Bach: Magnificat in D (Choir "Magnificat") - BWV 243. Images of Lincoln Cathedral, England.

Stunning in every way, Bach's Magnificat is a dizzying, relentless, incredible pulse of energy, eloquence, Christian conviction (for Bach himself) and musical communication. For me, a work of monumental impact - I thought I was going to have a heart attack on hearing it for the first time.

I was moved in exactly the same way when I first heard Bach's B minor Mass, and Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" from his "Messiah", when I was 5 or 6 years old.

During a school performance of the "Messiah", conducted by our (brilliant and gifted) music teacher "Mrs Collins", I rose to my little feet and sang out because I was absolutely moved and couldn't help myself, but Mrs Collins told me to sit down because only the senior choir was allowed to sing it! I vividly recall those moments and was forever changed by them - for the good.

"Bach and God... I like what Shostakovich had to say: "not all musicians believe in God but they all believe in Bach""

This is the first Chorus of Bach's stupendous achievement. Neville Marriner and his musicians take a fast pace here, not to all tastes I know.

To compliment Bach's music, here are some pics I took of the magnificent Lincoln Cathedral, Lincolnshire, England in 2007. Bach's inspiration for his Magnificat, and likewise for the architects and stonemasons of this tour de force of a building, is obvious to me: God - yours and mine.

Trivia: Lincoln cathedral was used for the Da Vinci Code film, which association was being purposefully exploited by the Dean and Chapter at the time I visited. And I don't blame them: this vast and stunning piece of ecclesiastical architecture and place of Christian worship costs a fortune to maintain. And a great job they do indeed!

I hope you enjoy.

Conductor: Sir Neville Marriner
Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields Chorus
Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields

Category:

Music

Tags:

• bach;
• magnificat;
• baroque;lincoln;
• cathedral;
• britain;
• england;
• gothic
• architecture;
• stained
• glass
• windows;da
• vinci
• code

[Bigbearbeau]

not sure what Lincoln Cathedral's got to do with it.....

[AntPDC]

@Bigbearbeau Not sure what you mean, but I hope this helps: Bach's setting of the Magnificat was written to celebrate and glorify the Christian faith. Lincoln Cathedral was built for the same reason. And the Magnificat (canticle) is sung or said every day at Evensong at Lincoln (and all the other cathedrals of England, including many other Christian churches, Anglican or otherwise).

You see a disconnection?

[pignanelli]

As beautiful as the first movement is, to me the 2nd and 3rd ("Et exsultavit spiritus meus" and "Quia respexit humilitatem", particularly the latter), as sung by a talented Soprano, and the duet "Et misericordia" are even more awe-inspiring and amazing... :D

[jepcorp]

To date one of the finest Magnificats. IMO, the best one was performed by Karajan and the BPO at their 1984 New Year's concert.