JS Bach Motets
VOICES
Tutor: Paul Spicer
Location: St John’s Parish Rooms, Knutsford
Reviewer: Mark Flinn
A highly successful workshop, attended by 55 singers, was held in St John’s parish rooms in Knutsford on Saturday 4th June. We were led by Paul Spicer, the well-known choral conductor (and composition pupil of Herbert Howells), who guided us through two of JS Bach’s finest motets: the four part Lobet den Herrn and the double choir Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf.
There was an emergency near the start of the workshop when our illustrious president, Roger Wilkes, who was playing continuo, collapsed and hit his head on the way down. Paramedics and an ambulance were called, and Roger was taken to hospital for observation for 24 hours. We’re very pleased that all was well: Roger has been hard at work since then planning the NWEMF Summer School.
Lobet is a four part piece with an independent continuo and its authenticity has been contested, although to many ears the best sections sound like JS Bach and no-one else. Paul took us through the sections with care and attention to detail, with particular attention to good Baroque performance practice. After a sunny Knutsford lunch we tackled the much more demanding Der Geist hilft. This double-chorus work is the only one of Bach’s motets for which the occasion of composition can be specifically determined: it was composed for the funeral of Thomasschule headmaster J. H. Ernesti in 1729. The motel concludes with the chorale “Du heilige Brunst, süsser Trost“: there is no doubt that the chorale was written by Bach, but there is some question as to whether or not he intended this chorale to be paired with the motet for all eternity. Der Geist hilft demands high levels of technical ability, and the large choir rose to the occasion, giving a “performance” at the end of the afternoon that was more than creditable.
Very positive feedback was received at the end of the day, and Paul has been invited back to lead us through what is, arguably, Bach’s greatest motet, the joyful double choir Singet den Herrn, along with other music from the German Baroque. The workshop will be held on Saturday 28th April 2012: location yet to be determined. Get the date in your diary now!
First published in October 2011 Newsletter
