Musicians on Bach St Matthew Passion BWV 244 | Netherlands Bach Society

[@DanielKRui]

Oh wow when Sato says "It's just as human as it is divine. That's actually the story isn't it"...beautiful line and very aptly observed

[@kikivolauvent1]

Now, Naarden is on my bucket list - I fear my life won't be long enough for all the Bach I want to still enjoy

[@nickkoob3087]

Wow that was incredible. Such an amazing society playing an extraordinary piece from J. S. Bach, one of the best of us.

[@bobh5087]

A beautiful documentary on one of the *greatest musical achievements ever conceived.* Whether atheist, agnostic, Buddhist, Jewish or Christian believer - we are all captured by Bach's emotive and all-encompassing spell... and deeply moved to feel and respond in our own unique ways. All music is a *purely human creation,* and that familiar connection, that tie, is what transports us into Transcendent realms. Music such as this *makes us better people.*

[@fooberdooge3103]

Indeed, anyone can be affected deeply by this music. However, the Christian aspect cannot be easily thrown to the side. Bach himself was deeply religious, and he believed 100% the words that he set to music. I think it is because of his immovable conviction that the music has stood the test of time. It's hard to find another example of a story that has inspired so many people to create the most sublime art. As a Christian, the St. Matthew Passion means a lot to me, both for the human aspect, but also for the person of Christ, and how real he is to me and many other believers. While I agree that anyone else can feel deeply affected by the music, I also feel that if one believes in these words, they are effected in a different way than say an atheist or Buddhist, or Jew. Not to invalidate their experience, but there is a different aspect, one of gratitude towards the Divine for the Christian believer, perhaps. That being said, it is quite amazing how universal this piece is, and how anyone can appreciate it. Quite amazing...

[@bobh5087]

@@fooberdooge3103 Yes, I fully understand what you mean. Nevertheless, all art is "but a finger pointing to the moon." And music especially, even "religious" music, points far beyond any single person or dogma, and toward some greater, deeper and broader *human* Truth. What moves non-religionsts about Bach's music is not the theology, but, rather, the *human experience* of longing for *Beauty and Transcendence and human grace.* The "Divine" is *only found* in the *human dimension,* not in ever-changing, man-made doctrines.

[@frenchimp]

@@fooberdooge3103 I'm not sure about that "different aspect". How can you know what a person of a different confession or of different philosophical inclinations experiences when he or she listens to that music? I describe myself as an agnostic, and I experience a feeling of gratitude as well, I just don't feel compelled to name what I'm grateful to... the universe, the creator of that wonderful music, humanity, life... Each individual has a unique, personal experience, and yet when you are part of the audience at a concert like that, you feel elated and transported by your emotion and the emotion of your fellow human beings, it's a wonderful experience, an egregor which can uplift you and remains alive inside you for ever... You don't need to adhere to this or that belief to experience that... that is the supreme magical power of Bach's music. If you think that as a christian you have somehow access to a higher level of appreciation, maybe it makes you feel a bit privileged, but I tend to think it deprives you of something and I think you underestimate this music and narrow its scope.

[@fooberdooge3103]

Alain Bruguieres I never said it was a superior experience. I chose the word “different” very carefully. The music is Christian, and so I receive it differently than you in this way: I believe that I am a sinful being who is utterly lost in my wickedness without Christ. Because Christ was willing to empty Himself, and take my place, to receive the suffering that he experienced that I deserved for my behalf, I am no longer considered separate from God, but one of His children. I’m willing to bet that you don’t receive it in this way. It is different, similar in some aspects, gratefulness for example. I am grateful to Christ for saving my soul as well as the amazing artistry of the piece. You are grateful for the latter of those, existence, being able to experience the music and other pleasures. The experiences overlap, but also differ. The same can be said about muslims and traditional Islamic music. They would receive it differently than I would because I don’t believe what they do. Every experience is valid, all I’m saying is that Christians view this differently in that respect than anyone who doesn’t confess the faith, or those who confess none.

[@frenchimp]

@@fooberdooge3103 And I am not convinced at all. I know many christians who don't care a damn about Bach's music and find it very boring. I don't see the point of this sort of speculation. When I listen to Bach's religious works, I never ask myself whether I believe in the story or not. I accept the story, of course. If what you say were true, then why would any author write fiction novels? The emotion I experience while reading a novel is totally independent of the fact that I believe in it or not. If speculations about the reality or plausibility of the story intrude while I'm reading, then I'd say it's a bad novel.

[@tonysouter8095]

It's a moving documentary of wonderful people expressing the most cogent thoughts. Nice work, NBS.

[@thomasakerberg6765]

I can`t emphasise enough how important your work and craftmanship is to me and mankind in general! Music is the best way to survive and master life! Thank you!

[@MrGer2295]

WONDERFUL ! LOVE YOUR DOCUMENTARY ! MANY THANKS @Netherlands Bach Society 💟💟💟💟💟💟

[@phwbooth]

Great stuff, and most interesting. It gives a clue as to how these fine musicians produce such great performances.

[@mrshangpa]

Greatest music is for all people!

[@ww0yrr]

These performers are truly gifted and wonderful people. It seems strange that not ONE could mention the name of Jesus. It was He who died for our transgressions. This was exactly what Bach believed and was the source of his inspiration.

[@PointyTailofSatan]

As an organist, I grew up with Bach's keyboard works, and his unparalleled mastery of counterpoint. What amazes me even more, is the incredible range, in terms of different musical areas. Large vocal works, like the Passions and Mass in B Minor. Smaller scale works like the Motets and cantatas. Works for violin and cello. The WTC I and II. The Musical Offering. The Brandenburgs. The Art of Fugue. And the list goes on..... If one didn't know of Bach's existence, one would naturally assume these are the combined works of a dozen or more great Baroque composers. But no. All from one incredible man, who spent his life isolated in virtual musical backwaters.

[@wakefulday]

Great documentary :) Hope to be able to hear you in person some day!

[@Jim-uj3ty]

Unbelievable music by Bach and performance by these musicians. Thank you.

[@madavi6321]

Thank you so much for sharing!💛💛 i love this channel so much

[@wim159]

Really cool and inspiring video, would love to see more video's like this :)

[@sxyslyvxn]

I find in reading the libretto as well as listening to Bach's 'Passion' oratorios an inner connection with the Divine, especially during the Lenten season, lengthy, though it is. I feel as Bach, his librettist Picander and other religious devotees to this aspect of Christ's life and redemptive sacrifice on the Cross. When one reads the libretto, there are great interjectory passages amidst the Passion narrative, starting with an opening chorale, that invite the listener/devotee to meditate and ponder on the words like miniature sermons and even personal prayers on these passages, since this was truly a sacred work and performed in a chuch setting as part of the devotionals during Holy Week, leading up to Easter. It reminds us too that before we can all partake in a joyous Easter, season of rebirth and renewal, we must also be aware of our 'dark' periods in life with Lent as best described in the chorale, 'O, Man, bewail of your great Sin and fall from Grace, Of being short of God's Glory; Because God chose this perfect time for us, He decided to send directly to us from His throne, His Only begotten Son to Earth, to act as our mediator, And Saviour, to make things right between God and humanity. He was born and raised under the most humble of circumstances, Of a meek, pure and humble virgin, without guile. God's Word made flesh, who lived in our midst, He healed our wounds, raised the dead, bringing health and life To all of us, without complaint through the will of His Father above, By doing the most selfless act of all, By suffering the most heinous of ways for the sake of the entire human race, By dying and bound naked on the Cross! It was said St Bridget of Sweden as a young girl was deeply touched on hearing the sermon of Christ's Passion touched her so deeply, she began reading more on the subject that it brought her to tears and even made her ask more questions to theologians and scholars on Christ's Passion, many couldn't answer or at least satisfy her. Then, one night, before she retired for the night, the crucifix in her room came to life before her surrounded in a dazzling light. She saw Christ covered from head to toe with bloody wounds oozing from His Body and she heard a voice that said, "Look upon Me, My Daughter!" (You can find this crucifix in the church of St Paul-Outside-the- Walls in Rome, in case anybody wonders, with the following inscription: "While Bridget received the Words of Jesus in the air, she also received them into her heart on the Jubilee Year of 1350." )She asked, "My Lord, who has treated You so cruelly?" And He replied, "Those who are insensitive and unaware of My love for them!" it was then did she carry on many conversations with Him and His Mother Mary and kept them on written record, along with many prayers and devotionals. One of these is the 15 Prayers of St Bridget on this site via KZbin under the heading '15 Prayers of St Bridget'. Some might view these prayers as a Catholic thing (since the word Catholic means 'universal'), but many of them are by no means limited to Catholics, but to all people of all faiths and special blessings are bestowed on those using this devotion and passing it on to others, regardless of their age, social class or spiritual background. So, the next time you hear this work by Bach and use the libretto as a guide and/or Lenten devotional item, don't be surprised should it move one to tears. I'm sure Bach and his librettist did...it's quite a powerful work that's beyond words! Deo Soli Gloria (Glory to God Alone) et Ad majoram Deo Gloriam ('For the greater Glory of God') 😇

[@Vegathlete]

“It’s just as human as it is divine”’. We all exact a spiritual experience from the path he put before us, as it is connected with a higher realm of consciousness. Naarden has to be one of the most cathartic and meaningful pilgrimages you can ever hope to undertake.

[@briantansey5743]

it is long ... and equally gorgeous; makes me want to now hear all of the / this ! Netherland Bach Choir's repertoire ; I had not realized that there may be a core orchestra/ instruments and a few core vocalist but that many others are attached to the Choir depending on the year and performance; for example I'm pretty sure I recognize 'one of my own' from Montreal Quebec singing front right ; he does have a single but long solo mid way in the piece.

[@BarcelonaAustinA35]

Incredible video, such a good quality

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

It's a rather interesting one because it's scored for 2 Choirs each w/ their Own Orchestra, so that's quite alot of parts Bach wrote. He was able to repair some Damaga the mice have caused because he should've kept the sheet music in a case to prevent that from hapening.

[@lc9464]

I wish I was Dutch. But I'm but a french woman. So back to KZbin. Back to Bach, in a word

[@alainalsant1312]

Magnifique intéressant very Good

[@Rosangela161]

Thank you!! A beautiful and didactic post. Congrats.

[@nickyoomes8669]

I believe the Matthew Passion is written by the Holy Spirit 🙏❤

[@ROBINdulce]

Yo fui educado en la religión católica, pero voy a la iglesia sólo cuando se trata de bodas, bautizos o funerales. Sin embargo acostumbro recluirme en los días de Navidad, de Semana Santa, de Pascua, de Muertos para escuchar música sacra ya sea de la tradición ortodoxa, la católica, la luterana o la anglicana. Para Semana Santa hay un amplio repertorio de obras desde la Edad Media, el Renacimiento, el Barroco, el Período Clásico, el Romántico, la Era Moderna e incluso, afortunadamente, de compositores contemporáneos. La Pasión según San Mateo BWV 244 es sin duda una obra cardinal: patrimonio de la Humanidad: punto de convergencia en la diversidad. Llevo años escuchándola en diversas grabaciones, ya sea de la escuela de la post-guerra o producto del modo informado de interpretación de época; ahora incluso dvd's con la puesta en escena a imagen y semejanza de los autos sacramentales de la Edad Media. Seguramente será una experiencia muy poderosa sentarse en santa paz a escuchar y ver esta producción de la Nederlandse Bachvereniging, acostumbrados que nos tienen a la calidad intelectual y emotiva de sus interpretaciones. Habrá que preparase para compartirla en estado de Gracia.

[@tdekeyser]

schitterende reportage, bravo! volkomen eens met opmerkingen van muzikanten :-) al tientallen malen gehoord en raak het maar niet beu, opnieue gedeeld overigens B-) alleen zonde dat we niet ter plaatse kunnen gaan luisteren :-(

[@CRS1952]

In the end you cannot admire Bach's musical mind without worshipping the mind Bach worshipped and the mind that created him. I believe Bach would agree that this music is empty without Jesus Christ.

[@jimenahuenchupan6026]

Maravilloso.

[@no42arak-st-floor44]

this is so 👍

[@robertogrotz488]

para pegar un clip en el cuadro de texto, tócalo.Para pegar un clip en el cuadro de texto, tócalo.

[@rupamede2022]

I wanted to buy ONE ticket for next year and they’re all sold out already. I live in Ireland but I was willing to fly to Holland and then get to this church for the Passion - is there a sale for 2024 yet?

[@bach]

Dear Rui, there are still tickets available for the St Matthew Passion in 2023. See www.bachvereniging.nl/st-matthew-passion-2023#tickets

[@rupamede2022]

@@bach ah ok I see now you have more days below. I had just seen the first one above. Thanks!

[@natxosailor]

Does anyone know when this performance (St Matthew Passion) happens in Naarden? Are there other performances during the spring?

[@bach]

Hi Ignacio, we have five performances in Naarden this year, and nine other performances through the Netherlands. You can see the list and order tickets at www.bachvereniging.nl/matthaus-passion-2019

[@jogomez1988a]

No in english.... please.....

[@gyes99]

Ha ha ha, I am Jewish. What is this supposed to tell me?

[@carsonwall2400]

Why would being Jewish preclude one from appreciating great art?