For at least the last eighteen centuries, some formula for prayer at the end of the day has been part of the Christian tradition. While no one knows precisely what the earliest form of Vespers looked like or sounded like, certain themes have managed to endure, including confession, gratitude, and light. While Vespers never quite became a significant part of Lutheran piety, that it is still kept at all in the Lutheran tradition may be thanks to one church: the Thomaskirche in Leipzig.

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Candlelit Bach Vespers

Bach Vespers: The 57th Season

Sundays at 5pm, October 2024-April 2025

October 27th
BWV 79 "Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild"         
Austin Philemon, conductor
November 10th
BWV 60 "O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort"                   
Maura Tuffy, conductor
November 24th
BWV 116 "Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ"      
Austin Philemon, conductor
December 8th
BWV 243 Magnificat                                           
Robby Meese, conductor                     
Generously supported by Robert Busch and Richard Dematteis             
January 26th
BWV 170 "Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust"   
Reggie Mobley, leader & soloist
February 16th
BWV 111 "Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit"
Rick Erickson, conductor
Dedicated to the memory of Tony Rand by Tim Cage and Eric Nelson
March 2nd
BWV 161 "Komm, du süße Todesstunde"              
Ruben Valenzuela, conductor
March 16th
BWV 1069 Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D Major       
Robby Meese, conductor
April 6th
Improvised organ vespers (5pm)                           
Improvisation masterclass (3pm)         
Samuel Gaskin, organist                       
April 18th - 7pm
BWV 227 "Jesu, meine Freude"                              
Austin Philemon, conductor                
April 20th                      
BWV 249 Easter Oratorio                                        
Robby Meese, conductor                     
To sponsor a Bach Vespers service, contact Robby Meese at robby@holytrinitynyc.org

Bach for the Big Apple

Our 57th Season honors the scores of working musicians who make Bach Vespers New York their home. The season repertoire highlights artists from Holy Trinity, New York City, and beyond who are the lifeblood of our community: vocalists, instrumentalists, organists, composers, and conductors who return time and again to Bach Vespers.

We present Bach for the Big Apple in a truly unique environment— music by candlelight in the format of a centuries-old Lutheran service of evening prayer. Join us to celebrate our artists' longstanding commitment to this series, and witness their extraordinary gifts that create music and community in our magnificent space.

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Explore recent Bach Vespers services.

Get in touch

Robby Meese
Director of Bach Vespers                       
robby@holytrinitynyc.org
Ellie Perry
Artistic Assistant                                      
ellie@holytrinitynyc.org