I can now say I have some knowledge of Bach's Johannes Passion. There is a saying: Mathew is ..., John is the light. Perhaps Megan can fill in the blank. Bach seems to have thought in the last clause of the saying when writing this passion, if the saying is so old. Up to until a year, I was new to John's Passion, I mean the one written by Bach for there has been so many before his and it would be very interstring, perhaps surprising to listen to some of them. Then I, yes, downloaded Herreweger and Gardiner's versions and have been listeniing to the latter's one here and there. Each time I embark in the adventure, I get rewarded. Perhaps I omit some recitatives, with the danger of missing some choir (passages of the Bible where the people talk). There are the chorales, simple but yet worth listening and, ... the most beautiful arias in the world.
As is logical, Bach reserved the best choirs for the opening and penultimate numbers of the work. About the first number, the opening choir, I translate from another thread: whoever listens to it, he will be carried away in a wind of enthusiasm and joy (no religious connotations here). The last choir, on the other hand, is sublime sweetness. Describing it would be beyond the power of the most eximious writer.
As is logical, Bach reserved the best choirs for the opening and penultimate numbers of the work. About the first number, the opening choir, I translate from another thread: whoever listens to it, he will be carried away in a wind of enthusiasm and joy (no religious connotations here). The last choir, on the other hand, is sublime sweetness. Describing it would be beyond the power of the most eximious writer.
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