St. Matthew Passion Music

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 39, 11 April 1930, Page 3

St. Matthew Passion Music

-- --ee To be Broadcast from Christchurch

ON Good Friday evening, at 7.30, 3YA will relay from Christchurch Anglican Cathedral the presentation of "The St. Matthew Passion," Bach’s famous work. This will be sung by the full cathedral choir. Dr. J. C. Bradshaw will be musical director and organist. Bach has put into his musical setting of the Passion of Jesus a wealth of poignant meaning, and yet he treats the story so simply that there is nothing any listener cannot understand-nothing of which be cannot at once feel the power and the truth. The composer aims at making every hearer a participant in the events his musie depicts. The narrative is unfolded in solos and choruses. Every now and again are interpolated "chorales"-verses of Lutheran hymns, commenting on the story, and these are intended to represent the emotions and reflections of us listeners as we picture ourselves among the crowds looking on at the events deseribed. The protagonists of the drama are: the Evangelist (tenor), who gives the connecting narrative; and Jesus (whose words are sung by a bass). The voice of Peter is also heard in a few sentences. There are solo portions, commenting on the story sung by a soprano, an alto, a tenor, and a bass.