Bob Chilcott St John Passion

SATB and soloists (soprano, tenor, and two baritones), with organ or small ensemble Chilcott's mighty setting of words from the Gospel of St John is a dramatic yet optimistic retelling of the Passiontide story. As with Bach's great Passion settings, the role of the Evangelist is taken by the tenor soloist, who provides a melodious narrative throughout the work, in arioso style. The words of Jesus and Pilate are performed by solo baritones. Within the narrative, the SATB chorus becomes a crowd or a group of soldiers, commenting on the story in short outbursts, although the larger role of the choir is to perform the four meditations and five hymns that support the story. For the meditations-two of which include soprano solos-Chilcott has selected English poems from the 13th to the early 17th centuries.The five well-known hymn texts are set to new, original melodies, which are also intended for performance by an audience or congregation.

3 4 2 13. Hymn: There is

3 4 2 13. Hymn: There is a green hill far away Music: Bob Chilcott; Words: Mrs Cecil Frances Alexander (1818–95) LEDGER 4 1. There is a green hill far away, Without a city wall, Where the dear Lord was crucified, AMELIA Who died to save us all, Who 4 died to save us all. 3. He died that we might be forgiv’n, 4. O dearly, dearly has he loved, He died to make us good, That we might go at last to heav’n, Saved by his precious blood, And try his works to do, Saved by his precious blood. And try his works to do. 14. The Crucifixion John 19: 23–7 15. Meditation: Jesus, my Leman 13th-century English, adapted by Bob Chilcott When I see upon the Cross Jesus, my leman 1 , And by him standing Mary and Johan, With his back scourged And his side pierced, For the love of man, Well ought I to weep And sins relinquish, If I know of love. 1 leman = loved one 2. We may not know, we cannot tell, What pains he had to bear, But we believe it was for us He hung and suffered there, He hung and suffered there. for online perusal only And we must love him too, And trust in his redeeming blood, © Oxford University Press 2013 © Oxford University Press 2013 © Oxford University Press 2013 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: That the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! xi

2 4 © Oxford University Press 2013 16. Jesus Dies on the Cross John LEDGER 19: 28–30 4 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar; and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished. And he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. © Oxford University Press 2013 17. Hymn: When I survey the Wondrous Cross Music: Bob Chilcott; Words: Isaac Watts (1674–1748) AMELIA 4 for online perusal only © Oxford University Press 2013 1. When I survey the Wondrous Cross, On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride, And pour contempt on all my pride. 3. See from his head, his hands, his feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down; Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown, Or thorns compose so rich a crown? 2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God; All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood, I sacrifice them to his blood. 4. Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all, Demands my soul, my life, my all. xii