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Tonic Jukebox History

WEEK THIRTEEN - Oratorios and Cantatas
An oratorio is usually religious in nature and longer than a cantata, which is often secular in content.
Monday June 8
Carmina Burana [1936, Orff]  Cantata
O Fortuna
Enjoy watching the timpanist and Simon Rattle's impressive conducting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OKXZ0aF8UQ
Link to some photos when Tonic sang this at the Royal Albert Hall

Tuesday June 9
Elijah [1846, Mendelssohn]  Oratorio
One of the great oratorios and my favourite
Bryan and I independently chose the same recording when buying for ourselves.
It features a wonderful line-up of soloists and I have found it on-line.

Dame Gwyneth Jones/Dame Janet Baker/Nicolai Gedda/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Two extracts for you:
O come every one that thirsteth -
the penultimate piece and a wonderful quartet 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84xjtWaYn-o

And then shall your light break forth
The final chorus - 
do try to pick out your line (SATB) - especially the tenors for the final 'Amens'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7XARj0FD9E

Wednesday June 10
Messiah [1741, Handel] Oratorio
Royal Choral Society: 'Hallelujah Chorus' from Handel's Messiah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUZEtVbJT5c
It has become a tradition for the audience to stand up for the "Hallelujah Chorus," although it is unknown when this practice began.
There is a well-known but apocryphal story of King George II attending a royal performance of Messiah and supposedly rising to his feet during the Hallelujah Chorus. Whenever the king stood up, everyone in his presence had to stand, hence the whole audience rose to their feet as well. However, this story does not appear to be based on any historical source. (Wikipedia)


Thursday June 11
The Dream of Gerontius [1900, Elgar]  Oratorio
Dame Janet Baker: The Angel's Farewell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfomgYzeiOI

Janet Baker story (with apologies for being a day late)
It was about 6pm in the Barnett household and we were just sitting down to eat.
The phone rang; I answered it.
A voice said: "Hello, Janet Baker here"
My mind raced through all of Judy's family as her maiden name was 'Baker'.
I could not think of a 'Janet' and then it hit me - I was talking to DAME JANET BAKER.
Immediately I stood a little straighter.
We had invited her to be our guest of honour at the first Voices for Hospices in 2013.
She lives on Harrow Hill, so it would have been local for her.
Having received my letter she was calling to apologise for turning us down.
Her reason was the uncertainty around carers for her husband.
She was worried that she might have to let us down at the last minute to look after her him.
Recently there was an excellent documentary about this very special lady.
I will never forget the kind phone call she made to me.


Friday June 12
Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast [Cantata, 1898]
Music by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Coleridge-Taylor
Two extracts:
Then said they to Chibiabos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6vGJ0QfDjM
The piece that immediately follows is a beautiful tenor solo.
When we performed the piece at school, the solo was beautifully sung by Bryan's Dad, Harvey.

Onaway! Awake, beloved!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BtwDhNMxVQ

Weekend June 13/14
Tablet Tango from Seven Ages of Man [Cantata, 2014]
Music by Bryan Kesselman: Words by Philip Barnett
Seven Ages of Man is a cantata which takes as its starting point the ‘All the world’s a stage’ speech from Shakespeare’s As You Like It. This was used as a jumping off point to consider aspects of each of the seven ages as they apply today. It was written to be performed by a community choir and soloists. The entire piece runs for about 30 minutes and has been performed on three occasions, once with orchestra.
Tablet Tango is the 6th age in the cantata.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j2sYqnXpbo