Copyright 01-01-2000
2000 years with Christ Cantata for: Choir, soloists, symphony orchestra, rhythm and horn section
Inspired by words from The Gospel of Johannes
LOGOS “Logos” is greek and means “the Word”. The title is chosen because the lyrics which have been chosen for this work are taken from the Gospel of John in The New Testament. The Gospel of John is the fourth gospel in The New Testament which describes the life and activities of Jesus and which begins with the verse, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The gospels basic text was written in greek, so “Logos” felt like a natural title for a work which intends to reflect over Christ: “the Word” which has and has had such fundamental significance in our culture.
Whatever your personal view of life, the significance of Jesus Christ, what he said and did and what he has meant and means to hundreds of millions of people around the globe, cannot be underestimated. We would not have just celebrated the Jubilee if it had not been for this person. When the Gospel of John is chosen as the source of the text in this work, it is because John is the “most reflective” of the evangelical authors when it comes to Jesus, the person. The universal dimensions present in the character of Christ are most prominent in the Gospel of John. Lines from Genesis are present in the introduction to the gospel as are many quotes from Jesus where he refers to himself as “The Light Of The World”, “The Way, The Truth, The Life”, “The Bread of Life” to show that he is the way the world can meet God.
The Gospel of John was written by the disciple John himself. It is probably the latest gospel of the four and researchers believe it was written around 90 a.d.. To a certain extent, “Logos” follows the main outline of the Gospel of John. The introductory movement bases itself upon John’s “opening hymn” about The Word. It is followed by the introduction to Jesus’ activities through John the Baptist’s witness: The Voice in the Wilderness. The mid section movements of the work: The Way and The Living Water build upon some of the gospel’s typical Jesus statements like, for example, about the Samaritan The Woman at the Well. The last movement, The Hope of the World follows the text of the prayer Jesus prays before he dies: “Keep them from evil” and the text based on the Gospel of John’s detailed description of the events around the resurrection. The Cantata concludes with the text from John 3, 16 which is often called “the little bible” because it concisely summarizes what the entire story of Christ is about:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life”
I. The Word
1. The Word – Orchestral introduction
Narrator: John 1.1-5
(Joh 1:1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (Joh 1:2) The same was in the beginning with God. (Joh 1:3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (Joh 1:4) In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (Joh 1:5) And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
2. The True Light – choir (John 1; 4,5,12-13)
He is the true Light, shining in the darkness Shining for everyone, for all the world to see
And to all of them, they that have recieved him He gave them the power to become his own sons
In him was life, and the life was the light of men Shining for every man that is in the world
He is the light The true light
He is the light The true light
II. The Voice in the Wilderness
3. The Voice In The Wilderness – soloist and choir
John the Baptist: I baptize you with water But he who stands among you You do not know him but I say to you:
Choir: Make a straight way for the Lord
John the Baptist: I saw the spirit over him Descending like a dove And he will baptize with the Holy Ghost
Choir: Make a straight way for the Lord
John the Baptist: I am not Elijah And I am not the prophet I am the voice who’s crying: Make a straight way for the Lord
No, I am not Elijah And I am not the prophet I am the voice who’s crying: Make a straight way for the Lord
John the Baptist & Choir: He that will come after me He was – before I was born He, who you don’t know He is the son of God I am the voice of one crying In the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord He is the one; the son of God
John the Baptist: I baptize you with water But he who stands among you You do not know him but I say to you:
Choir: Make a straight way for the Lord
John the Baptist: I saw the spirit over him Descending like a dove And he will baptize with the Holy Ghost
Choir: Make a straight way for the Lord
John the Baptist: I am not Elijah And I am not the prophet I am the voice who’s crying: Make a straight way for the Lord
No, I am not Elijah And I am not the prophet I am the voice who’s crying: Make a straight way for the Lord
John the Baptist & Choir: He that will come after me He was – before I was born He, who you don’t know He is the son of God I am the voice of one crying In the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord He is the one; the son of God
I am the voice of one crying In the wilderness He, who you don’t know He is the son of God I am the voice of one crying In the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord He is the one; the son of God
4. The Dove – orchestral scherzo
Narrator: John 1, 32 Joh 1:32) And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
5. The Lamb Of God – soloists and choir (John 1, 29-34)
John’s disciples: Behold, see the Lamb of God He is the one we will follow He who carries away the sins of men Messiah – the lamb of God
So come, let us walk with him And follow him as he said He is the one – He is the lamb of God Who carries the sins of the world
Choir: He is the one – He is the lamb of God Who carries the sins of the world It is Jesus, he is the lamb of God Messiah – he is the one So come, let us walk with him And follow him as he said He is the one – He is the lamb of God Who carries the sins of the world
He is the one – He is the lamb of God Who carries the sins of the world
6. The Judgement – brass and woodwinds
Narrator: John 5, 25-29
Joh 5:25) Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. (Joh 5:26) For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; (Joh 5:27) And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. (Joh 5:28) Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, (Joh 5:29) And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
III. The Way
7. The Night – soloists and choir (John 9, 4-5, John 8, 12,44-45, John 10, 8-10, John 14,6)
Soloist: Darkness – in the deep of night He comes – to destroy and to kill See him – he is blinding your eyes!
He comes – in the deep of night Watch out – he will steal and destroy See him – he is blinding your eyes!
Choir: I am the door I am the light I have come to give you life I am the door I am the light I have come to give you life
Soloists: Darkness – in the deep of night He comes – to destroy and to kill See him – he is blinding your eyes!
He comes – in the deep of night Watch out – he will steal and destroy See him – he is blinding your eyes!
Darkness – in the deep of night He comes – to destroy and to kill
8. The Way- orchestral minuet
9. The Good Shepherd – soloist and choir (John 10,4-5, 11, 14, John 8, 12, 51)
Soloist: They who hear his voice when he is calling them And follow wherever he’s leading He is no stranger, they will not flee From the good shepherd He gives his life for them And they follow him
They who see the light when it is shining They shall not walk in the darkness No, he shall give them the light of life He’s the good shepherd He gives his life for them He’s the good shepherd And they follow him
“If a man will keep my word Never shall he taste of death!”
They who hear his voice when he is calling them And follow wherever he’s leading He is no stranger, they will not flee From the good shepherd He gives his life for them He is the good shepherd And they follow him
Choir and soloist: They who see the light when it is shining They shall not walk in the darkness No, he shall give them the light of life Soloist: He’s the good shepherd He gives his life for them He is the good shepherd And they follow him
10. The Truth – orchestral prelude
IV. The Living Water
11. The Woman At The Well – soloist and choir (John 4, 6-30)
The woman: Come see this man He has told me all that I ever did Could it be that he is the one; He is the Messiah?
Give me that water of life So that I never shall thirst again Give me the water that quenches all of my thirst
He said to me That I give him water to drink He said he was thirsty and weary after his journey He said if you only knew Of the gift that God can give to you Give you the water that quenches all of your thirst
Rubato: Give me that living water, that living water So I shall never thirst again
Choir: We come to see Him who told you all that you ever did Could it be that he is the one; He is the Messiah Give us that water of life so that we never shall thirst again Give us the water that quenches all of our thirst
Yes we will go and see and to hear He who told you of the water Could it be that he is the one; He is the Messiah Give us that water of life so that we never shall thirst again Give us the water that quenches all of our thirst
Rubato soloist: Give me that living water, that living water So I shall never thirst again
12. The Life – flute solo and strings
13. The Living Water – choir (John 4, 13, John 7, 38)
Water – that living water From the well inside him That never shall run dry Springing, yes it is springing Up into an everlasting life
Water – that living water Out of that well inside Shall the water spring To everlasting life, to everlasting life That living water, that living water And he who drinks of it shall never thirst again Shall never thirst again It’s the water of life, the water The water of life
Water – that living water From the well inside him That never shall run dry Springing, yes it is springing Up into an everlasting life
Water – that living water Out of that well inside Shall the water spring To everlasting life, to everlasting life That living water, that living water And he who drinks of it shall never thirst again Shall never thirst again It’s the water of life, the water The water of life
V. The Hope of the World
14. The Lament – tenor saxophone solo
Narrator: John 16, 32-33
(Joh 16:32) Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. (Joh 16:33) These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
15. The Prayer – soloist and choir (John 17)
Jesus: Father , the hour is come, glorify thy son That thy son also may glorify thee As thou hast given him power over all flesh That he should give eternal life
Choir: Keep them from evil
Jesus: I have manifested thy name unto the men Which thou gavest me out of the world And they have kept my word
Choir: Keep them from evil That the all may be as one in thee As thou art in me and I am in thee That they also may be as one in us That the world may believe That thou hast sent me
Jesus: I pray for them. I pray not for the world, But for them which thou hast given me For they are mine
Choir: Keep them from evil
Jesus: And this is life eternal: That they might know thee, The only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom thou hast sent
Choir: Keep them from evil That the all may be as one in thee As thou art in me and I am in thee That they also may be as one in us That the world may believe That thou hast sent me
16. The Third Day – orchestral dance
17. The Resurrection – choir (John 20)
Early – in the morning A woman comes to the tomb It is Mary, Magdalene And when she discovers that the stone is taken away She has to run and tell it to the others She has to tell them that the Lord is Risen The tomb is empty and the angels say he’s Risen We don’t need to weep now He is risen!
He’s risen Run out and tell it to them all The Lord is risen We have seen it happen He is risen
He’s risen The tomb is empty and the angels say he’s Risen We don’t need to weep now He is risen!
He’s risen Run out and tell it to them all The Lord is risen We have seen it happen He is risen
He’s risen The tomb is empty and the angels say he’s Risen We don’t need to weep now He is risen!
He’s risen Run out and tell it to them all The Lord is risen We have seen it happen Jesus Is risen Hallelujah!
Narrator: John 21, 15-17
(Joh 21:15) So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, {son} of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. (Joh 21:16) He saith to him again the second time, Simon, {son} of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (Joh 21:17) He saith unto him the third time, Simon, {son} of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
18. The Word – orchestra
19. The Love Of God – choir (John 3, 15-16)
Choir: For God sent his son to the world That the world might be saved through him And whoever believes in him Never shall be condemned But live forever
For God sent his son to the world That the world might be saved through him And whoever believes in him Never shall be condemned But live forever more
God so loved the world That he would send his son God so loved the world That he would send his own son
For God sent his son to the world That the world might be saved through him And whoever believes in him Never shall be condemned But have everlasting life Never shall be condemned But live forever more
For God sent his son to the world That the world might be saved through him And whoever believes in him Never shall be condemned
But live forever
For God sent his son to the world That the world might be saved through him And whoever believes in him Never shall be condemned But live forever more
God so loved the world That he would send his son God so loved the world That he would send his own son
For God sent his son to the world That the world might be saved through him And whoever believes in him Never shall be condemned But have everlasting life Never shall be condemned But have everlasting life Never shall be condemned But live forever
For God sent his son to the world That the world might be saved through him And whoever believes in him Never shall be condemned But have everlasting life Never shall be condemned But shall live forever more Forever more!
