Today we hear the final three movements of the Credo section of the Mass. After the overwhelming emotions of yesterday’s three choruses, the bass aria “Et in Spiritum Sanctum” comes as refreshing relief – a calm, gentle, sweet piece with ravishing solos from the two oboe d’amores. With the “Confiteor” chorus Bach returns to an ancient Renaissance contrapuntal style. And it is almost a cappella. The only accompaniment for the chorus is bass instruments and organ. One of the most amazing moments of the entire Mass occurs at the end of this movement: it has been moving along consistently for a couple of minutes; then, all of a sudden, it grinds to a halt and moves into a very slow, mysterious section with the first words of the next movement (Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum – And I wait for the resurrection of the dead.) Here this waiting for the resurrection is murky, as if we can’t picture what will happen. Then, suddenly everything explodes in joy as the resurrection is clear. This chorus (“Et expecto”) is one of the most thrilling, inspired creations Bach ever came up with!

– Dennis Keene

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BACH “Et in Spiritum Sanctum,” “Confiteor,” and “Et Expecto” from Mass in B Minor

Voices of Ascension
Dennis Keene, Artistic Director

Dashon Burton, bass-baritone
Diane Lesser and Marsha Heller, oboe d’amores

Recorded live in concert on February 27, 2014, at Church of the Ascension
The singers in this performance are represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO.