Bach's Mass in B Minor combines Renaissance-style textures with 18th-century Italianate concerto style, and includes dance-like allusions unusual in traditional sacred genres.
Compositional Technique
Bach integrated existing music into the Mass in B Minor by altering sections, pairing movements from different sources, and adapting them to match in length.
Composition History
The 'Missa' (Kyrie and Gloria) of the Mass in B Minor was completed in 1733, during a period of state-mandated mourning, which provided Bach with creative leisure.
Interpretation
This recording uses a vocal ensemble of 24 singers, with 'concertists' (soloists) singing not only arias but also sections and entire choral movements, creating a 'three-dimensional' sound.
Performer Biography
Andrea Marcon, the conductor, is the artistic director of La Cetra Basel and has performed as a conductor, harpsichordist, and organist on over 80 prize-winning recordings.
Composition History
Bach's Mass in B Minor is a compilation of four discrete sections, each with separate folders and title pages, suggesting it was not originally intended for a single performance.
Compositional Technique
Much of the Mass in B Minor reuses earlier music, a common practice in Bach's time, where the suitability and skillful reworking of music for a new context were valued.
