The Gray Monk

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March 28, 2004

A different version of The Passion

Last night I helped out at the Abbey for a performance of the St John Passion as set by J S Bach. This was sung by the boys and men of the Abbey School Choir, conducted by their Director of music, Benjamin Nicholas, and accompanied by The Southbank Players with Carleton Etherington on the chamber organ continuo and Andrew Skidmore on the Cello continuo. The solo parts were sung by Edward Lyon, James Mustard, Bronwen Mills, Stephen Taylor, Benedict Linton, and Allan Smith, all well known voices with records and top stage performances to their credit. Edward Lyon sang the Evangelist part and James Mustard sang the role of Christ; the others provided “in order of listing) Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass solos singing variously Pilate, Peter, servants, soldiers, and priests.

What can one really say that conveys the glory of the music ringing through the pillars and arches of this great Abbey church. The very stones seemed to be joining in. The music creates the tension, holds the listener on edge as the great and terrible drama unfolds. Edward Lyon threw his heart and his soul into the role of the Evangelist. He kept us all on the edge of our seats as he told us the story. The choir shone as well – filling in their chorus’ and chorales to a very professional standard – with the added edge of being led by people who are practicing members of the church. The soloists surpassed themselves and turned in a performance that left us all uplifted and moved by the story.

This is made all the more remarkable by the fact that this entire performance was sung in the original German. The programme provided a translation for those whose German is non-existent or not well practiced, but it is the difficulty of singing in a language that is not your spoken tongue which makes the boys' performance particularly so outstanding. How do I know? I have sufficient German to have been able to follow it in that tongue – and there were others in the congregation who speak it as a first language. They were of the opinion that the boys must all be fluent in German to have done so well.

Well, I have barely done the performance or the performers justice. It made the dismantling of the staging and the resetting of the nave in preparation for today’s worship a task well worth the effort to have heard such music. Any reader who is visiting this country or lives here could do far worse than make this place a part of your itinerary – and attend one of the musical events held here regularly. I am sure that, like I, you will leave feeling uplifted whatever your faith.

Peace be with you all this Sunday.

Posted by The Gray Monk at March 28, 2004 07:21 AM

Comments

Posted by: alli at March 28, 2004 01:33 PM

Posted by: The Gray Monk at March 28, 2004 03:31 PM