In its seventh year of existence, Bach@7 series offers two programs in the Fall and two in Winter-Spring, featuring choral, orchestral, solo and chamber works by J.S. Bach, his predecessors and followers.
The Book of Psalms are a cornerstone of of Jewish and Christian Worship and have inspired some of the most important musical works in the Western Art Canon. The Psalms, written over a period of about five centuries represent every aspect of the human psyche from thanksgiving to lamentation to words of comfort. This season, Choral Arts and the Philadelphia Bach Festival on its Bach@7 Series will explore various forms of Psalm settings from Gregorian chant to settings of the Renaissance to modern settings with a Bach Cantata that is based on one of psalms. |
BACH @7 SERIES
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Upcoming Bach @7
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Psalms without Words
Wednesday November 20th After the Reformation, many Psalms became associated with certain chorale melodies that were memorized and sung by the common people. Reincken's monumental setting of Psalm 137 "By the Waters of Babylon" was likely inspired by a great improvisation heard by the young J.S. Bach on a trip he made to Hamburg as a student. Later, Reincken is reported to have heard Bach in turn improvise on the same melody to the old master's great approval. Julius Reubke and Herbert Howells in turn used verses from the psalms as inspiration as "tone poems" based on free materials rather than pre-existing melodies. I, in turn will end the program with an improvisation "tone poem" based on a verse from psalm 115. PROGRAM Choral Prelude on "By the Waters of Babylon" (PSalm 137). Johann Adam Reincken Three Psalm Preludes Set Two. Herbert Howells Three Psalm Preludes - Herbert Howells Fugue from Sonata on the 94th Psalm - Julus Reubke Improvisation on "You are the blessed of the the Lord, who has made heaven and earth." Psalm 115: 15 PERFORMERS Matthew Glandorf, Organist |
Out of the Deep
Wednesday March 4th 2020 Many of the Psalms are extremely personal in their tone, like conversations with a loved one. Psalm 130 "Out of the deep" is a very honest cry of despair. However, the second part of the psalm turns toward an inkling that hope will triumph over suffering. PROGRAM Aus der Tiefe - Heinrich Schütz Domine non secundum peccata nostra - James MacMillan Out of the Deep - Thomas Morley Sad Paven for these distracted times - Thomas Tomkins Cantata BWV 131: Aus der Tiefe - J.S. Bach PERFORMERS Choral Arts Philadelphia The Bach Collegium Matthew Glandorf, Conductor |