The St John Passion BWV 245 was Johann Sebastian Bach’s first and is his most oft performed passion. It’s a repository of the best of Baroque writing, replete with choruses and da capo arias, recitatives, tutti and small group (concertino) sections. It contains writing and orchestration that makes Baroque music able to fulfil the twin…
“An opportunity to shake hands across the centuries”. So says conductor Jonathan Grieves-Smith, who will be travelling from Melbourne to conduct the Sydney Chamber Choir in their concert “Bach to the Future” this weekend. Anchored by three of JS Bach’s immortal motets (“Komm, Jesu, komm”, “ Singet dem herrn ein neues lied” , and “Lobet…
The viol, also known as the viola da gamba, is an ancient and fragile creature, with a silky sound that approximates the human voice. The fact that this 15th century Spanish predecessor of the guitar is still heard and played is a testament to its beauty. You can hear not one, but a whole ensemble of viols on…