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The South Carolina Bach Choir will be celebrating the start of their 2022-2023 season with a concert in Tryon at Holy Cross Episcopal Church on October 7 at 7 p.m. This is a big year in the study and performance of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Three hundred years ago (in the spring of 1723), Bach took over the post of Cantor of St. Thomas Church and director of the music for the city of Leipzig. This is an important moment in Bach’s life as he felt he was now able to fulfill his dream of creating what he called “well-appointed church music”. 

His vision was to provide weekly concerted music (choral and orchestra) for the main churches in Leipzig. These large-scale works have come down to us as the great cantatas which he composed weekly. Also, a part of this plan was the large oratorios and passions written for special occasions.

The South Carolina Bach Choir is dedicating its next two seasons to this momentous event in Bach’s life by presenting music to celebrate his transition to the cantorate in Leipzig, his great works of this period, and music that was influenced by these masterpieces. At the upcoming concert, the audience will hear three works written by Bach prior to his arrival in Leipzig. 

The South Carolina Bach Choir, with members of the North Carolina Baroque Orchestra, will perform an early cantata: Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit (Cantata 106). This work, also known as the Actus tragicus, comes from Bach’s early career, probably around 1708. Following the choral cantata, Randall Umstead, Music Department Chair at Furman University, joins the orchestra for a performance of the rare cantata for solo tenor voice: Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht (Cantata 55). Finally, the orchestra will perform the popular Brandenburg Concerto #6.

 

Submitted by Lori Walter