Chattanooga Bach Choir opens cantata series at Christ Church Episcopal

The Chattanooga Bach Choir will open its fourth Barnett & Co. Cantata Series on Sunday, Sept. 23, at Christ Church Episcopal, 663 Douglas St.

The series will feature four Sunday afternoon concerts focusing on J.S. Bach's expressive choral works chosen for a particular Sunday in the liturgical calendar. All four programs will begin at 5 p.m., conducted by David Long, artistic director.

Long will introduce each cantata in the series with a brief musical explanation placing each work in its liturgical context.

Sunday's season-opener features Cantata BWV 148, "Bringet dem Herrn Ehre seines Namens (Bring to the Lord the honor due his name)," composed for the 17th Sunday after Trinity.

Completing the hour-long program is "Super flumena Babylonis (Psalm 137)," a four-part motet by Renaissance composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina.

Joining the Bach Choir and Orchestra will be guest artists Rachel Walls, alto; James Harr, tenor; and Josh Knight, organist.

Bach's Praeludium in G major for organ, BWV 541, will open the concert.

"On the final page of his cantatas, motets and other sacred compositions, Bach wrote the phrase 'Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God alone),' signifying that his work was created for the purpose of praising God," says director Long.

"Bach's 200 or so surviving sacred cantatas contain some of his greatest music, created with a consistency of invention and inspiration and revealing an astonishing range of expression and musical styles. In this series, we explore the variety of these glorious works for chorus, soloists and instruments," he says.

Programs will also include sacred works for unaccompanied chorus, as well as a related solo organ prelude to begin each program.

A series subscription is $60 for four concerts. Single tickets are $20. Students are free.

For more information, visit www.chattanoogabachchoir.org.