On 30 July we will perform the powerfully expressive cantata BWV 105, Herr, gehe nicht ins Gericht mit deinem Knecht, at a Bach Vespers service at St Mary-at-Hill in the City of London, at 6.30pm. Bach wrote this cantata for performance in the Thomaskirche in Leipzig in 1723. It focuses on the theme of forswearing material wealth (Mamon). It opens with a monumental chorus movement in two parts. Another striking moment in the cantata is a dramatic aria on the anguish of sinners. The soprano line interweaves with the oboe over a texture of strings depicting fearful trembling. This cantata has been described as ‘one of the most sublime descriptions of the soul in baroque and Christian art’ (Dürr).
There will also be other music of the German baroque, performed with period instruments.
It is free to attend and you don’t need to be religious, so do come along and bring a friend. We look forward to sharing Bach’s wonderful music with you.
No Bach Vespers in August. We start again in September.
Come and join us for Bach Vespers on 25 June, 6.30pm, at the church of St Mary-at-Hill, where we will perform BWV 10, Meine Seel erhebt den Herren. Also known as Bach’s ‘German Magnificat’, this stunningly beautiful cantata was originally composed for the Feast of the Visitation in 1724. In format it is a typical chorale cantata, but instead of being based on a hymn tune, it is based on the chant melody traditionally used for the Magnificat with German text by Martin Luther. The service will also contain other music by German baroque composers, performed by our team of singers and period instrument specialists.
Our next Bach Vespers is on 28 May at 6.30pm, in the church of St Mary-at-Hill in the City of London. We’ll be performing the beautiful but little known Pentecost cantata BWV 184. Bach gave this cantata its special colour by using two flutes combined with strings for sweet and poignant effect. We’ll also perform some movements from the popular Bach orchestral suite in B minor, which is almost a flute concerto, featuring the wonderful flautist Lisete da Silva. There will also be other music of the German baroque, performed with period instruments.
Come and join us on 30 April at 6.30pm in the church of St Mary-at-Hill for the first Bach Vespers after Easter. We will perform Bach’s poignant cantata BWV 108, Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe, on the theme of comfort in loss. Bach first performed this cantata in 1725. Unusually, the text of the cantata was written by a woman, Christiana Mariana von Ziegler (pictured). Bach set it with superb arias for bass, tenor and alto. The service will also feature other music by composers of the German baroque, performed on period instruments, including a little-known work for soprano soprano solo with violin obbligato: ‘Ich will den Herrn loben allezeit’, by Johann Nicolaus Hanff (1663-1711).
We are delighted that our instrumentalists will be teaming up with the choir Eclectic Voices for a performance of Handel’s Messiah, directed by Scott Stroman.