Overture Magazine - 2015-2016 Season May-June 2016 | Page 26

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 .
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Notes by Janet E . Bedell , Copyright © 2016
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