© Taco van der Eb.
In preparation for Good Friday and on the day itself, there are about 180 performances of the St. Matthew Passion in the Netherlands. But what is this extensive music work exactly? And why would you go there? Time for a crash course.
Facts
Although the composer Jacob Obrecht (in 1471), Orlando di Lasso (1575) Heinrich Schütz (1666), Egon Force (2002) and dozens of others have composed St. Matthew Passions, is that of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), the only one that has garnered worldwide acclaim. Historians are not quite agree, but in all probability Bach composed the St. Matthew Passion in 1727. The first performance was probably two years later, on Good Friday in the Thomaskirche in Leipzig. The first years Bach was not satisfied with the score and brought several changes. The version from 1736 is generally seen as Bach’s final version. The length of the St. Matthew Passion varies by conductor. To give an impression: the version of the famous American conductor Leonard Bernstein in 1962 lasted 137 minutes, that of the Dutch Bach expert and conductor Anthon van der Horst 1957 201 minutes
composition.
The St. Matthew Passion tells the Passion of Jesus Christ using two orchestras and two choirs. An important role in the St. Matthew Passion is reserved for the evangelist, a tenor who tells the story. Actually, you can compare the St. Matthew Passion with a play in which different voices interpret different characters. Besides Jesus (bass) are as disciples Peter and Jude (bass), Pilate (bass), his wife (soprano), some servants (sopranos and altos) and witnesses (tenor and bass).
Symbolism and math
St. Matthew Passion is more hidden symbolism than in a whole season Who is the mole? As Bach has a variety of figures used in the piece. A small example: the Passion has fourteen corals (hymns) and there is fourteen times textual reference to the heart. The number 14 refers to the name Bach, because if you are the numerical values of the letters of his name – 2 (B) 1 (A), 3 (C), 8 (H) -at together add up, you get 14. Scientists have also discovered that Bach’s birth and death in the document has been processed. More advanced mathematics, “the Matthew ‘consists of 27 passages in which the Gospel is sung and 27 other pieces. The number 27 stands by Bach for the trinity of Father-Son-Holy Spirit (3 × 3 × 3 = 27). The 27 pieces of text from the Gospel consist of a total of 729 measurements, which in turn is the square of 27.
designs
Netherlands has an estimated 180 performances of the St. Matthew Passion. There are small amateur versions, compelling mega versions, truncated versions, singalong versions, authentic, theatrical and modern variants, children versions and even a tango version Jan Rot and Pearl Jozefzoon. It is due in large part to conductor Willem Mengelberg that Matthäus a Dutch tradition has become.
Around 1900 he began large-scale performances that he modernized the piece and adapted. Despite initial protests Mengelberg Matthäus became an annual event. The best known today is the version that is performed every year on Good Friday in the Grote Kerk in Naarden, conducted by Jos van Veldhoven; an event that traditionally frequented by celebrities and politicians. The performances in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, at the Pieterskerk in Leiden and the touring version of Pieter Jan Leusink are famous.
Experience
Ask an average fanatical Matthäus Ganger and you will always get the same kind of reaction. The St. Matthew Passion is not a lot to listen to, you must undergo it. And preferably in a church. Because of its drama takes it as it were released from the listener.
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