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Johann Sebastian Bach's 
Das Weihnachtsoratorium / The Christmas Oratorio

with Miguel Rodé
12 noon EST, 9am PST
December 18, 20 and 23

Registration Status: OPEN

Series Cost:   $75 for the series or $30 per session 

This is the music I listen to every year when I’m making Norwegian Julkake (using my Grandma’s recipe) and decorating the tree. It streams loudly, joyously, through the house. Jauchzet, frohlocket!

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In conjunction with our trip to the Netherlands to be present for the rehearsal and recording of the final three sections of Bach’s glorious tribute to the birth of Christ, and also simply with the Christmas celebration anywhere, Miguel will present to us the entire Oratorio during three 2-hour long sessions. As he did in the Cantata Series, Miguel will analyze the Oratorio to provide us with a deeper understanding and appreciation of this wonderful composition. We’ll examine the Oratorio’s roots in secular music, and look at how Bach repurposed the material to its  new context. Materials will be provided online: librettos, scores, program notes and links to recommended recordings. Miguel will select different performing ensembles to listen to in each session, so we’ll enjoy diverse sonorities and approaches to the work. We will end with questions and answers and further discussion.

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Session 1 (December 18)

  •  Part 1 – The birth of Jesus

  • Part 2 – The annunciation to the shepherds


Session 2 (December 20)

  • Part 3 – The adoration of the shepherds

  • Part 4 – Circumcision and naming of Jesus


Session 3 (December 23)

  • Part 5 – The journey of the Magi

  • Part 6 – The adoration of the Magi

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So why don’t you join us to definitely get in the Christmas spirit?

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Our goal is for everyone to recognize the genius of Bach, and to rejoice in the beauty of his works, while gaining an appreciation of his evolving language and style as he matured as a composer and reacted to the changing circumstances of his career.

  

“J.S. Bach,  Wie wunderbar sind deine Werke!”

Hosts

YOUR HOSTS

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Miguel Rodé
Facilitator

Miguel Rodé was born and raised in Montevideo, Uruguay and moved to the US in 2002 as part of his Information Technology career, currently residing in Seattle, WA.  A life-long music lover, over the years Miguel developed a special fascination with the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, and in particular with his cantatas and other vocal works. 


During the Covid pandemic, Miguel initiated a series of virtual meetings called "The Cantata Trail" with the intent of sharing this incredibly rich musical universe with some close friends. This small community grew organically through word of mouth to its current size of about 70 members.  In these meetings, Miguel introduces each piece on the program by providing historical context and some light musical analysis to serve as pointers for deeper appreciation.  The group then listens to the full piece, followed by group discussion and comments.

 

Miguel has been asked to facilitate workshops following the Cantata Trail model for the Whidbey Island Music Festival and the upcoming Seattle Bach Festival, and will be teaching a winter course on Bach Cantatas for Edmonds College’s Creative Retirement Institute. As a musician, Miguel plays the baroque flute and is a member of several chamber ensembles in the Seattle area, for which he also enjoys transcribing and arranging music.

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Joan Hill
Owner, Host, & Director

In 2008, the seed of Artful Journeys was planted in her brain, when Joan brought together all of her life's passions, her love of music, an affinity for the beautiful things in life with an ability to organize events to give birth to Artful Journeys, a program of art education trips for the soul and mind.

 

Joan was born and raised in the apple country of the Hudson River Valley in New York; her father was a gentle, very tolerant, educated land surveyor, and her mother was the efficient business administrator and home engineer. The youngest of four children, Joan was encouraged to pursue anything she wanted, but also to do her best. Sometimes that was very difficult, especially succeeding three very accomplished siblings.

JOURNEY COST

Cost

  • $75 for the three sessions or $30 for individual sessions

  • PayPal is preferred; however, we do take checks   

  • A Zoom link will be provided by email within 24 hours of each meeting.

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To register for a session or the series, please click below:

A Zoom link will be provided by email within 24 hours of each meeting.

For details or questions, please click here to contact Joan Hill.
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