Fling wide the Gates! (4/15/22)

I debated about writing this. Was it a church service? Was it a concert/performance? I answered, “Yes.”

The Crucifixion – John Stainer (1840–1901)
Jeffrey Traveras (tenor); Nathaniel Sullivan (baritone); Alistair Reid (organist); [conductor not credited].
The Brick Church (92nd St. Park Ave., NYC)

Composed in 1877, this cantata for soloists, choir, and congregation is a work that sort of epitomizes Victoriana. On another forum, I likened it to Gilbert & Sullivan … but without the humor. Stainer uses some of the same clichés that Sullivan did. Especially a solo reed (in the organ) against a subtle orchestral/organ backdrop.

Full disclosure, I performed the work at age 13, 14, 15 (or all of them). As a result, parts of the work are seared into my brain.

The choir (I’m assumed paid) and soloists (I’m assumed paid) acquitted themselves very well. I really did not remember the congregation joining in hymns throughout, but, hey! I was already singing them back in the day. For the record, my hymn singing and sight reading leave a lot to be desired these days. But I did plug away at singing the tenor part on internal verses of the hymns.

So much that I remembered—“Here in abasement, crowned, poor, disrobed, and bleeding”—I didn’t realize then that ‘abasement’ was not ‘a basement’. And I was in southeastern VA. What did I even know of basements as a choirboy?!?

Drama? Yes, there was Victoriana drama—“And led him away to the high priest.” Did I mention, “Fling wide the gates!?”

“Could ye not watch with me one brief hour?”

And the a cappella chorus “God So Loved the World” is always moving.

The ending? Simple and perfect. “And he bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.”

This was the 98th annual performance of The Crucifixion at The Brick Church. I may go back for number 100. I may not, though.

ConcertMeister