Welcome to the 54th Season of Bach Vespers!

Bach Vespers Season 54 (Autumn & Advent 2021)

September 12 (11am) Cantata 106, “Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit”

October 17 All-Bach Organ Recital, Diane Meredith Belcher

October 31 Season Opening: Bach’s Mass in F, BWV 233

November 7 No Bach Vespers [New York City Marathon]

November 14 Cantata 60, "O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort"

November 21 Cantata 90, "Es reißet euch ein Schrecklich Ende"

November 28 Cantata 70, "Wachet! betet! betet! Wachet!"

December 5 Cantata 147, "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben"

December 12 Bach’s Magnificat, BWV 243

December 19 Lessons and Carols: Britten’s Ceremony of Carols

THE SPRING 2022 SEASON WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN JANUARY 2022

In 1968, as Holy Trinity Lutheran Church marked its 100th birthday, it set out to celebrate its history and the rich tradition of music in the Lutheran Church. Drawing from the high level of music performance in the City of New York, “Evenings with Johann S” was established, based on the ancient Christian service of Vespers. It was the first music series in the Western Hemisphere to present the cantatas of the great Lutheran composer Johann Sebastian Bach within a liturgical context.

53 years, hundreds of performances and two Grammy nominations later, Bach Vespers at Holy Trinity continues to present Bach’s cantatas and other great Baroque and early music masterworks every Sunday evening from October to May.

The Bach Choir and Players (on period instruments) are composed of some of the finest early musicians in the nation. As part of an ongoing commitment to developing baroque and early music in the city of New York, Bach Vespers at Holy Trinity and its parent organization Holy Trinity Lutheran Church host concerts by several of New York-based early music ensembles including House of Time, our ensemble-in-residence.

WATCH PAST VESPERS SERVICES

EASTER BACH VESPERS ~ April 4, 2021 at 5:00pm EDT

Cantata 4, "Christ lag in Todesbanden" by Johann Sebastian Bach

Motet, "Regina caeli" by Gregor Aichinger; Psalm 114 by Heinrich Schütz; Magnificat by Daniel Bollius

Organ Voluntaries by Heinrich Bach, Georg Böhm, and Johann Sebastian Bach

 

Lenten Recital V: Diane Meredith Belcher ~ March 21st, 2021 at 5:00pm EDT

"All Bach Recital"

Lenten Recital IV: Gwendolyn Toth ~ March 14th, 2021 at 5:00pm EDT

Music before Bach's time: Works by Kotter, Praetorius, Scheidemann, & Racquet

Lenten Recital III: Brian Giebler and Parker Ramsay ~ March 7th, 2021 at 5:00pm EST

Works by Barber, Schubert, Britten, and Poulenc

Lenten Recital II: House of Time ~ February 28th, 2021 at 5:00pm EST

Works by J.S. Bach, C.P.E. Bach, and G.P. Telemann

Lenten Recital I: Janet Yieh ~ February 21st, 2021 at 5:00pm EST

Works by Bruhns, Brahms, Groom te Velde, Demessieux, and Bach

FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION ~ February 14th, 2021 at 5:00pm EST

Buxtehude Cantatas Sicut Moses, BuxWV 97 & Quemadmodum desiderat cervus, BuxWV 92

Trio Sonata No. 5 in C Major, BWV 559 (transcr. by House of Time), I Only Speak of the Sun by Jessica Meyer, Psalm 50 by Edward Blancks

BACH VESPERS ~ December 6th, 2021 at 5:00pm EST

Cantata 10, "Meine Seel erhebt den Herren" by Johann Sebastian Bach

Motet, "O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf, Op. 74, No. 2" by Johannes Brahms

Organ Voluntaries by Marcel Dupré

BACH VESPERS ~ December 6th, 2021 at 5:00pm EST

Cantata 51, "Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen" by Johann Sebastian Bach

Motet, "Dona Nobis Pacem" by Olivia Sparkhall

Organ Voluntaries by J.S. Bach

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church mourns the death of John Borland Weaver (1937-2021), who as Organist/ Choir Director here from 1959 to 1970 founded our Bach Vespers series together with his wife, flautist Marianne Gruhn Weaver.  We send our deepest condolences and prayers to his wife Marianne, daughter Kirianne, grandchildren, and brother Bob.  
Rest eternal grant him, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon him.

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