A four-movement suite for full orchestra composed by Bob Barrett, the Passion Symphonic Suite is a musical portrayal of the events surrounding Easter.
flute 1&2
flute 3/picc
clarinet 1&2
bass clarinet
oboe 1&2
English horn
bassoon 1&2
contra bassoon
horns (4)
trumpets (3)
tenor trombones (2)
bass trombone
tuba
timpani
percussion (4)
harp
strings
Lighthearted and Celebratory
Easter week, traditionally known as Christ’s Passion, began with Jesus riding a donkey into Jerusalem on the first day of the week as local citizens celebrated his arrival by laying their cloaks on the road before him. Others cut branches from trees laying them in his path as the crowd shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” As he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and began asking who this man was. The crowd responded by saying, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
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Adagio
I’ve always viewed the Last Supper as a bittersweet event since Jesus' disciples expected him to establish his earthly throne but were confused by his talk of crucifixion, his declaration that they would all abandon him in his hour of need, and that one of them would indeed betray him. Gathered together in an upper room, dimly illuminated by candlelight and observing the holy event of Passover, the music reflects the more melancholy atmosphere that surrounded Jesus and his disciples on their last night together.
Upon leaving the Upper Room, Jesus entered the Garden of Gethsemane where he prayed in agony fully aware that he would soon be sentenced to death by crucifixion and that the weight of the world's sin would be poured on him. His arrest by Roman soldiers followed shortly after as he was led off to stand trial before those who would accuse and ultimately condemn him while the very people shouting "hosanna" five days earlier, now repeatedly cried out "crucify him!" .
Funeral March
A slow, plodding march, this, the suite's most passionate movement, begins light in texture yet heavy in content as the repeated bass motif, established by timpani, signifies the slow, agonizing procession leading to Golgotha, the Place of the Skull, where the Messiah would be nailed to a cross and crucified.
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Action
The crucified Jesus entered Hell to free the captives being held there. His adversary, the devil, was furious to say the least and put up a tremendous fight, one he had no chance of winning. Following this wild ride, the music depicts the mourning of Jesus' disciples, his victory over sin and death, and his established authority as Lord of all.