Word: bache
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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Among the few modern concert performers whom even the tone-deaf have heard of, none is more intriguing than the Canadian pianist Glenn Gould -- not only because of his electrifying reinventions of Bach's Goldberg Variations, among other pieces, but also because of the strikingly eccentric artistic creation that was his life. Who could forget the singular genius who shuffled about on summer days swathed in mufflers and overcoats (because of his hypochondria), and in concerts sat himself down on a pygmy chair and proceeded to sigh, groan, sing and wave his hands about as he played? Who could resist...
...piece, which Bach composed in 1732, is generally acknowledged as the most powerful and unique oratorio setting of the Passion and Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In this monumental work in which two choruses, two orchestras and eight soloists perform for over three hours, Bach alternates between recitative narration by the Evangelist, who represents St. Matthew, turbulent crowd choruses, various commentary in the solo arias and reflective, moving chorales...
According to Jameson Marvin, Director of Collegium Musicum and of Choral Activities at Harvard University, St. Matthew's Passion represents the height of Baroque music and masterpieces. Marvin says that Bach makes use of all contemporary music forms, including the aria, ariosa, recitative and the accompanied and a cappeila choruses that were popular at the time...
...Matthew's Passion is monumental and unique in the history of Western music," Marvin says. "Not only does Bach elaborate on the chorales, which are the center of the work, but the whole performance is a huge undertaking. That's one reason it's rare that undergraduates perform the piece. We've had to raise a great deal of money to arrange for the soloists and the orchestra, not to mention the amount of time and practice that has gone into perfecting...
Tonght will mark the first time Collegium has performed the entire Bach masterpiece, although in recent years the group has performed the Bach Mass in B-minor. Several years ago, according to Marvin, the combined choruses of the Harvard Glee Club, the Radcliffe Choral Society and Collegium performed selections from the work...