Passion (redirected from Passions)

Passion

Musical setting of the suffering and crucifixion of Christ. The early Passion consisted entirely of plainchant. Liturgical enactments of Christ's Passion date from the early Middle Ages, the characters' parts being sung by individual celebrants and the crowd's role by the congregation. Polyphonic Passions began appearing in the 15th century. In the German tradition exemplified by Heinrich Schütz, the Passion closely resembles the dramatic oratorio, with solo arias and other ensembles contrasting with choral sections; the alternative motet-style Passion lacked solo sections and avoided dramatic oppositions. After the 18th century, Passions ceased to be widely composed.

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passion

1. Philosophy

a. any state of the mind in which it is affected by something external, such as perception, desire, etc., as contrasted with action

b. feelings, desires or emotions, as contrasted with reason

2. the sufferings and death of a Christian martyr

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Passion

1. the sufferings of Christ from the Last Supper to his death on the cross

2. any of the four Gospel accounts of this

3. a musical setting of this

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Passion 

a musical work set to a Gospel text of Jesus’ betrayal by Judas, imprisonment, and execution. Passions were introduced into Catholic practice in the fourth century and were performed during Holy Week. They were originally performed in a psalmodic manner, but, beginning in the 14th century, the type of passion based on a dialogue between a soloist, or deacon, and a choir prevailed. The roles of the characters in the drama gradually became more soloistic. In the 16th century the polyphonic motet passion took shape, and Protestant passions in German appeared, which made considerable use of the Protestant chorale. Folk stagings of passions, in which scenes of everyday life were included, developed simultaneously with the ecclesiastical dramatizations.

In the early 18th century the oratorio passion became established. This genre later lost its religious significance, and oratorio passions were performed as concert works. Outstanding examples of the oratorio passion are J. S. Bach’s St. John Passion and St. Matthew Passion.

REFERENCE

Druskin, M. Passiony I. S. Bakha. Leningrad, 1972.