THE NEW BACH CANTATA SERIES

The cantata was at the center of Johann Sebastian Bach's creative life. He wrote hundreds of them, of which about 200 survive. They contain some of Bach's best-known and most deeply felt music. The Eastman School of Music will launch Cantata! A Bach Cantata series, a unique set of choral programs, beginning on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 7:30 p.m.. This series, produced by Eastman’s Director of Choral Activities William Weinert, showcases six recitals between September and the end of March 2014, with two or three cantatas on each program.  Recitals are led by different conductors, but maintain the standard Bach performance practice of one musician per part. All concerts will be held at Reformation Lutheran Church, located on 111 Chestnut Street.

Conductor and Eastman alumnus David Chin leads Eastman students and local alumni in the first concert of the series. The program will feature Bach’s Cantatas No. 17, “Wer Dank opfert, der preiset mich”; No. 164, “Ihr, die ihr euch von Christo nennet”; and No. 117, “Sei Lob und Her dem höchsten Gut.”

Within the cantata genre, Bach stands out as one of the most prolific and influential composers. Bach’s association with the cantata began while he served as a cantor at prominent churches in Leipzig. At these churches, including the Saint Thomas Church and St. Nicholas Church, Bach presented a new cantata every Sunday as part of the weekly service.

As a result, most of Bach’s cantatas are sacred works written in the chorale cantata form. Such a form utilizes hymn verses or tunes in choral excerpts at the opening and closing of each work. The structure of this type of cantata resembles a diminutive form of the oratorio, and many cantata composers after Bach utilize such a construction. Although several Bach cantatas have been lost, more than 200 survive.

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Calendar Listings:

Saturday September 21
Cantata! A Bach Cantata series. David Chin, conductor.
Cantata 17: “Wer Dank opfert, der preiset mich”;
Cantata 164: “Ihr, die ihr euch von Christo nennet”;
Cantata 117: “Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut”
7:30 p.m.
Reformation Lutheran Church, 111 N. Chestnut St.


Sunday, October 20
Cantata! A Bach Cantata series.
Nils Klykken and Jennifer Lee, conductors.
Cantata 12, “Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen”;
Cantata 131, “Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir”
3 p.m.
Reformation Lutheran Church, 111 N Chestnut St,
Free

Saturday, November 16
Cantata! A Bach Cantata series.
Yunn-Shan Ma, conductor.
Cantata 140, “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme”,
Cantata 147, “Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben”
7:30 p.m.
Reformation Lutheran Church, 111 N. Chestnut St.
Free

Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014
Cantata! A Bach Cantata series.
Lee Wright and Mark Helms, conductors
Cantata 3, "Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid," 
Cantata 150, "Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich,"  
3 p.m.
Reformation Lutheran Church, 111 Chestnut St., Rochester

Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014
Cantata! A Bach Cantata series.
Renata Dworak and Hanna Lee, conductors
Cantata 4, "Christ lag in Todesbanden," 
Cantata 51  "Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen"
7:30 p.m.
Reformation Lutheran Church, 111 Chestnut St., Rochester


Sunday, March 23, 2014
Cantata! A Bach Cantata series.
Camila Ospina Fadul and Sanders Lau, conductors
Cantata 182, "Himmelskonig, sei willkommen"
Cantata 211, "Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht"  (Coffee cantata)
3:00 p.m.
Reformation Lutheran Church, 111 Chestnut St., Rochester

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