St. Matthew Passion

This afternoon (Saturday), Ellen and I have been listening to a recording of the entire St. Matthew Passion of J. S. Bach. It is something we have wanted to do for some time, and we actually found the time to do it. It is a dark and rainy afternoon, and it has been perfect sitting here by our cozy fireplace listening to beautiful music. It also has brought back memories, because we have listened to a 1999 recording of the Passion by the Blanche Moyse Chorale and New England Bach Festival Orchestra, led by Blanche Moyse. I was a member of the Chorale and am singing in this performance. It was my incredible privilege to sing all the major choral works of Bach many times under Blanche's direction for 30 years. This performance featured Hyunah Yu as soprano, Mary Westbrook-Geha, mezzo (Mary is now the organist at the Dummerston Church); John Shirley-Quirk, Jesus; Frederick Urrey, tenor; John Humphrey, Evangelist; and Sanford Sylvan, baritone. It brought us to tears several times. The tears have to do with the power of the music, the depth of the story behind it, and the memories of a world I inhabited back then that is lost to me now, but which I still remember vividly.

The Blanche Moyse Chorale - a picture made after Blanche had retired, and Mary Westbrook-Geha was our director. I'm at the end of the top row on the right.

Blanche Moyse

Mary Westbrook-Geha; an earlier publicity photo

John Shirley-Quirk, tenor

Sanford Sylvan, baritone.