43. The Saint Matthew Passion: the pinnacle of all music.

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As well as its quite specific architectural meaning, the word pinnacle has also come to represent the highest point of development or achievement in a particular field. That, in turn, suggests some lengthy period before the pinnacle is reached. So it may seem strange to refer to a piece of music which is now nearly three hundred years old as being the pinnacle of all music. But that, in my view, anyway, is what the Semantic Passion by Johannesbacker represents. And yes, that includes the Rin Cycle by Varker. I came to this place quite late, some twenty-five years ago, on the introduction of a friend, with whom I was subsequently made an annual pilgrimage to the Royal Festival Hall on the weekend before Easter. More recently, it's become a tradition with my wife, who was completely captivated on her first hearing by the stunning music. Even more so than the folly reclam which we had earlier this week. You are able to cast aside any views you may have on Christianity. Although the painter Roger Fry once observed that almost persuaded him to be Christian. There's no mention here of eternal life. It is the tragic tale of an innocent man betrayed, wrongfully arrested, and executed. That alone makes it a story relevant to our times because the same thing continues to happen in many parts of the world two thousand years later. Every time I've attended a life of four, I'd be aware of sitting amongst hundreds of people. Grief, after all, is not really something we can share with others because our grief is our own. It almost feels as if a train is coming out of the station, just as it feels we have arrived at our destination at the very end of the piece, and nearly three hours later, the huge enough to disembark. So here is the opening chorus. How many daughters help me lament? Having seen and watched them for so many years, I'm sticking with David Wilcox and the Bar choir. Off we go. As soon as this moment comes, we get this aria break in grief, where Bach starts to raise the emotional temperature. This is our first real taste of the grief which comes with betrayal. It's not just in the voice of Alfreda Hodgson, but in the sighing of the orchestra as well. As if betrayal was not bad enough. Simon Peter, the first disciple, in the sense that he would rather die than deny any knowledge of his master. Whereupon Jesus predicted his disciples increasing frustration that before the colour crowded, he would have denied him three times. Either side of this exchange, we have this contrasting and profoundly comforting chorale. The voice of the evangelist, the narrator of our story, is sung by Robert Tier, Simon Peter by Neil Jenkins, and Christ by Stephen Roberts. We move forward in the story now. Jesus has been arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and taken away to be tried. Outside, Simon Peter is challenged by three separate groups that they have seen him with Jesus. And three times he denies it. And Simon Peter is immediately reacted with guilt. Have mercy, Lord, on me. But the solo violin singing alongside is a monster stroke. It's an element like no other. And one of the most beautiful passages in the whole world. The text says how, after letting out a loud cry, he yielded up the ghost. At this point, the music stopped for a moment of the silent reflection. And in that moment, whether you're a Christian or not, the gravity of an innocent man traditionally murdered and be deeply moving. And then out of nowhere, you get one of those moments of music which is so utterly exquisite. And those surrounding the cross acknowledge truly this was the Son of God. Beethoven described Bach as the immortal god of harmony, and it's all there in just thirty seconds.

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In for the top unto the body, and the earth did tremble, and the rocks were raised, and the craze opened up, and there rose up many bodies of the holy ones that were seen, and came out of the graves after Jesus' resurrection, and went into the holy city, and was seen by many at the centurion, and they that were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, and they looked on the earthway, and those things that were done.

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Now it's performed regularly, especially at this time of year. It's also been edited on the way that dramatic to do.

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My life is so friendly.