Kyrie, Christe, Kyrie

Kyrie, Christe, Kyrie

BWV 242 performed by the Netherlands Bach Society
conducted by Jos van Veldhoven
Walloon Church, Amsterdam

  • Menu
  • 1. Kyrie eleison
  • 2. Christe eleison
  • 3. Kyrie eleison

Behind the music

Story
Story
Extra videos
Extra videos
Texts
Texts
Credits
Credits

A snippet of Bach

Bach replaced the middle section by Durante with a new duet

In Leipzig, Bach not only performed his own music, but also conducted and performed many works by other composers. Sometimes he gave them a personal twist, like in this Kyrie. The Kyrie, a three-part prayer for mercy that calls on God, Jesus and God in turn, was also sung or recited in the Lutheran service in Leipzig on feast days. This setting by Francesco Durante, which comes from a complete Mass, was probably copied by Bach in the second half of 1727. In copying it, he decided to replace the middle section of Durante’s composition with his own notes, composing a new duet to the words Christe eleison (Christ have mercy). He then used the beginning of Durante’s Gloria for the second Kyrie.

We can only guess at Bach’s reason for intervening in Durante’s music. Maybe he found Durante’s structure too cheerful or too monotonous – the Christe was also four-part with string accompaniment – and he aimed to lend some contrast by adding the duet, as conductor Jos van Veldhoven suggests in the accompanying interview.

BWV
242
Title
Christe eleison in G minor
Genre
Latin church music
Year
ca. 1727-1731
City
Leipzig
Text
Mass text
Special notes
Insert in a Kyrie by Johann Ludwig Bach/Franceso Durante

Extra videos

Conductor Jos van Veldhoven

“Giovanni Sebastiani Bach sends his regards.”

Vocal texts

Original

Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.

Translation

Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.

Credits

  • Release date
    2 April 2020
  • Recording date
    10 February 2018
  • Location
    Walloon Church, Amsterdam
  • Conductor
    Jos van Veldhoven
  • Soprano
    Maria Keohane
  • Alto
    Tim Mead
  • Tenor
    Daniel Johannsen
  • Bass
    Matthew Brook
  • Ripieno soprano
    Hilde Van Ruymbeke, Marjon Strijk
  • Ripieno alto
    Barnabás Hegyi, Marleene Goldstein
  • Ripieno tenor
    Kevin Skelton, Guy Cutting
  • Ripieno bass
    Drew Santini, Matthew Baker
  • Violin 1
    Shunske Sato, Anneke van Haaften, Pieter Affourtit
  • Violin 2
    Sayuri Yamagata, Lidewij van der Voort, Paulien Kostense
  • Viola
    Staas Swierstra, Jan Willem Vis
  • Cello
    Lucia Swarts, Richte van der Meer
  • Double bass
    Robert Franenberg
  • Bassoon
    Benny Aghassi
  • Organ
    Leo van Doeselaar
  • Harpsichord
    Siebe Henstra
  • Director and editor
    Bas Wielenga
  • Music recording
    Guido Tichelman, Bastiaan Kuijt, Pim van der Lee
  • Music edit and mix
    Guido Tichelman
  • Camera
    Merijn Vrieling, Ivo Palmen, Martin Struijf, Bjorn Tiebout
  • Lights
    Zen Bloot, Henry Rodgers, Patrick Galvin
  • Assistant director
    Ferenc Soeteman
  • Video engineer
    Vincent Nugteren
  • Set technique
    Dennis van Hoek
  • Data handling
    Jesper Blok
  • Project manager nep
    Peter Ribbens
  • Interview
    Onno van Ameijde, Marloes Biermans
  • Producer concert
    Imke Deters
  • Producer film
    Jessie Verbrugh

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