Saturday, March 26, 2016

Holy Oakland: St John Passion at St Paul's











Crossing over 
to the sunny side of the street



 St John's Passion
Bach gazes on divinity,
The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ



 1.
Liturgy of Good Friday


 Aspirations
and prayers




 As I came in they were commencing
The part of the service
In which an enormous wooden cross
Is brought in and set before the altar
The clergy then the congregation
Went up in succession to kneel down
and put upon it their hands




  Reverend Doctor Mauricio 
The three main vocalists standing,
White-beard Philip Saunders sings 
the words of Jesus,
Bass voice Paul Tavernier sings Pilate's





 Jesus dies on the cross




 Joshua Black
Standing at the eagle lectern,
Sings the role of the Evangelist
Narrating as it were




  I know the archlute player
Theorbo to us hep cats,
Howard's Jewish 
But then so was Saint Paul



 Like many of us here
Jesus has snow on the roof today







 Jesus is taken down from the cross




 Tenor Kyle Stegall
Bach provided him with soaring sustained notes
and God gave him the gift to hit them





 Bringing up the reserved hosts
Candles I'd noticed
A-lit in a side altar




Alto solo
Frankie Mansfield
Poised and perfect





 The foreboding cross




 The Saints were wiped out
The crisis of illumination




 Dr. David Farr
Conducts 
the brilliant denouement



 My heart has joined in 
and I've taken Communion
We are borne aloft with Christ




 Jesus is laid in the tomb






 2.
The Altar 
Piece de Resistance



The Clergy and the main vocalists
Formally approach the cross


Though three people strained to carry it in,
Solid heavy wood
Rev Mauricio single-handedly 
Picks it up





Puts it on his shoulder



And carries it all around
The Stations of the Cross


He is not only a Man of God,
He's a man



Someone to get in line behind



 3.
Le Clavier




 An exquisite harpsichord




 Where fine art and craftmanship meet



 

Kathleen McIntosh 
on the ivories,
Brilliantly




 Baroque inlay interior
I sat close as I could
To hear Bach's inventions
Played just so







 4.
What would Jesus Smoke? 











Jesus and his cousin
Rolling a smoke
25 March 2016



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