St. Barnabas Episcopal Church is delighted to announce its Bach@415 Concert Series for the 2016-2017 season.
Under the creative leadership of J. Michael Roush, Director of Music, the season will include three concerts, starting with a special performance on the afternoon of Sunday, November 6 that will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the church’s remarkable organ, the very first Richards, Fowkes organ.
In 1988, St. Barnabas Church commissioned a “Classic” organ, representing the style prevalent during the 1600s in northern Germany and Holland, which was the type of organ that Bach and Handel played and composed upon.
According to Mr. Roush, “St. Barnabas’ organ plays antique music in an authentic way, though it is not an antique organ.”
Rev. Ted Pardoe commented, “Opus 1 is a versatile organ in that it is able to provide terrific leadership for our worship experience and be involved with large-scale events, namely our concert series."
The first concert in 1991 was designed to include exotic music intended to show the range of sound and time periods that this special instrument can play so well. As was the case then, the upcoming anniversary program will include Romantic music from 19th century Paris, mid-century modern from Chicago, “thunder” music from the 18th century and, of course, a strong representation of J. S. Bach from two of his towering masterworks.
The second concert, Christmas in Leipzig, will be held on the afternoon of December 11 and feature the renowned St. Barnabas Choir with will present the monumental Singet dem Herrn with other Christmas music from Bach’s Leipzig.
The final concert, St. John Passion, will take place on the afternoon of Sunday, March 26. The highly acclaimed TENET and Sebastians Baroque Orchestra will perform the dramatic setting of the Passion by J.S. Bach. Preeminent New York City-based early music ensemble TENET celebrates its eighth season in 2016-17. Under Artistic Director Jolle Greenleaf, TENET has won acclaim for its innovative programming, virtuosic singing and command of repertoire that spans the Middle Ages to the present day.
The Sebastians are an award-winning dynamic and vital musical ensemble specializing in music of the baroque and classical eras based in New York City. Before the concert, Harold W. Attridge, who served as the Dean of the Yale Divinity School between 2002 and 2012 prior to becoming a Sterling Professor of Divinity, will lead an introductory technical conversation.
Tickets for all of the concerts can be purchased at the door or online.
The 2016-2017 Bach@415 concert series is graciously sponsored by Happiness is Catering and Horseneck Wines & Liquors, which will be hosting short receptions immediately following the concerts on November 6 and March 26 so that guests can have the opportunity to meet the musicians.