The “WO” is one of the most important concert pieces of the Christmas season: the classic baroque music is performed every year in numerous churches in the region. In the Ore Mountains, an alternative instrumental accompaniment has now been dared – and the concept worked perfectly
Envy, if it concentrates on wanting something too instead of begrudge others something, is not bad, but can even release valuable productive forces. The music of Johann Sebastian Bach is a good example of this. There is hardly any other composer whose works, in accordance with the wish “I want to be able to play that too!” are and were often rearranged for instruments or ensembles for which they were not originally intended – as far as one can say that about Bach, he was himself a diligent rearranger and multiple user.
And if the result is something as convincing as what around 400 guests were able to experience on Saturday evening in the St. Martin Church in Zschopau, the success proves the efforts right. Cantatas 1 to 3 from the Christmas Oratorio were conducted there with the excellently prepared choirs of Zschopau/Dittersdorf and Burgstädt as well as Jana Büchner (soprano), Sylvia Irmen (alto), Murilo Sousa (tenor, evangelist) and Sebastian Richter (bass) as soloists to experience the Zschopau cantor Carola Kowal. Accompanied by the Westfälische Saxophoniker instead of the chamber orchestra. The concert will be repeated on Sunday from 5 p.m. in the Burgstädt town church.
The nine musicians with saxophones ranging from soprano to double bass not only dutifully played Bach’s instrumental movements, but also repeatedly made excursions into jazzy, swinging spheres, based on Bach’s melodies and yet inspired by the idea of freedom. It doesn’t look like it’s been grafted on, but very organic, natural, self-explanatory, self-confident. Sometimes old and new can no longer be separated: Does Bach underscore the bass recitative “So geht denn hin, ihr Hirten” in the original with broken chords so that it sounds like Philip Glass? Doesn’t matter. Very cool. Just like the fact that, despite the short rehearsal time together, a balanced sound image between instrumentalists and vocalists was always maintained in advance.
All of this is probably due to the fact that the saxophone, if played by the right person, offers an immense range of expressive possibilities. Not only can it sound like itself, but it can also sound like brass, like oboes, emulating the matte luster of strings. Yes, deep instruments sound creakier than any double bass or, when blown intermittently, even have a percussive sound quality. The saxophone was not invented until 90 years after Bach’s death. But who, as is well known, was always very interested in all instrumental technical innovations of his time – consider his close contact with the Freiberg organ builder Gottfried Silbermann, the representative of the New Economy of his era par excellence – would have been enthusiastic about the possibilities of the instrument and especially about this concrete use. The audience was also enthusiastic, applauding extensively after an entertaining 100 minutes in the beautifully renovated, pleasantly simple interior and pleasantly warm house of God.
Christmas Oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach – further dates
Saturday, December 10th:
Laurentiuskirche, Auerbach/V.
Start: 5 p.m., admission from 4.30 p.m
St. Jakobi Church Stollberg
Start: 7.30 p.m
St. Annenkirche Annaberg-Buchholz
Start: 7 p.m
Sunday, December 11:
St. Mary’s Cathedral, Zwickau
Start: 5 p.m
Saturday, December 17:
Kreuzkirche, Chemnitz
Start: 6.30 p.m
Tuesday, December 27:
Aegidiuskirche Lengenfeld
Start: 5 p.m