Long before the Gold Rush drew settlers from the East; the land that would one day be developed into the town of Moraga was situated on a large rancho owned by the Moraga family. Nestled amongst hills just east of Oakland and Berkeley; the Moraga Valley of the 19th century attracted cattle ranchers and farmers who planted vegetables; fruit; and nuts. In particular; pear orchards established in the earliest farming days are still celebrated in the city�s annual Pear Wine Festival. In the early 20th century; tourists escaped the sometimes chilly and fog-bound cities near San Francisco Bay to picnic in the Moraga redwoods. Electric trains; which brought Moraga�s commuters to cities and students to St. Mary�s College; enabled the growth of subdivisions and businesses. Train tracks eventually gave way to trails for hiking; biking; and horseback riding. Once considered a potential site for the United Nations; Moraga has maintained its rural beauty while developing into a thriving suburb.
#597772 in eBooks 2016-08-04 2016-08-04File Name: B01J86AUXS
Review
0 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy AnonAOK0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Bach Christmas Oratorio: Major StudyBy William L. HoffmanMarcus Ratheyrsquo;s new study of Bachrsquo;s Christmas Oratorio: Music. Theology and Culture (Oxford University Press. 12016). is an exhaustive. source-based examination of what has emerged as a major masterpiece. shedding its earliest historical reception in the 19th century as a light. inconsequential work of self-plagiarism and idolatrous contrivance. The chapter titles hint at the breadth and depth of this odyssey: ldquo;Redefining Christmas.rdquo; ldquo;Layers of Time: The Theology of the Christmas Oratorio.rdquo; Bachrsquo;s Oratorio Concept.rdquo; ldquo;Planning the Oratorio.rdquo; and the six parts: Part 1. Nativity. ldquo;Dichotomiesrdquo;; Part 2. Annunciation to Shepherds. ldquo;Mundane and Celestial Harmoniesrdquo;; Part 3. Shepherdsrsquo; Adoration. ldquo;Inward Mobilityrdquo;; Circumcision Naming. ldquo;rsquo;Whatrsquo;s in a Namersquo;?rdquo;; Paar 5. Magi Journey. ldquo;Paths of Enlightenmentrdquo; (Part 5). and Part 6. Magi Adoration. ldquo;The Bridegroom and the Enemy.rdquo;Ratheyrsquo;s latest book follows on the heels of his Bachrsquo;s Major Vocal Works: Music. Drama. Liturgy (Yale University Press. 2016). with its Chapter 3. ldquo;From Love Song to Lullaby: The Christmas Oratorio. BWV 248.rdquo; His new monograph is an exemplar for an individual study of Bachrsquo;s major vocal works and hopefully will lead to other studies of the Passions. groups of cantatas for seasons and special uses. and the other oratorios. as well as the instrumental music (Peter Williams emphasizes the keyboard music in his new Bach: A Musical Biography (Cambridge University Press. 2016).The cultural and religious climate of Bachrsquo;s time and his oratorio are the basic subject of Ratheyrsquo;s study. examining various German sources. particularly before Bachrsquo;s time. Of central interest. and an extension of his previous book. is the theme of the heart. found in graphic and devotional literature. with an emphasis on love songs and duets. His theological studies focus on the unio mystica of the human heart in the ldquo;The Duty in liferdquo; concept of the meaning of the Christmas feast with its related ldquo;Doctrine of Faithrdquo; and ldquo;Consolation of Faithrdquo; as ldquo;Christ comes as a child to make mankind children of God.rdquo; relates Rathey (Ibid.: 9).Rathey also conducts a philological study of the textutal and musical influences found often in this extensive parody work. Musically. in ldquo;Redefining Christmas.rdquo; Rathey examines the traditions that were most directly influential on Bach (see above. ldquo;Leipzig Cantors Knuuml;pfer. Schellerdquo;). In the chapter. ldquo;Layers of Time: The Theology of the Christmas Oratorio.rdquo; examined is the ldquo;The Threefold Meaning of Christmas.rdquo; that is the three modes of Christrsquo;s coming. into the flesh. into our hearts. and at the final judgement. These are found in the prayer books and libretti of Bach contemporary poets (and pastors) Neumeister (see above. ldquo;Anonymous Christmas Cantata 142.rdquo; and Benjamin Schmolck (Stouml;lzelrsquo;s librettist; see above. ldquo;Stouml;lzel. Mid-1730s Musicrdquo;).The oratorio libretto. possibly by Picander. ldquo;has three gravitational centers: the historical event of the birth of Jesus. the existential meaning on this coming expressed in the image of Christrsquo;s indwelling in the believerrsquo;s heart. and the return of Christ at the end of Timerdquo; [the eschatology). says Rathey (Ibid.: 61). At the same time. in order to engage the congregation. Bach set plain chorales with elaborate instrumental support. a chorale chorus. and three dialogues with troped poetic materials as love duets. emphasizing Christmas hymns of Martin Luther. Johann Rist. and Paul Gerhardt. moving from traditional to pietist-flavored stanzas.In the chapter ldquo;Bachrsquo;s Oratorio Concept.rdquo; Rathey studies contemporary models and the influence of poetic Passion texts of Stouml;lzel (see above) and Johann Adolph Hasse at the Dresden court. both performed on Good Friday 1734. No examples of other composers so-called ldquo;Christmas Oratoriosrdquo; are cited. except for Carl Heinrich Graunrsquo;s poetic work with chorales (Ibid.: 80f). ldquo;Mache dich auf. werde Licht.rdquo; and no date but similar in structure and gallant style to his poetic Passion setting. ldquo;Der Tod Jesurdquo; (The Death of Jesus). Almost no information is found on the works of Johann Mattheson. ldquo;Die Heilsame Geburtrdquo; (1715) and ldquo;Das grouml;szlig;te Kindrdquo; (1720). Telemannrsquo;s ldquo;O Jesu parvule.rdquo; TVWV 1:797; and Georg Gebelrsquo;s ldquo;Jauchzet. ihr Himmel! Erfreue dich Erde!rdquo; of 1748. 8 These works are designed in cantata style while Bachrsquo;s contemporaries also composed numerous cantatas for Christmas Season services.--------------This discussion of Bachrsquo;s Christmas Oratorio will continue a year from now [December 2017] on the BCML during consideration of Bachrsquo;s Christological cycle. taking up the remainder of Rathey book. dealing with the chapters ldquo;Planning the Oratorio.rdquo; and the six chapters on each part. as well as the extensive dance element in the work. and other resources.
