What follows are a few videos of the event I shot in Claremont.

Easter is the time to listen to the greatest holy music ever composed. Appreciating the holiest of music will force the serious listener back about two to four centuries, with an occasional exception.

A few of my favorites (I’ve provided links to Classical Archives, where you can listen to samples):

The Passion According to St. John by Henrich Schütz: This German composer was a contemporary of Shakespeare. He wrote three passions based on the gospels, but his “St. John” is the only one accompanied by music of any sort, mostly organ. It evokes something ancient, holy, and transcendent.

The Passion According to St. John by Johann Sebastian Bach: Historically the “St. John Passion” has always held the dubious distinction of being considered the lesser of Bach’s passions; his “St. Matthew” is regarded as one of the greatest and most revered spiritual artworks of Western culture. “St. John” is shorter, with a performance length of a little less than two hours, and its sense of intimacy and drama and spirituality are profound. Despite the politically correct obligation of an apologia these days for its perceived antisemitism, “St. John” has unfortunately never been the crowd-pleaser of the likes of “St. Matthew,” which is unfortunate. Its beauty and sense of loss are stunning.

The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross by Franz Joseph Hadyn: Using the seven utterances (not the seven literal words) that Christ pronounced while nailed to the cross, Haydn references an older style of church music, embedding monophonic chant into the recitative portions.

Christ on the Mount of Olives by Ludwig van Beethoven: Beethoven had little interest in the liturgical function of passion oratorios. He was more interested in the crucifixion as a dramatic event, and so by offering a dramatic portrayal of Christ’s sufferings, he focuses less on the salvation aspects of the passion and more on Christ’s psychological torment.

Passio Domini Nostri Jesu Christi secundum Joannem by Arvo Pärt: The only twentieth century passion that blends plainsong chant with a powerfully moving asceticism to create an undeniably mystical depiction of Christ death.