Bach’ s B Minor Mass
{ program notes
Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity: The Planets’ most popular movement,“ Jupiter” represents celebration in both its rollicking and ceremonial aspects. Holst concocted a bevy of tunes inspired by Edwardian vaudeville and dance halls for the opening and closing sections. A proudly British melody crowns the center section; later given words, it became the English patriotic hymn“ I Vow to Thee, My Country.”
Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age: This was Holst’ s own favorite movement. Tolling flutes and harps suggest the inexorable march of time. Then, trombones and tuba begin a weary but noble march. Flutes propose another march, even more bowed with age, which grows to a mighty climax above the heavy thud of timpani and low strings. The movement ends in a vision of serenity and peace: old age’ s consolation.
Uranus, the Magician: Another scherzo,“ Uranus” opens with the magician’ s incantation, played three times by different instruments. This is a movement of magic, menace, and mischief with troll-like bassoons and mocking, heavy-footed marches. A serene vision of Neptune interrupts, then with a sardonic laugh, the magician disappears in a puff of smoke.
Neptune, the Mystic: Once again in 5 / 4 meter,“ Neptune” completes the circle begun by“ Mars” with an otherworldly alternative to humankind’ s violence. Weaving flutes, high violins, celesta, and harps conjure a cool, distant world and trance-like state of consciousness. A women’ s double chorus sings wordlessly offstage in mysterious, overlapping lines. In an early use of the fade-out technique, now a recording cliché, the women’ s voices disappear into the emptiness of space.
Instrumentation: Four flutes( including piccolos and alto flute), four oboes( including English horn and bass oboe), three clarinets, bass clarinet, three bassoons, contrabassoon, six horns, four trumpets, three trombones, tuba, tenor tuba, timpani, percussion, two harps, celesta, organ and strings.
A. Kyrie
Bach’ s B Minor Mass
Music Center At Strathmore Thursday, May 26, 2016— 8 p. m.
Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
Friday, May 27, 2016— 8 p. m. Saturday, May 28, 2016— 8 p. m.
Nicholas McGegan, Conductor Yulia Van Doren, Soprano Christopher Ainslie, Countertenor Thomas Cooley, Tenor Dashon Burton, Bass Baltimore Choral Arts Society
Johann Sebastian Bach Mass in B Minor, BWV 232
1. Kyrie eleison( Chorus) 2. Christe eleison( Soprano and Countertenor) 3. Kyrie eleison( Chorus)
B. Gloria
1. Gloria in excelsis( Chorus) 2. Laudamus te( Soprano) 3. Gratias agimus tibi( Chorus) 4. Domine Deus( Soprano and Tenor) 5. Qui tollis( Chorus) 6. Qui sedes( Countertenor) 7. Quoniam tu solus( Bass) 8. Cum sancto spiritu( Chorus)
INTERMISSION
C. Credo
1. Credo in unum Deum( Chorus) 2. Patrem omnipotentem( Chorus) 3. Et in unum Dominum( Soprano and Countertenor) 4. Et incarnatus est( Chorus) 5. Crucifixus( Chorus) 6. Et resurrexit( Chorus) 7. Et in Spiritum sanctum( Bass) 8. Confiteor( Chorus)
D. Sanctus
1. Sanctus( Chorus) 2. Osanna( Chorus) 3. Benedictus( Tenor) 4. Osanna( Chorus)
E. Agnus Dei
1. Agnus Dei( Countertenor) 2. Dona nobis pacem( chorus)
Music Center At Strathmore The concert will end at approximately 10:15 p. m.
Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall The concert will end at approximately 10:10 p. m.
Supporting Sponsor:
Notes by Janet E. Bedell, Copyright © 2016
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