Bach Performance Critique

Words: 981
Pages: 4
Open Document
Introduction
On Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at 7:30 pm in Brendle Recital Hall of Wake Forest University I attended the fall choral concert, which was entitled “Johann Sebastian Bach and His Choral Legacy.” Led by conductor Brian Gorelick, the concert was performed by the concert choir, the collegium musicum vocal ensemble, and the Wake Forest chamber choir. Also, the performance featured the university orchestra to accompany the other groups. The concert’s repertoire included a series of cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach, which featured and highlighted Cantata 140, Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme. Although it did not fall on this day exactly, Bach initially wrote this piece with the intention for it to be performed on the twenty-seventh Sunday …show more content…
The cantus firmus, sung by the soprano soloist, is accompanied by the horns, which are said to represent the horns of the watchmen from the gospel, as well as lower voices in the choir who appear to be replying to the soloist (Oron 2014). The orchestra is playing in a dotted rhythm, “complimented by a scurrying, syncopated scale that represents the confusion and excitement of the wise and foolish virgins preparing for [Jesus’] arrival,” (Graham and Gorelick 2014).
The second movement is a recitative composed for the tenor soloist who is calling on “Zion’s daughters” to let them know the wedding is approaching. Following this movement is the aria, where Jesus and the soul are conversing in a duet. Jesus is represented by the baritone soloist and the soul is represented by the soprano soloist (Knowles 2003). Accompanying this duet is an obbligato violin, which is said to “represent the flowing of anointing oil,” which is mentioned in the text and would have been used in this marriage ceremony (Graham and …show more content…
Essentially what is being described here is the union of Jesus and his bride, the soul of Christianity. In the following aria, Jesus is again represented by the baritone soloist and the soul by the soprano soloist as they converse in another duet. Here there is oboe obbligato with the duet to add to the light mood. In this duet, Bach is attempting to show the joy surrounding this union between Jesus and the soul (Oron 2014).
Finally we come to the final movement, which is another chorale and the final part of the hymn reflected in the previous two chorales. The instrumentation includes a higher pitched melody done by the violins. This part is said to represent the “’twelve pearls’ of the gates of Jerusalem,” which is reflected in “the chorale’s twelve phrases and twelve notes in the bass voice in the first and twelfth phrases,” (Graham and Gorelick 2014).
As it is a choir and orchestra, there were no other elements, such as theatre or dance that were important to the performance. The audience was very receptive of the music and sat and enjoyed the piece as it developed in front of us. In terms of how this piece fit into the concert as a whole, it was essentially the basis of the concert. With the other small cantatas being performed first, and then following up with 140, the concert was reflective of Bach’s work, for cantata 140 was a continuation of his previous work on cantatas for the
Show More

Related Documents: Bach Performance Critique

Essay on The Masters of the Piano

Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart Paper Johann Sebastian Bach was born on the March 21st, 1685, at Eisenach. He died July 28, 1750. He was a German Baroque composer. During his life Bach's mastery of the keyboard attracted the attention of many important people. In 1708 he went to Weimar where his successes were crowned by his appointment, in 1714, at the age of twenty-nine, as Hofkonzertmeister to the duke of Weimar. Where he then composed beuatifully sacred melodies daily. In which the great…

Words 1990 - Pages 8

Hot Chocolate Cracker Countercultures

Through generations of dancers, the art forms evolve and influence connected artists based on the legacy's intention toward its reputation, style of performances, and dissemination of techniques. The potentials and visions in the cultural, storytelling, or aesthetic-related dance concepts also create forms that can radically differ from what cultures generally are used to perceiving—such examples of concepts used in developing new forms that cultures to countercultures can identify, be against, or…

Words 3052 - Pages 13

Performance Management Literature Review

review aims to examine and evaluate the existing literature, which relates to the role of performance management in both controlling and developing employees. In the beginning, the review will emphasize on defining ‘performance management’, its brief history, evolution, and definitions through the existing literature available. In between this literature review, will highlight the issues related to performance management, which act as a hindrance in its perfect execution in organisations. The latter…

Words 3129 - Pages 13

Essay on Literature Review on Performance Management

Introduction Over the last two decades, Performance Information, its implementation and presentation to the end users which directly refers to the subject of performance measurement (PM) has gained increasing interest and recognition in the general management literature, leading Neely (1999), when referring to the many contributions on the subject, to talk about the Performance Measurement Revolution. He demonstrated that between 1994 and 1996 a mere 3615 articles on performance measurement were published. During…

Words 9206 - Pages 37