Monumental Mass from Bach

J.S. Bach

The Mass in B minor (BWV 232) is a musical setting of the complete Latin Mass by Johann Sebastian Bach. The work was one of Bach's last, although much of it was made of music that Bach had composed earlier. Bach assembled the Mass in its present form in 1749, just before his death in 1750.

It was unusual for composers working in the Lutheran tradition to compose a Missa tota (complete mass) and Bach's motivations remain a matter of scholarly debate. The Mass was most probably never performed in totality during Bach's lifetime, and the work largely disappeared in the 18th century. Several performances in the early 19th century, however, sparked a revival both of the piece and the larger rediscovery of Bach's music. Today, it is widely hailed as a monumental work of the late Baroque and is frequently performed.

Bach did not give the work a title; instead, in the score four parts of the Latin Mass are each given their own title page - "Kyrie", "Gloria", "Symbolum Nicaenum" (the profession of faith or Credo), and "Sanctus, Hosanna, Benedictus, Agnus Dei" - and simply bundled together. Indeed, the different sections call for different numbers and arrangements of performers, giving rise to the theory that Bach did not ever expect the two-hour-long work to be performed in its entirety. On the other hand, the parts in the manuscript are numbered from 1 to 4, and Bach's usual closing formula (S.D.G = Soli Deo Gloria) is only found at the end of the Dona Nobis Pacem.

The Mass in B minor is widely regarded as one of the supreme achievements of classical music. In the booklet to the recording of "The 'Great Mass' in B minor" by Philippe Herreweghe and Collegium Vocale Gent (released from Harmonia Mundi, HML5901614.15, 1999) Alberto Basso summarizes the work as follows:

"The Mass in B minor is the consecration of a whole life: started in 1733 for 'diplomatic' reasons, it was finished in the very last years of Bach's life, when he had already gone blind. This monumental work is a synthesis of every stylistic and technical contribution the Cantor of Leipzig made to music. But it is also the most astounding spiritual encounter between the worlds of Catholic glorification and the Lutheran cult of the cross.".

Source: Wikipedia

City of Dunedin Choir will be performing this monumental mass on 16 April 2011 - mark this date in your diary and keep an eye on our Concerts page for details as these unfold.

Final count for VC

The final count for participants in Eric Whitaker's "Sleep" Virtual Choir project is 2052 videos uploaded to Youtube from all over the world, with eight submissions from New Zealand, three of those from Dunedin.

Not surprisingly, most submissions come from the UK and the USA.

Now we're waiting for the tech team to put the virtual choir together - imagine what a load of work that must be. I'll post the final video on this blog as soon as it is ready. Watch this space...

If you've missed it, here's the background to this story...

Bach B Minor Mass on Keys to Music

I've recieved the following message from Scott Blackwell:

Have just listened to a brilliant radio broadcast (on the internet: http://www.abc.net.au/classic/keys/) about the Bach B Minor Mass, the first of three 55-minute shows on the weekly ABC Classic FM programme Keys to Music, with musicologist and music historian Graham Abbott.

Have a look on the ABC page in the "Listen to Recent Programmes" section for the audio for the first show in the series. The second show will be broadcast on ABC Classic FM on Saturday 15 January at 9:05 am.

City of Dunedin Choir will be performing the B Minor Mass on Saturday 16 April 2011. Would you like to join the choir and sing this wonderful music in the April performance? Contact our membership secretary, Loraine, and come to the first 2011 rehearsal on Tuesday 1 February!

2011 Concert Season

Last Night of the Proms
Friday 25 February, 7:30pm at Dunedin Town Hall
Saturday 26 February, 7:00pm at Oamaru Opera House

The Southern Sinfonia presents this annual Proms concert at which the City of Dunedin Choir provides the choral support. Featuring a dazzling line-up: Conductor Hamish McKeich with soloist Anna Leese and the City of Dunedin Choir, and introducing Miles Chen, Cello, and Chris Geddes, Composer.

The Choir performed "Laudate Dominum" from Mozart's Vesperae Solennes de Confessore, and "Arrival of the Guests" from Richard Wagner's Tannhauser.

Bach's Mass in B minor
Saturday 16 April, 7:30pm, Dunedin Town Hall

The City of Dunedin Choir, supported by the Southern Sinfonia and conducted by David Burchell, presents Bach's Mass in B Minor. The soloists for this performance are:

Lois Johnston, Soprano
Sarah Court, Mezzo-Soprano
John Murray, Tenor
Daniel O'Connor, Baritone

The Mass in B Minor (BWV 232) is a musical setting of the complete Latin Mass by Johann Sebastian Bach. The work was one of Bach's last, although much of it was made of music that Bach had composed earlier. Bach assembled the Mass in its present form in 1749, just before his death in 1750. Read more about the Mass...

Belshazzar

Walton's Belshazzar's Feast
Saturday 16 July, 8:00pm, Dunedin Town Hall

Dane Lam, Conductor, Paul Whelan, Bass Baritone, and City of Dunedin Choir perform in this concert presented by the Southern Sinfonia.

Programme:

• Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis 
• Copland: Appalachian Spring 
• Walton: Belshazzar's Feast

Drama in Babylon! The king commits sacrilege and is miraculously killed, the kingdom falls, and the Jews regain their freedom. This strongly rhythmic and richly orchestrated work, with soloist and choir, has remained one of Walton's most celebrated compositions. By contrast, Appalachian Spring depicts a happy celebration of the American pioneers, and includes a section based on a well-known Shaker melody. "Unlike many bass voices, Paul Whelan's is a wondrously flexible (voice)... that most other basses would give their eye teeth to emulate." Wellingtonian Paul won the 1993 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, and since then has appeared at the world's most prestigious opera houses, including the New York Metropolitan Opera and English National Opera. Talented young Australian conductor Dane Lam set the orchestra and audience alight at his Dunedin début concert last year. Expect a thrilling and inspired performance!

Claire Barton Farewells Dunedin
Saturday 20 August, 8:00pm, Dunedin Town Hall

In September 2011 Claire will begin study towards a Post Graduate Artist Diploma at Trinity Laban in London. Before she leaves she is performing in a fundraising concert with proceeds going towards fees, travel and living costs.

Expect an evening full of entertainment from some of Dunedin’s best performers including Claire Barton, mezzo-soprano, the City of Dunedin Choir, the Dunedin RSA Choir, pianist Julia Horsnell, and many more.

City of Dunedin Choir performed:

Bach: Mass in B Minor 'Kyrie eleison'
Mozart: Requiem: 'Sanctus' and 'Benedictus'
Handel: Messiah: 'O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion'

Tickets are available from www.ticketdirect.co.nz or from the Regent Theatre Box Office, phone 03 477-8597

Last Night of the Proms
Thursday 22 September, 7:30pm, Dunedin Town Hall

The Southern Sinfonia presents a second Proms concert this year and as usual the City of Dunedin Choir provides the choral support. Featuring a dazzling line-up with conductor Tecwyn Evans and MC Kate Meade. The solist is bass-baritone Judd Arthur.

The Choir performs with the Southern Sinfonia:

• Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture
• Verdi: Il Trovatore, the Anvil Chorus (Gipsy Chorus)

NZSO: Odes to Joy
Wednesday 28 September, 6:30pm, Dunedin Town Hall
Presented by NZSO

Pietari Inkinen conductor
Madeleine Pierard soprano
Sarah Castle mezzo-soprano
Simon O’Neill tenor
Jonathan Lemalu bass
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Voices NZ Chamber Choir and City of Dunedin Choir

Programme:

• FARR Kaitiaki
• BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9 Choral Symphony
  

New Zealand's proud tradition of producing great voices continues into the next generation, and four of our modern greats are assembled here with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra to perform the magnificent Ode to Joy. Beethoven's intensely emotional expression of hope for mankind is the apotheosis of Romantic optimism, a work which your soul needs to hear to gain replenishment and exhilaration. It is paired with a specially-commissioned new work by Gareth Farr, revered among today’s composers for his ability to conjure spectacular and magical sound-worlds, with words by Witi Ihimaera. An evening of uplifting music you won't want to miss, led by NZSO Music Director Pietari Inkinen.

Handel's Messiah
Tuesday 13 December, 7:30pm, Regent Theatre

The City of Dunedin Choir and the Southern Sinfonia jointly present Handel's admired oratorio Messiah.
Conductor: David Burchell

Anna Leese, Soprano
Wendy Doyle, Mezzo-soprano
Cameron Barclay, Tenor
Chalium Poppy, Bass-baritone


Messiah (HWV 56) is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later. After an initially modest public reception the oratorio gained in popularity, eventually becoming one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music. For over 260 years people of different religious persuasions have enjoyed this grand choral work.