Tan Dun's 'Water Passion'

Composers Datebook

Synopsis

The year 2000 marked both the arrival of a new millennium and the 250th anniversary of the death of great German Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach.

The International Bach Academy in Stuttgart decided to mark the occasion by commissioning four composers to write four new passion settings, one each after the Gospel accounts of the evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. German composer Wolfgang Rihm was chosen for the St. Luke Passion; Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina for St. John’s; Argentine composer Osvaldo Golijov for St. Mark’s; and Chinese composer Tan Dun for the Passion according to St. Matthew.

And on today’s date in 2000, Helmuth Rilling conducted the world premiere of Dun’s Water Passion after St. Matthew. Dun said he was struck by the references to water in St. Matthew’s gospel, so his setting includes seventeen large, illuminated bowls of water, positioned on stage in the form of a cross. These divide the chorus, with three percussionists and a group of additional soloists stationed at the four points of this cross.

In Water Passion, natural sounds of water mix with a wide range of vocal techniques, including Tuvan throat singing and the stylized virtuosity of Peking Opera.

Music Played in Today's Program

Tan Dun (b. 1957): Water Passion; Stephen Bryant, bass; Mark O’Connor, violin; ensemble; Tan Dun, conductor; Sony 89927