A wide spectrum of academic and religious leaders were represented in the five member panel which discussed the issues of Bach and the Gospel of John. From right to left
“Music Beyond Boundaries” is the theme of this year’s Oregon Bach Festival and boundaries were the topic of discussion Wednesday night at Beall Hall. A five-person panel addressed the controversy surrounding tonight’s performance of Bach’s masterpiece “St. John Passion.”
When performed in 1995 at the Festival to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, the presentation was met with dissension and protest. After five years without the piece as a part of the event’s lineup, the Bach Festival organizers are bringing it back.
Commentary during the piece, which is sung in German, includes phrases from the Gospel of John that many believe are anti-Semitic. The discussion sought to address the concerns regarding the piece’s selection as part of the festival, and opened up dialogue among the 200 people in attendance at Beall.
Representing the spectrum of academic knowledge, community religious leaders and musicologists, many gave their opinions about “St. John Passion.”
The panel discussed the meaning and background of Bach’s lyrics, and how they should be critically examined.
“Is there anti-Judaism in the text? In my opinion, yes,” said Rabbi Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin, of Temple Beth Israel in Eugene. “What is the moral responsibility of the festival? What is the balance between respect for the art and respect for the human being?”
Though there was little disagreement whether the text contained anti-Judaism or anti-Semitic phrases, the communication revolved around the words’ impact on an event such as the Bach Festival.
“Bach makes certain historical elements so alive that people are forced to have an encounter with it,” said Thomas Sommerville, professor of music emeritus at Occidental College in California.
While others agreed that the lyrics can be offensive, they also said that the music is an important part of our history and can be used as an educational tool.
“Why do we still perform it? Bach wrote 1,100 works — why not perform one of those?” said Reverend Daniel E.H. Bryant, of the First Christian Church in Eugene. “It should be performed more than others because it raises these difficult issues.”
George Evano, OBF’s director of communications, said that “St. John Passion” was included this year because the festival is commemorating the 250th anniversary of Bach’s death, and his most important works are being performed.
“Every time that piece is played in the U.S., the issue [of anti-Semitism] comes up again,” Evano said.
Evano said there had been little public response to the playing of the piece before the scheduled panel discussion.
“We’re going to do the piece but we have non-musical programs in place to deal with these issues,” he said.
In order to address the issues raised by “St. John Passion,” as well as other works, the Bach Festival organizers present the Discovery Series, a program intended to create dialogue instead of dissension. The intent of the series is “to take apart the work and look at how the words are married to the music,” Evano said.
The Discovery Series is lecture-concerts narrated by Bach Festival co-founder Helmuth Rilling, who is also the festival’s artistic director and conductor.
As the first German conductor invited to perform in Israel after World War II, Rilling is known for his efforts on behalf of reconciliation.
Before each piece, Rilling explains the music and text and their interrelations, a tradition that in itself brings fame to the Bach Festival.
“You have to have educational context behind it,” Bryant said, referring to the historical connotations that are an important part of “St. John Passion.”
The 31st annual Bach Festival started June 23 and runs through July 9. The “St. John Passion” performances begin tonight, and will be performed in four sections on four separate days.
A second discussion, led by Michael Marissen and titled “Lutheranism, Anti-Judaism, and Bach’s St. John Passion,” is scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m. in Beall Concert Hall.