The 30s of the 18th century were a prolific period for Johann Sebastian Bach, not only when it comes to great oratorios written for Easter, Ascension, or – the most famous – for Christmas; the four short masses of BWV 233-236 are certainly among his equally interesting, though much less frequently performed pieces from this period. Each of them consists of only two parts of the ordinarium – Kyrie and Gloria – which can be used in both Catholic and Lutheran liturgy. During the concert, we will hear two of the above-mentioned cycles: the masses in G minor BWV 235 and in G major BWV 236. Apart from the arrangement of the movements, they also share a common approach to the musical material: both of them are based on selected cantatas written by the Leipzig cantor. The themes taken from earlier works, however, are creatively transformed and adapted to the sound and meaning of the Latin text of the mass.
In between these two deeply religious pieces, we will hear secular music. The orchestral suite in C major BWV 1066 opens with a majestic overture in the French style, followed by a series of dance movements. In this form characteristic of the baroque period, refinement is intertwined with lightness and sophisticated elegance.
PROGRAM
Johann Sebastian Bach
Mass in G minor, BWV 235
Kyrie – Gloria – Gratias – Domine Fili – Qui tollis – Cum Sancto Spiritu
Orchestral Suite in C major, BWV 1066
Ouverture – Courante – Gavotte I/II – Forlane – Menuet I/II – Bourée I/II – Passepied I/II
Mass in G major, BWV 236
Kyrie – Gloria – Gratias – Domine Deus – Quoniam – Cum Sancto Spiritu
PERFORMERS
IWONA LUBOWICZ SOPRANO
ANETA ŁUKASZEWICZ ALTO
WOJCIECH PARCHEM TENOR
PAWEŁ HORODYSKI BASS
THE PERIOD INSTRUMENTS ENSEMBLE OF THE POLISH ROYAL OPERA CAPELLA REGIA POLONA
KRZYSZTOF GARSTKA HARPSICHORD, CONDUCTOR
