Bach B minor Mass

A component of the baroque era that is new and exciting to me is the idea of different keys being chosen for their "affective characteristics" of their individual sound, and each key having an entirely different feel. Not only does the text match the music, as in tone painting, first taken to the extreme by some Ars Nova composers, but even the very key that it is placed in has a special meaning.
I researched "Affective Key Characteristics" and pulled up a chart from a music theory class website at Western Michigan University. http://www.wmich.edu/mus-theo/courses/keys.html


1 a) Kyrie Eleison is in b minor.
b minor is as it were the key of patience, of calm awaiting one's fate and of submission to divine dispensation.
This is obviously an appropriate key, as the soprano is pleading, "God have Mercy" on us, our souls.

b) Christe Eleison is in D Major.
D Major is "the key of triumph, of Hallejuahs, of war-cries, of victory-rejoicing. Thus, the inviting symphonies, the marches, holiday songs and heaven-rejoicing choruses are set in this key."
This is also an appropriate key. First, it's the relative Major of b minor, but also, "Chrise Eleison," Christ have mercy, is a happier thought, as he was sent to earth to sacrifice himself on our behalf, so he is the "good guy" in the equation, thus inviting a happier feeling, and thus a happier key.

c) Kyrie Eleison is in f# minor.
f# minor is "a gloomy key: it tugs at passion as a dog biting a dress. Resentment and discontent are its language."
Bach doesn't seem to make this piece feel gloomy, but rather has a beautiful and different flow to it. It is different from the first Kyrie Eleison because it's in the style of Palestrina.

Gloria
a) Gloria In Excelsis is in D Major
Obviously, "Gloria in the highest" is going to be in a much happier key of victory rejoicing. The singers are singing along with the orchestra.

Ah. I see they are not using period instruments, (except for the vocalists) because i see a piccolo trumpet. This is an excellent performance by the brass section. I also like the cinematography. When the trumpets have a feature, they camera sometimes goes to them, and when the sopranos have a hit, they show them on camera. Sometimes I wish the choir were more in tune, especially during big choruses, but overall this is an pleasant performance to listen to.

c) Laudamus Te is in A Major.
It is with a soprano solo that is heavily melismatic. "And on Earth, peace." Bach probably used this texture because it's as if an an angel is singing to us from the heavens. A Major is b minor's Major Dominant relation.
A Major "includes declarations of innocent love, satisfaction with one's state of affairs; hope of seeing one's beloved again when parting; youthful cheerfulness and trust in God."

d) Gratias agimus tibi is in D Major
This is a highly fanfare-sounding piece, indicative of D Major. "We give thee thanks."

e) Domine Deus is in G Major
G Major is a related key to D Major, which is a related to b minor. So, G Major is the Major Subdominant of b minor. This part starts with a flute solo (how unfortunate) and features a tenor-soprano duet. This and the other soprano solo are Da Capo Arias. Cool. This is very Baroque.

f) Qui tollis peccata mundi is back to b minor.
"Who takes away the sins of the world," again "submission to divine dispensation"

g) Qui sedes ad dextram Patris - b minor.
"Who sits at the right hand of the father," with alto solo and oboe interlude. The outline says oboe, but the video seems to show an English Horn instead. Oh. Dr. Reed said that it's the Oboe d'Amore... Oboe of love? I would be curious to learn more about this. Ok. I did research. It is larger and more serene than the oboe. Great!

g) Quoniam tu solus sanctus in D Major.
HECK YES! BASS-HORN DUET! "For you alone are Holy." I see that Bach recognizes that the horn alone is worthy of holiness. Ah. This is excellent. It's very challenging to play horn that high so quietly and lightly, I can respect that.

Well, the Bach mass in b minor was wonderful to listen to. I approve. As have millions of others, I'm sure.