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Bach for more: Cathedral of St. John to debut new continuo organ during concert
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J.S. Bach was an inveterate collector of musical scores.
He traveled across Germany with various chamber ensembles and had access to the musical collection of Leipzig鈥檚 St. Thomas School. His wide connections made it possible for him to obtain important new pieces of music literature, even from outside Germany.
When Bach discovered Giovanni Battista Pergolesi鈥檚 unpublished 鈥淪tabat Mater鈥� score, he decided to rewrite it. Pergolesi based his piece on the 13th-century Christian hymn to the Virgin Mary.
The Cathedral of St. John will present Bach鈥檚 German paraphrase of 鈥淪tabat Mater鈥� on Friday, March 15.
The composer 鈥渁dded a viola part; the vocal lines are much more ornamented,鈥� said Maxine Th茅venot, cathedral music director.
The musicians include soprano Hayden Eberhart and mezzo-soprano Sarah Nickerson. Both are members of the Santa Fe Desert Chorale and Polyphony.
鈥淗ayden lives in Albuquerque, but she also works in Los Angeles,鈥� Th茅venot said. Nickerson lives in Santa Fe.
Violinist and concertmaster Stephen Redfield recently moved to Santa Fe after retiring from the University of Mississippi.
鈥淗e鈥檚 very well-known for his work in early music,鈥� Th茅venot said.
All the musicians will play early 17th and 18th century instruments. David Felberg will play the violin, with Jeffrey Smith on viola and Katie Rietman on cello.
The concert also marks the debut of the cathedral鈥檚 new continuo organ.
鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of like a baby organ; this is a digital system,鈥� Th茅venot explained.
The 50-minute piece is a German paraphrase of Psalm 51: 鈥淪avior, blot out my transgressions ... my sins are a sore affliction ... I am but a sinner here.鈥�
The psalm is regularly read during Lent, especially on Ash Wednesday.
鈥淪tabat Mater鈥� focuses on the spiritual and emotional bond which unites Mary and all Christians to the death of her son on the cross.
The piece is one of Pergolesi鈥檚 most celebrated sacred works. The musicians performed his original version at this time last season.
鈥淚t gives you an opportunity to experience the quiet and finish off your week,鈥� Th茅venot said.
