The concept for this contribution to the Passion 2000 project smacked so much of "political correctness" and world music crossover gimmickry that I almost passed it by. Tan Dun is a composer that intrigues me, but the idea of a Buddhist making understandable this most Christian of stories seemed quite a stretch to me. I shouldn't have worried at all. I have heard three of the four works from the Passion 2000 project, and Tan Dun's work is by far the deepest spiritually. It is an altogether remarkable work. Tan Dun was given the Passion according to Matthew. Not content to deal merely with the passion story, Dun's work starts with the Baptism of Jesus, includes the Temptation in the Wilderness and then continues with the Last Supper, Garden of Gethsemane, the Betrayal/Denial, Trial, Crucifixion and atypically, ends with the Resurrection. Each section is set apart, almost as a tableau, with a ritualistic quality. Tan Dun's "orchestration" is simple but remarkably effective. The work is scored for choir, soprano and baritone soloists, three percussionists, violin and cello soloists and electronics. Many extended techniques are called for. The soprano has to test the greatest extent of her range with declamation that recalls Chinese opera, and the baritone is required to sing in overtones, influenced by Tuvan throat singing. The choir also plays stones, Tibetan bells and other small instruments. The percussionists get the most fascinating instruments. Tan Dun has long been interested in what he calls "water percussion" - instruments which use water as a significant part of their sounding. The effect in this work is elemental...the use of water sounds, stones (specified to have been taken from a river or the ocean) and other natural elements emphasizes the basic natural elements of the story.
The overall result is quite moving. The piece begins with a droned sound, in many ways reminiscent of the opening of Wagner's Ring cycle. Then the choir introduces a chorale melody that appears in various guises during the rest of the work. Each tableaux of the work is highly differentiated and given some recognizable sonic symbol. As the story progresses toward the cross, the music becomes wilder and more impassioned. The final section, which poetically represents the Resurrection, is as lovely a closing as I could imagine for this work...in many ways as moving as the music for the final scene of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Dun strips the passion story down to it's bare spiritual essentials and creates a work of almost ritual power.
The live recording is terrific. A better or cleaner one could not be asked for. The string soloists are marvelous, including the ever-fabulous Mark O'Connor on the violin. Both vocal soloists handle the demanding requirements of the piece with grace and aplomb and the choral singing is exquisite. The one thing missing in this wonderful CD is the visual element, which is quite pronounced in this piece, I gather in much the same way as it is in the work of Crumb. This is only a small matter though. In general, I find this to be the strongest, least traditional, and most spiritually moving work of the Passion 2000 cycle, at least that I've heard. Highly recommended!
Not what I expected
Tan Dun: A Composer as much for the Visual as the Aural
St. Matthew Passion as World Ritual