Bach’s Saint Matthew Passion is one of the greatest monuments of Christian and European sacred music. In Holy Trinity, we perform it, or its sister work, Bach’s Saint John Passion, every year. But the Saint Matthew Passion was a flower that bloomed in a particular place at a particular time. And a little knowledge about its background and its native soil will help us to appreciate it better.
Baroque Masterworks
This is a series of posts about the great masterworks of Baroque music, in particular, Handel’s Messiah, and the Passions of J.S. Bach. In Holy Trinity, we specialize in period performance in our annual performances of these works.
The Saint John Passion of J.S. Bach
IN HOLY TRINITY, We sing Bach’s Saint John Passion (Johannes-Passion) every other Good Friday, alternating it with Bach’s Saint Matthew Passion. Bach wrote the Saint John Passion over the winter of 1723-1724, and it was first performed in Leipzig’s Nikolaikirche on Good Friday 1724.
Johannes Passion Timetable
This is the online rehearsal timetable for Holy Trinity’s Johannes Passion (Saint John Passion). All rehearsals take place in Holy Trinity Pro-Cathedral, Rue Capitaine Crespel 29, 1050 Brussels. Dress code for soli and orchestra is black.
Good Friday Bach Passion
Every year, Holy Trinity presents a Good Friday Bach Passion. This takes place during the Good Friday vespers service, just as it was done in Bach’s day. We sing the Johannes-Passion (Saint John Passion) and the great Matthäus-Passion (Saint Matthew Passion) on alternate years.
Musical Setting of the Latin Mass
The musical setting of the Latin Mass is one of the greatest monuments of western art. But it was the flower of almost two millennia of development. This is how it happened.
Rehearsals for Candlemas Messiah
Rehearsals for Candlemas Messiah take place in Holy Trinity, rue Capitaine Crespel 29, 1050 Brussels.
Dress code for everyone is smart-casual in black, white, and dark-grey.
You can read about the story of Handel and his great Messiah here. For all other details of rehearsals for Candlemas Messiah, read on below.
The Ripieno in Handel’s Messiah
It is a fact (little-known but true) that Handel’s Messiah abounds with con ripieno and senza ripieno exchanges. What, you may ask, are con and senza ripieno exchanges? Well, here’s the explanation…
Handel and his great Messiah
Handel composed his great oratorio, Messiah, in London in the eighteenth century. It is now the most popular choral work in the English language. But what is the story behind it?