Saint Nicholas (cantata)

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Sankt Nikolaus (also Sankt Nikolaus-Cantata , English Saint Nicolas Cantata ) is a cantata by the British composer Benjamin Britten from 1948 . The cantata is composed for mixed choir , tenor solo, piano , strings , percussion and organ as well as a small children's choir and describes the life of Bishop Nikolaus von Myra .

Emergence

The cantata was written in 1948 for a school festival at Lancing College in Lancing , Sussex . The resources available to Britten also determined the composition and structure of the work. An amateur orchestra and a four-part student choir as a mixed choir were used; however, the orchestra was supported by five professional musicians. The premiere took place in June 1948 at the Aldeburgh Festival , which Britten co-founded ; the official premiere is the performance in the "Lancing College Chapel" at its centenary on July 24, 1948.

plant

Britten described his composition as a cantata, although it clearly has the characteristics of an oratorio . It alternate recitative sections and arioso from parts which, in turn, with choral scenes and chorales are divided, which are sung by the listening community.

Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children, sailors and travelers as well as the city of Lancing - which was certainly important for Britten's choice of material - is portrayed by Britten as a strong personality. The text comes from the librettist Eric Crozier , who worked with Britten for several years. There is a published German translation by Renate Frank-von Aschoff. The English version is performed more often than the German. The performance of the work takes about 1 hour.

The cantata is divided into the following nine sections:

I. Introduction

The introduction has the mystical character of a conjuring up of Nicholas. Homophonic choir passages alternate with tenor solos.

II. The birth of Nicholas

The second part is about the birth of Nicholas and the greetings of people and nature. In addition to the orchestral accompaniment, only the soprano and alto voices of the choir and the young Nicholas, whose vocal part is taken over by a boy, sing. At the end, the solo tenor begins and sings the line previously sung by the boy in his own voice.

III. Nicholas dedicates his life to God

The third part consists of Nicholas' vow to consecrate his life to God. The choir is silent in this part.

IV. He's going to Palestine

Nicholas' journey to Palestine is a naturalistic depiction when the pianos represent a wave movement or the oars plunging into the water due to the constant ups and downs in their score. The arrival of the storm and the waning winds are also clearly expressed. In this part, the small children's choir is used in the gallery for the first time; only the male voices sing in the choir.

V. Nikolaus comes to Myra and is elected bishop

Nikolaus' arrival in Myra and his election as bishop is first represented by homophonic choral movements accompanied by the organ, alternating with the gallery choir. The homophony is followed by a fugue of the choir, which ends in a solemn chorale , which is also sung by the community.

VI. Nicholas' story from prison

The sixth part deals with the persecution of Christians and Nicholas' years in captivity. In this part too the choir is silent.

VII. Nicholas brings three boys back to life

The seventh section begins with the desperate search of the Myrans for three boys named Johann, Tim and Mark. Then Nikolaus finds the dead children and brings them back to life. The section ends with the alleluia chant by the three boys, the gallery choir and the overall choir.

VIII. His piety and wonderful works

After the exemplary miracle, the eighth part is followed by thanks and praise from those whom Nicholas helped in need. More of his acts are covered in short sections.

IX. The death of Nicholas

After the last words of Nicholas, the choir sings in unison (unanimously) about his departure into the afterlife . The end of the Our Father's prayer and the end of Psalm 100 are sung before the final chorale solemnly ends the cantata.

literature

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Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Sankt Nikolaus on the website of the Johannes Kantorei, Merzhausen, accessed on November 11, 2016.