Category: Bach

  • Exceptionality: A Discourse on Race, Societal Worth, and Culture

    Many people. in contemporary times, hold it as an article of faith that all societies and cultures are of equal value. I assert this is a myth. If one is intellectually honest, virtually any metric you apply to evaluate and analyze the strengths and weaknesses, and contributions to the vast fields of knowledge, of societies…

  • BACH: Fantasia Super: Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott, BWV 651

    FULL POWER!!! The overwhelming opening of Fantasia Super: Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott, performed by Leo van Doeselaar for All of Bach, refers almost literally to the opening lines of Acts 2 from the Bible, which say about Pentecost: “And when the day of Pentecost fully came, they were all with one accord in one…

  • BACH: Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott, BWV 80

    This sacred cantata by Bach is a combative cantata written for Reformation Day (October 31st) as a battle song of the Reformation. Military references are found not just in the words, but in the music as well, built up by Bach over the years. I love Bach’s masterful use of word painting in this cantata.…

  • Dawn of the Millennium: A Happy Reminiscence

    I awoke before dawn at 4:30 amOne cold December Monday mornTwas 5 days till the timeThat Christ was born I ventured outsideBefore morning’s lightI beheld a winter wonderlandOh what a sight The ground was coveredIn a foot of snowThe streetlights cascaded downCreating a warm glow I began my slow trek from my tiny apartmentIn Squirrel…

  • Bach sacred cantata – Erschallet, ihr Lieder, erklinget, ihr Saiten! BWV 172

    Bach wrote this cantata, while in Weimar, on May 20, 1714, for Pentecost Sunday. The libretto is based on John 14:23–31. It is one of my very favorite Bach cantatas! The work is in six movements, and scored for four vocal soloists, four-part choir, three trumpets, timpani, oboe, bassoon and a string orchestra of two…

  • J.S. Bach: Sacred Cantata: Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe, BWV 108

    BWV 108 (29 April 1725) concerns itself with Jesus’ promise of the Holy Ghost It opens with Jesus himself explaining that he has to leave to make room for his Spirit. The bass (vox Christi) sings in a beautifully quiet, stepping rhythm. In the following tenor aria the violin jumps up and down to illustrate…

  • Bach and Theology: Was Bach and his music anti-Semitic or anti-Judaic?

    Baroque composer primus inter pares J.S. Bach was a man of the deep and profound Christian faith. He believed the chief aim of music is to glorify God. Bach would write on his musical manuscripts: SDG, Soli Deo Gloria – To God Alone the Glory, and JJ, Jesu Juva – Jesus Help. The topic of…

  • J.S. Bach sacred cantata Wer Dank opfert, der preiset mich

    This is a performance of Bach’s sacred cantata “Wer Dank opfert, der preiset mich.” (BWV 17).From the protestant church Teufen in Switzerland. Choir and Orchestra of the J. S. Bach Foundation – Rudolf Lutz conductor Soloists: Soprano: Noëmi Sohn Nad Alto: Jan Börner Tenor: Sören Richter Bass: Daniel Pérez 00:00 Bach – BWV 17, concert…

  • Bach Magnifcat

    Magnificat in E-flat Major BWV 243a Composed in Leipzig, 1728-1731. First performed in Leipzig on either July 2nd or Christmas Day – December 25th, 1723.  Note: This work is not to be confused with Bach’s Magnificat in D Major (BWV 243) which is a revision of BWV 243a. This is my favorite performance of this…

  • More on Bach's Mass in B Minor

    I just posted recently about Bach’s Mass in B Minor (BWV 232), but I had to post again after discovering my favorite recording of this work on YouTube! Here is a recording by the Taverner Consort and Players directed by Andrew Parrott in which  historically informed performance (HIP) practices are used. The alto parts are…