Evangelist (Bach)

The evangelist in an oratory or a passion is usually a tenor who recites the text from the Bible literally in recitative. The Evangelist gives the Oratory as a narrator to guide to action. It provides the framework for action in recitatives to the audience.

In the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, there is this voice, especially in the St. John Passion, the St. Matthew Passion, the Christmas Oratorio, and also in the Ascension Oratorio Praise God in his rich, BWV 11

In contrast, the Vox Christi ( Latin for voice of Christ ) in Bach's works, including some cantatas, almost always busy with a bass.

The roles of other individuals who are involved with interjections are called Soliloquenten. The direct speech of groups, such as the disciples of Jesus, the soldiers or the people, is usually given in the so-called Turba choruses.

Singer

Various tenors have become particularly well known for their design of the Evangelist in Bach's works, including:

• John Mark Ainsley
• Theo Altmeyer
• Gervase Henry Cary - Elwes, British tenor (1866-1921)
• Jörg Dürmüller
• Karl Erb ( mentioned in the novel Doctor Faustus by Thomas Mann )
• Kurt Equiluz
• Ernst Haefliger
• John van Kesteren
• Martin Kremer
• Heinz Kruse
• Walther Ludwig ( singer)
• Karl Markus
• Heinz Marten
• Julius Patzak
• Peter Pears
• Christoph Prégardien
• Albrecht Sack
• Michael Schade
• Peter Schreier
• James Taylor, American tenor ( b. 1966 )
• Matthias Widmaier

• Classical music
• Singing
• Music Theory
• Oratory