"The opening chorus, all eight minutes of it, makes a gigantic cross shape in musical time: the surging, relentless rhythms are the horizontal planes, the harmonies that sear through them are implacable verticalities."
"Bach's music gives life and hope, as well as terrifying spiritual exorcism. But Bach's music gives life and hope, as well as terrifying spiritual exorcism."
"Meat-grinding is how Paget describes the St John Passion's opening chorus; a fantastic expression of the viscera of human feeling that Bach exposes especially in Pichon's drama-filled recording."
"The zombies that Ehnes meant reference how Bach's instrumental music can survive any amount of arrangement, recomposition and reimagination."
Bach's compositions are central to Easter celebrations, with performances of his St Matthew Passion occurring globally. His music, particularly in the St John Passion, is described as visceral and emotionally intense. Critics highlight the obsessive repetitions and dissonances that convey deep human feelings. Bach's work is characterized by its ability to evoke both darkness and hope, illustrating the complexity of the Passion story. The resilience of his music allows for endless reinterpretation, demonstrating its enduring relevance and power.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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