Savall's musical training started in the school choir of his native town (1947-55). He later completed his training at the Barcelona Conservatory of Music (1959-65). Afterward, he began his specialisation in early music at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel, Switzerland (1968-70).
In 1974 he formed the ensemble Hespèrion XX (since 2000 as Hespèrion XXI), together with the soprano Montserrat Figueras (his wife), Lorenzo Alpert and Hopkinson Smith. Hespèrion XX favored a style of interpretation characterised by great musical vitality and at the same time, maximum historical accuracy.
In 1987 he returned to Barcelona to found La Capella Reial de Catalunya, a vocal ensemble devoted to the interpretation of music prior to the 18th century.
Finally, in 1989 Savall created Le Concert des Nations, an orchestra that is generally dedicated to the baroque repertoire, but which sometimes also serves as an outlet for music that hails from the classical/romantic repertoire (e.g. Sinfonia a Gran Orquesta by Juan Crisótomo de Arriga).
Savall's discography includes more than 140 recordings. Since 1998 he has released his records with his own label, Alia Vox.
Jordi Savall is also a two-time Grammy nominee, who scored the 1991 Alain Corneau film, Tous les matins du monde (also awarded the César of the French film industry in 1992). The soundtrack, re-released on his own Alia Vox label, has sold more than a million copies worldwide.
Markus Passion BWV 247: Choral "Jesu ohne Missetat im Garten vorhanden"
Jordi Savall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Im Garten Vorhanden,
Da man dich gebunden hat
Fest mit harten Banden.
Wenn uns will der böse Feind
Mit der Sünde binden,
So lass uns, oh Menschenfreund!
Dadurch Lösung finden.
The Choral "Jesu ohne Missetat im Garten vorhanden" is a beautiful and moving piece that forms a crucial part of Jordi Savall's Markus Passion BWV 247. The lyrics of the choral talk about the events that occurred in the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was bound by his captors. The lyrics speak of Jesus being without sin and still being bound tightly with harsh bonds. The singer goes on to ask Jesus for help in finding a way to be released from the clutches of sin, as the devil tries to bind humanity with sin.
The choral is a powerful representation of the strength and resilience of Jesus' character. Even without sin, he was bound by his captors, showing the unjust and cruel nature of the world. The singer's plea to Jesus for help in breaking free from the bonds of sin is a poignant reflection on humanity's struggles with sin and the desperate need for redemption. The choral as a whole is a beautiful reminder of the strength and forgiveness that Jesus represents.
Line by Line Meaning
Jesu, ohne Missetat,
Jesus, without sin,
Im Garten Vorhanden,
Present in the garden,
Da man dich gebunden hat
Where you were bound
Fest mit harten Banden.
Tightly with hard ropes.
Wenn uns will der böse Feind
When the evil enemy wants to
Mit der Sünde binden,
Bind us with sin,
So lass uns, oh Menschenfreund!
So let us, oh friend of humanity!
Dadurch Lösung finden.
Find a solution through that.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Johann Sebastian Bach
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind