More Info
If you go› What: Cantata 79 in Chattanooga Bach Choir Cantata Series.› When: 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30.› Where: First Christian Church, 650 McCallie Ave.› Admission: $15 suggested donation; free for students.› Website: www.chattanoogbachchoir.org.
The Chattanooga Bach Choir will open a cantata series on Sunday, Oct. 31, that focuses on four celebrated choral works by Johann Sebastian Bach.
The first concert, celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, includes Bach’s festive cantata “Gott der Herr Ist Sonn und Schild (Lord God Is Our Sun and Shield)” and Georg Philipp Telemann’s motet “Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott (A Mighty Fortress Is Our God).”
Joining the choir are guest soloists Beth DuRoy (soprano), Sara Snider Schone (mezzo soprano) and Zachary James Cavan (bass). The choir is conducted by artistic director David Long.
Reformation Day, Oct. 31, commemorates the date in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his “95 Theses” to the door of the Wittenberg church. Also known as the “Disputation on the Power of Indulgences,” the writings advanced Luther’s positions against what he saw as abusive practices by preachers selling plenary indulgences, which were certificates that would reduce the temporal punishment for sins committed by the purchaser or their loved ones in purgatory. Historians credit the act with sparking the Protestant Reformation.
To mark this festive occasion, Bach wrote what the choir describes as “a magnificent musical celebration, lavishly scored for flutes, horns timpani, soloists and chorus.” Alternating between the moods of triumph and devotion, the powerful opening movement sets the words of Psalm 84:12: “For Lord God is our light and protector.”
The third movement is an elaborate chorale setting of the famous hymn, “Nun Danket Alle Gott (Now Thank We All Our God).” Also on the program is Telemann’s motet setting of the Reformation hymn “Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott (A Mighty Fortress Is Our God) for four-part chorus and orchestra, marking the 250th anniversary of the composer’s death.
The Barnett & Co. Cantata Series continues on Jan. 29, 2017, with BWV 81 for the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany, “Jesus Schläft, Was Sol Lich Hoffen (Jesus Sleeps, Is Hope Now Fading). Then two cantatas for the Easter season follow with BWV 104 “Du Hirte Israel, Höre (O Shield of Israel, Hear Us)” on April 30 and BWV 86 “Wahrlich, Wahrlich, Ich Sage Euch (Truly, Truly I Say to You)” on May 21. All of the 2017 concerts take place at Christ Episcopal Church on McCallie Avenue.