Johannes Passion - Herr, unser Herrscher

Beautiful? No, this is Bach's music.

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[prohlep]

Stormy tempo and not understandable details are important to correctly recall the passion, what was quickly over just before anybody could understand what was really going on.

The right tempo is faster than the emotion of the audience. It is right not to give room for the audience to catch all the details during the performance. The understanding comes later in mind.

Passion was an unexpected storm between two fronts: what the mankind was expected, and what the Lord gave to the mankind.

[juenatics]

this tempo is exactly right - it highlights the sturm und drang effect that late Bach works were designed to express. the tempo highlights the intense pathos of this opening movement -- lines of imitative polyphony blended together into a single dark stormy swirl of emotions.

[nasty nancy]

I want the rest of this performance!!!! please post more!

[Pavel Bažant]

+1 for pointing out that unconventional interpretations can reveal interesting aspects of the compositions!

[kleenex9981]

300km/h

[modernknightone]

What I like about this version is that the second and third chords in the primary motif are actually and remarkably correct and in tune --- not slaughtered or overshadowed by one particular part of the choir. Those chords are so important in establishing the ethereal nature and subject of the piece, and usually they are butchered in most versions. I too like this tempo very much even though I am usually partial to a slightly slower tempo - to really soak in the music and experience.

[Flyalp]

Inascoltabile!!!



[Counterpointful]

Richtig !

[alverd7]

If you play quarter note = 120 is even shocking. But music dessapeared long ago... Why fast = intense emotion? Lol. Why this too fast tempo? Is not a matter of "conventional interpretation". The point is why one tempo or another? With this tempo you loose almots the power of the dissonances in oboi, so the pain of Christ.

[Timrath]

Because the conductor really understood this music.

You probably think it's too fast, but that's just because you're used to certain other recordings.

Personally, I prefer being flexible and listening to radically different interpretations that reveal aspects not touched by conventional interpretations. It's a question of whether one wants to have a broad or a narrow horizon.

[gtinebike]

I instantly thought the tempo was too fast. The singers can barely get through it. The running time says it all at 90s faster than usual. I have heard much better versions

[Lianto Tjahjoputro]

Really difficult to decide tempo Herr unser herscher. Many pro contra. Fast tempo..... i feel great energi like God destroy everything bad energie. But Philippe Herreweghe also very greatttt , slow version make powerful spiritual energie. Better we play sometimes fast version and anotherday slow version