Concertkoor Haarlem is a vital quality-choir directed by Bernhard Touwen, performing a great diversity of oratorio.
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Advent concert - Bach, Mendelssohn, Beethoven.
25 September 2024
Our next concert will be on Sunday 1 December 2024. We will perform the following pieces:
"Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland" by Johann Sebastian Bach
Bach composed his chorale cantata "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland" BWV 62 for the first Sunday of Advent in the year 1724. Advent is traditionally a period of subdued expectation and preparation for Christmas. Therefore, there are no exuberant trumpets and timpani in this cantata; nevertheless, Bach makes it musically festive. Central is the chorale ‘Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland’, which Luther wrote especially for the first Sunday of Advent. The song was very popular; Bach used text and melody in two other cantatas and in numerous chorale arrangements for organ.
In the 1724 cantata, we hear the chorale at the beginning and at the end. In between, the four vocal soloists make themselves heard in two arias and recitatives. With Bach, we move confidently towards Christmas.
"Verleih’ uns Frieden" by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy.
This cantata is a prayer for peace to Luther’s text where by Frieden he means that special inner peace that can only be granted to us gnädiglich from God.
"Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her" by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy.
The instrumentation and sometimes harmonies of this best-known German Christmas song from 1539 echoes not only Luther but also Bach, creating a tuneful Christmas atmosphere.
"Mass in C" by Ludwig von Beethoven
Beethoven received a commission from Prince Nikolaus Esterházy in April 1807 from Eisenstadt, who asked him to write a mass for his wife Maria’s name day. Since Haydn had already successfully done this before, Beethoven accepted the commission with great trepidation. The work was performed on 13 September 1807 in the Eisenstadt castle church under the composer’s direction. The reception was particularly cool; the style of the composition deviated from what was usual at the time. Beethoven left town the same day, withdrawing the commission and donating the mass afterwards to Prince Ferdinand Kinsky. Unlike the more instrumental masses of his contemporaries, Beethoven had written a truly vocal work. The singing voices are almost universally in the lead. Remarkably, Beethoven conceived the text and the music as one. He mixed solos, choral pieces and orchestra. With Beethoven, the key of C major of the mass is pre-eminently the key of tranquillity and enlightenment. Besides the urge for internalisation, this Mass contains a great dramatic portrayal that was unusual for his contemporaries.
Want to sing along? Come join us.