JS Bach: Mass in B minor | St George's Singers

‘The greatest musical work of art of all times and of all nations.’ That was the verdict of Hans Georg Nägeli, the first publisher of the Mass in B minor. Whilst Nägeli clearly had a financial interest in selling copies of the score, few today would disagree with his assessment of this most glorious of choral masterpieces despite the almost 200 years of musical history that have elapsed since.

The Mass was compiled by Bach in the last years of his life from pieces he had composed throughout his long career, creating a coherent, unified and magnificent work of art which brings together an unprecedented range of musical style: stile antico, profoundly expressive choruses, highly ornamented and ‘modern’ writing in the solo arias, and secular dance music found throughout. It is now widely agreed that he wrote it for his own satisfaction and for posterity as a summary of all his towering musical achievement. Intellectually, spiritually and musically, the Mass in B minor unites his creed as a Christian with his creed as a musician, and is the supreme expression of universality.