Bach. Mass in B Minor

Johann Sebastian Bach’s Mass in B minor, also known as the “High Mass”, is widely regarded as one of the pinnacles of sacred music. It is both the creative climax of the composer's legacy and a summary of his personal spiritual experience – a work that transcends the boundaries of time, style, and religious denominations. The piece was composed over nearly a quarter of a century and completed towards the end of Bach’s life, in 1748-1749.
This monumental mass comprises 27 movements – from the majestic Kyrie to the triumphant Dona nobis pacem. Along with chorales, arias, duets, and virtuoso fugues, there shine richly orchestrated ensembles, and their fusion of different vocal and instrumental timbres builds a cathedral of sounds that astonishes the listener.
Although the “High Mass” is now considered a structurally and emotionally unified work, its creation was a long and creatively diverse process. In it, Bach combined both newly composed parts and previously composed fragments, often reworking prewritten material.
During Johann Sebastian Bach’s lifetime, the mass was not performed in its entirety – some of its movements would be played in specific liturgical contexts. It is of symbolic and historical significance that this work was first fully premiered almost a century after the composer’s death – at a time when Europe was rediscovering J.S. Bach’s music. Leipzig, and St Thomas’s Church in particular, where J.S. Bach spent many years leading the musical life, became the site of his creative legacy’s revival.
Nowadays, the “High Mass” is no mere liturgical music anymore – it is a monumental concert work: musically theatrical, emotionally charged, and deeply spiritual. We are privileged to hear Johann Sebastian Bach's life’s work as a whole today – moving beyond time and space, to be experienced as a masterpiece of art.

 

Programme

Johann Sebastian Bach’s Mass in B Minor

Participants

Gunta Gelgote, soprano
Ilze Grēvele-Skaraine, soprano
Doroteja Bīnerte, mezzo-soprano
Nicholas Mulroy, tenor
Rihards Millers, bass-baritone
Latvian Radio Choir
Sinfonietta Rīga
Conductor Kaspars Putniņš