, James and Barbara Barber, Robin Batterham, Heather Bayston, David Beauchamp, Carmel Behan, Maggie Bell, Jennifer Bellsham-Revell, Naomi Bleeser, Rhys Boak, Anna Bohn, Richard Bolitho, Roger Boyce, Barbara Braistead, David Brand, Susan Bray, Eleanor Bridger, Sally Brown, Harold Burge, Elizabeth Burns, Margaret Callinan, Bernard Carter, Ann Cebon-Glass, Lois Cooke, Greg Coldicutt, Sally Cordell, Tony and Madge Correll, Christine Cronin, Kim Dahl, Felicity Demediuk, Michael Dolan, Patricia Duke, Gregory Eccleston, Michael Edgeloe, Rod and Deb Edwards, Michael Elligate, Priyanka Erasmus, Ken Falconer, Hellen Fersch, Jennie Smith and Bruce Fethers, Barry and Nola Firth, Anne Gilby, Anne Hunt, Ann and Reuben Glass, Rosemary Gleeson, Roland Godfrey, Dianne and the late David Gome, John and Bernie Griffiths, Tom Griffiths, Ian and Heather Gunn, Thorry Gunnersen, Alan Gunther, Herb and Eve Hahn, Stuart Hamilton, Ponch Hawkes, the late Bob Henderson, Tom Henry, Catherine Herrick, Ferdi Hillen, Geoff Hone, Richard Hoy, Arwen Hur, Thomas Hurley, John and Cheryl Iser, Susan Jackson, Patrick Johnston, Ivan Kapitonov, David and Rosemary Kellam, Ozlem Keskin, Barry and Judith Kilmartin, Peter Kingsbury, Judy Kiraly, Jerry Koliha, Barbara Kristof, Alan Larwill, Margaret Lawrence Bequest, the late Neil Lawrence, George and Ann Littlewood, Pamela Lloyd, Heather Low, Janice and Andrei Lupas, Monica MacCallum, Lenore Macdonald, the late Hector Maclean, Penelope Maddick, Sarah Martin, Chris Maxwell, Campbell and Noreen McAdam, Kate McBride, Davina McClure, Mary McGivern-Shaw, Gwenlyn McIntosh, Hilary McPhee, Lorraine Meldrum, Catherine and Barry Michael, Philippa Miller, Alana Mitchell, Mobiquity Inc, Adam Morris, Mary Muirhead, the late Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, Max Griffiths and Merrilyn Murnane, Susan Nelson, Christine Newman, Margaret Newman, Tony Nicol, Paul Nisselle, MJ and RM Norton, Julianna O Bryan, Jenny O Donnell, Margaret O Dowd, Ian Phillips, Margaret Price, The Ian Potter Foundation, Elizabeth Powell, Chris Punshon, Jennifer and Bill Raper, Rosalie Richards, David Ritchie, Joan Roberts, Annette Robinson, Nola Rogers, Lars Rolner, John Rowe, Alma Ryrie-Jones, The Robert Salzer Foundation, Ken Sargeant, Janet Schapper, Mark Schapper, Geoff Scollary, Cathy Scott, Stephen Shanassy, David and Lorelle Skewes, Avril Skumik, Patrick Slattery, Nicole Spicer, Lynne Star, Leonore Stephens, Eric Stokes, Rob Stove, Brian Swinn, Ross Telfer, Pauline Tointon, Elsie Valmorbida, Chris van Rompaey, Alison Waller, Mel Waters, Margaret Waugh, Dylan Webb, Dianna Wells Design, Ron Whitmore, Patricia Wilkinson, Carolyn Williams, Charles Williams, Harry Williams, Glen Witham, Marni Wodak, Robert Wright, Jenny and Wallace Young, Margaret Zammit, Harriet Ziegler and donors who wish to remain anonymous 8