Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, American Bach Soloists :: Bach: St. Matthew Passion

Period performance stylists will enjoy this

Larry VanDeSande | Mason, Michigan United States | 02/05/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"My choral group took on the St. Matthew Passion this year and our director referred this as one of two recorded versions to use as a guide to performance. I bought it for that reason -- to help me understand the music, to which I had almost no familiarity. This became a bit more urgent when our director assigned me a solo role in the second part.



I am slowly learning the St. Matthew Passion and would argue this recording is a good one for people that adhere to period performance practice. The speeds are consistently fast, the strings are exceedingly thin, and the whole thing rather smacks of lack of emotional involvement, not to mention lacking heart and guts.



I am not a conservative naturally opposed to period performance practice. I have performed in that style and own many recordings that adhere to it. I believe a good recording, or a good performance, is a good recording or a good performance regardless of style. PPP happens to be the flavor of the month right now and many people use it. This will change, of course, when the next generation comes along.



What I cannot abide, however, is a poor performance or a performance out of keeping with the message of the music. And this music is about the crucifixion, not about some lightweight transaction of people in a place in time. I do not believe this performance lends the weight, heart, guts and emotions to this music that Bach intended.



As I have written elsewhere, I don't believe Bach would much enjoy this type of music making if he was able to return to earth. The fast speeds, the lack of emotional involvement, the nasal and thin orchestras...I believe he would revolt against this. Bach bore 20 children, after all, and was a faithful Lutheran not that long after the Reformation. He wasn't a museum piece and his music shouldn't be performed as if it is.



For my personal satisfaction, the St. Matthew Passion included in Karl Muchinger's 10 CD "Bach Masterworks" set is more suited to my tastes. If you like PPP you will enjoy this recording. Otherwise, look elsewhere."

Overwhelmed

Marie F. Hogan | Piedmont, CA United States | 01/13/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm an, educated but not more than that, listener. I'll put it this way. I listened last night to a CD of the comparison recording from the complete works of Bach. I almost couldn't listen to that recording. ABS is so pure in musical quality and sonic quality, you can't go wrong.



Marie H."