Tolerance, the Early Enlightenment, and Bach's St. John Passion
Lecture in Musicology
Sponsored by the School of Music
by
Raymond Erickson
Professor of Music,
Queens College and the Graduate Center,
The City University of New York
In recent years, Bach's attitude towards Jews and Judaism has been the subject of discussion in both scholarly and mainstream media. In particular, the St. John Passion (1724) has been a particular focus of attention, not least because of its dramatic (some say antagonistic) depiction of the Jews in Bach's music.
This presentation seeks to present a view of the intellectual atmosphere of Leipzig shortly before Bach's arrival there with particular attention to the engagement of the Leipzig University theological faculty with the early Enlightenment and, more specifically, as this is reflected in a remarkable document of 1714 that unequivocally defends Jews against the blood libel. This formal opinion or Gutachten was commissioned by August the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland and later published.
The presentation will also present arguments arguing against overt anti-Judaism in Bach's setting of the Passion according to John, while also taking into account the anti-Judaism of Luther and John's Gospel itself. Finally, the situation of Jews in Bach's Leipzig will be addressed.
Monday, April 2, 2007
4:30 p.m.
Room 66, Music and Dance Library
Sullivant Hall
1813 North High Street
This lecture is free and open to the public.
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