A matter of will

I hadn't realised the extent of Andrew Koll's programming until after this latest Canberra Bach Ensemble concert at St Christopher's.  We chatted after and he told us of the theme, the will of God.  I had been amused by a translated line, Lord, as you will! (Herr, wie du willt!, apparently by extension, the Mind of God) but it's a clear statement of religious trust and faith especially of the time and place.  These cantatas covered this issue, mostly be being written for the same weekend of the religious year (third Sunday after Epiphany on consecutive years 1724,1725,1726), other than one written a week later (Septuagesima 1725).  I guess I could have read the program.  But from the start, I just closed my eyes to experience the rolling harmonies in repeated lyrical lines, through the various voices, all clear and precise and deeply beautiful.  The start was a quote from St John Passion on the same topic, God's will, presented as choir without backing, leading into BWV 111, then BWV 92, then an interval and BWV 73 and BWV 72.  Throughout this was openings and closings of choruses with arias and recitatives within variously from soprano, alto, tenor and bass.  It's a formula that's repeated in this these cantatas, once written each week for Leipzig churches.  To conceive of the intensity of this work, a cantata a week, is overwhelming but Bach did it and we have the pleasure of it.  The choir was 36 through SATB and the accompaniment was 16 between strings, winds and continuo.  There was a segment with two solo violins and Andrew highlighted that it was similar to Bach's double violin concerto and that's just indicative of his sharing themes in the whirlwinds of producing all this music.  And there were segments of quick, non-stop cello from Clara and delightfully precisely articulated and fast contrabass (not really a violone) that floored me.  I had my eyes closed for the baroque horn but heard baroque oboe and bassoons often enough.  But these are just things noticed amongst a night of glorious Bach religious cantatas played and sung with real love and considerable understanding.  A great, great pleasure.

Andrew Koll (musical director, conductor) led the Canberra Bach Ensemble at St Christopher's Cathedral in a choral excerpt from St John Passion and BWVs 111,92,73,72 on the Will of God.  Key performers were Stephen Freeman (Orchestra Leader), Greta Claringbould (soprano), Maartje Sevenster (alto), Timothy Reynolds (tenor) and Andrew Fysh (bass) and some favourite bottom-enders of mine, Clara Teniswood (cello) and  Kyle Ramsay0Daniel (bass).