University of Virginia Library

Group Singing

The group singing is used just as
effectively. There are specific
groups, such as the Apostles or the
Sadduccean Council. And then
there is the Crowd, the Mob.

The Mob goes from choral
idolizing in "Hosanna Heysanna
Sanna Sanna Ho" to incriminating
shouting in "Crucify Him." They
are artfully juxtaposed with the
sinister debate of the Council of
Priests. And later as reporters in
the Garden, they heap questions on
Jesus, not even finishing one
musical line before jump cutting to
the next.

The Apostles' faults are shown
in their singing, especially during
the Last Supper, where they fade
out in drunken oblivion of what is
going to happen to their leader.