Bach Mass in B Minor

Friday May 14th, 2004 - 8pm
at the Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall - UGA Performing Arts Center - Athens, GA

Why would Lutheran Bach write a Catholic Mass, especially one too large, too long and too elaborate to be considered liturgical?  The answer might be in Bach's view of posterity.  He may have written his greatest work for future generations, as a summation of his choral writings.

The Mass in B minor is written for five soloists, mainly five-part chorus, with several four-part, one six-part, one double chorus, and orchestra.  Five of the movements are in B minor; the most prominent other key being D major.

Bach wrote the Kyria and Gloria in 1733 and submitted them with his petition to be appointed court composer to Frederick Augustus, Elector of Saxony (a Roman Catholic).  The appointment was granted in 1736, but there is no record of the Mass being performed.  In 1747 he added the Gratias agimus from the first chorus of Cantata No. 29, the Crucificxus (with different words) from Cantata No. 12 (1724) and a Sanctus written for a 1724 Christmas Day Service.  To these he added additional new music and completed the work in 1748, two years prior to his death.

Bach (and his music) was dismissed as irrelevant after his death.  The Mass was not performed in its entirety until 1859, and did not reach its current level of popularity until the 1950's.

Although not specified in the score, we are using the soloists as concertists, with introductions and interjections in the choral parts.  In the first Kyrie and in the Osanna, we are using a concerto chorus of fifteen singers to alternate with the soloists and the full chorus, creating multiple layers of sound.

The Athens Master Chorale is priveleged to present Mass in B minor by J.S. Bach, and we are grateful that you are present to share this great music with us.

- Joseph Napoli

The Program