Dr. Gerald Gray prepares musicians for the performance of “Saint John Passion” by Johann Sebastian Bach.
Photo courtesy of Melissa Rechin / Photo Editor
COURTNEE CESTA
Assistant Reverb Editor
The Fredonia Chamber Choir and Fredonia College Choir will collaborate with School of Music faculty and alumni to present the “Saint John Passion,” by Johann Sebastian Bach tonight, April 16, at 8 p.m.
The performance is a vocally performed representation of the Passion of the Christ, as told in the Gospel of John, and is an emotional setting of Jesus Christ’s final suffering, death, burial and resurrection. It is being performed in celebration of the upcoming Easter weekend.
It is the first time that Fredonia has performed a setting of the Passion — the idea originated as a suggestion to Dr. Gerald Gray, director of choral activities. But when Gray was first approached by colleagues to conduct the performance, it was Bach’s even larger and harder “Saint Matthew Passion” that was proposed.
“I suggested the ‘Saint John Passion’ instead, primarily for practical reasons,” said Gray. “The ‘Saint John [Passion]’ is shorter in duration and more modest in scale. The ‘Saint Matthew [Passion]’ is too large of a work to attempt for our first time at Fredonia.”
When compared to the “Saint Matthew Passion,” “Saint John’s” is much shorter in length, but is much more direct. The great length of “Saint Matthew’s” is due to the drawn out story that takes more time to develop.
“Saint John’s” also has a reputation for being the more intimate setting and one that even first time listeners can understand (although it will be sung in German, English translations will be provided). It does, however, involve a deep connection between two dramatic roles: the narrative and the commentary. Whereas the narrative is the musical setting of the text sang word-by-word from the Gospel of John, the commentary serves as expressed responses to the action in the drama.
The narrative is passed between School of Music faculty members Joe Dan Harper, as the evangelist; Alex Hurd, as Jesus; Daniel Ihasz, as Pilate; Angela Haas, as the soprano soloist, and Julie Newell, as the mezzo-soprano soloist, as well as Fredonia alumni Eric Perry, as the tenor soloist; Will Prapestis, as the baritone soloist, and the choir. It is also mainly the job of the choir to provide reaction and commentary to the action.
Gray started preparing the choir for tonight’s performance last semester, since many of them had never before performed a setting of the Passion.
“It has been a joy to introduce this piece to over one hundred students who are experiencing it for the first time,” said Gray, who, even having performed the Passion before, is learning new things. “Although I have sung the piece numerous times, preparing it as a conductor [for the first time] has been extremely enriching.”
Within Saint John’s setting of the Passion there are powerful musical representations that elevate the action to astounding heights. A series of arias, chorales and choruses is strung between two outer choruses, all of which depict some of the most beautiful yet painful occurrences in storytelling. The opening, “Herr, unser Herrscher,” is a structurally complex but compelling calling, and the ending, “Ruht wohl,” is a sweet and lingering graveside parting. Between the two, a sequence of movements is arranged symmetrically around a central chorale, in which Pilate searches for a way to release Christ while the high priests scream for Christ to die.
The choir will be accompanied by a School of Music faculty and alumni orchestra, led by professors David Colwell and David Rose, as well as alumnus Thomas Foster on harpsichord.
Before the performance, professor of philosophy and coordinator of the interdisciplinary minor in religious studies, Dale Tuggy, will present a pre-concert lecture, titled “Why did Jesus Have to Suffer?”
The performance will be in Rosch Recital Hall. Admission is free.