![]() Unfolding under the overall theme of “Wise Men from the East,” Bach now confronts all arrogant enemies. Our next magnificent aria “Now, you arrogant enemies, you many tremble” appears in the final cantata “Lord, when our insolent enemies snort with rage,” to be performed on the Feast of the Epiphany on 6 January. Johann Sebastian Bach: Christmas Oratorio, “Now, you arrogant enemies” And you really can’t argue with the result. How can one aria be used to celebrate a German Prince and at the same time accompany a meditation on the life of Christ? For Bach, such self-borrowing was never arbitrary, but he meticulously adjusted the music to a newly written text in order to repurpose his composition. Some critics are seriously distressed that Bach’s secular melodies found their way into religious works. And just like our first featured magnificent aria, “Prepare yourself, Zion” originates in Hercules at the Crossroads. Several choruses and arias heard in the Christmas Oratorio were recycled from two secular cantatas, or as Bach called them “dramas for music,” written shortly before to celebrate the birthdays of two members of the Saxon royal family. Hurry to love the Bridegroom with passion! Your cheeks must now glow much more radiantly, To behold your lovely one, your beloved, near you soon! Prepare yourself, Zion, with tender efforts, Georges de La Tour: The Adoration of the Shepherds In the next recitative, the Old Testament prophet reminds the Faithful of the ancient human yearning for the Messiah, and the famous aria asks for the preparedness of the people. It follows the narration of the evangelist telling us about the journey to Bethlehem. Johann Sebastian Bach: Christmas Oratorio, “Prepare yourself, Zion”Ī number of arias from the Christmas Oratorio have been presented on various recital programmes, none more frequently so than “Prepare yourself, Zion.” This gorgeous alto aria appears in the first part, “Celebrate, rejoice, rise up and praise these days,” of the oratorio. The speaker moves from uncertainty to affirmation, with the oboe getting all involved in the action. In the Christmas Oratorio, music becomes an “Echo” turned into a prayer. Here, Bach adds a complement of horns to the regular strings, and in the original cantata, Hercules is asking the mountain nymph Echo for advice to pick between vice and virtue. ![]() For his music, Bach borrowed from his secular cantata Hercules at the Crossroads, written for a birthday celebration. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |