Bach. Cantata Vespers. 45th Year. Grace Lutheran Church River Forest, Illinois Sunday afternoons Prelude at 3:45 p.m.

Transcription

1 Bach 45th Year Grace Lutheran Church River Forest, Illinois Sunday afternoons Prelude at 3:45 p.m. Cantata Vespers

2 Welcome to the 45 th season of Bach Cantata Vespers at Grace Lutheran Church. In June I had the opportunity to study a few of Bach s original manuscripts in Leipzig, Germany. Holding those pages in my hand and seeing Bach s own handwriting reminded me of how blessed we are to experience this music at Grace. I hope you will join us as we begin a new season on September 20 with Bach s cantata, Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan (What God does, that is done well, BWV 99). Bishop Robert Rimbo will be the homilist. In October the Bach Cantata Vespers Orchestra will present Bach s Concerto for Oboe and Violin in C minor, BWV 1060, along with Richard Hillert s beautiful Prelude to Evening Prayer. In November we welcome guest organist Stephen Alltop of Northwestern University and will perform one of Bach s most beloved cantatas, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (Now come, O Savior of the nations, BWV 61). A highlight of the season will be performances of the six cantatas that make up the Bach Christmas Oratorio. While ordinarily presented in a single evening on the concert stage, the individual cantatas will be heard at Grace on the specific feast days for which they were originally composed, from Christmas Day through Epiphany. Be sure to take note of the dates and times for these services listed inside this brochure. In January we welcome the Kapelle of Concordia University Chicago, directed by Charles P. Brown, to sing the chorale-based cantata Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin (In peace and joy I now depart, BWV 125). Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut (My heart swims in blood, BWV 199) is the cantata for February, sung by soprano Susan Nelson. On Palm Sunday, March 20, we will hear Himmelskönig, sei willkommen (King of heaven, welcome, BWV 182). In April we welcome Steven Wente of Concordia University Chicago to the organ bench, and in May the season concludes with Bach s festive cantata for Trinity Sunday, Gelobet sei der Herr, mein Gott (Praised be the Lord, my God, BWV 129), along with Bach s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5. Each service of this season is filled with deeply moving music. You will find additional details on the following pages, including information on pre-service cantata preview sessions, presented by conductors, performers, and Bach scholars from the Chicago area. More information about the Bach Cantata Vespers Ministry at Grace, including this season, is available at Grace s Bach Cantata Vespers Ministry is possible only because of generous financial support from people like you. Please make your contribution today by returning the enclosed envelope or by giving online at Thank you for your support. Soli Deo Gloria! The Rev. Michael D. Costello, Grace Cantor

3 November 22 BWV 61 March 20 BWV 182 Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland Stephen Alltop, guest organist Himmelskönig, sei willkommen Music of Telemann December 25 January 6 BWV 248 April 24 BWV 86 Year at a glance Christmas Oratorio presented during worship services of Christmas Wahrlich, wahrlich, ich sage euch Steven Wente, guest organist September 20 BWV 99 January 31 BWV 125 Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan Martin Jean, guest organist Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin Concordia University Kapelle, guest choir May 22 BWV 129 October 25 BWV 120 February 28 BWV 199 Gott, man lobet dich in der Stille Music of Bach and Hillert Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut Music of Corelli and Graupner Bach 45th Year Cantata Vespers Gelobet sei der Herr, mein Gott Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, BWV 1050

4 September 20 3:00 p.m. Cantata Preview: Carl F. Schalk, Concordia University Chicago 3:45 p.m. Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan What God does, that is done well (BWV 99) Robert Alan Rimbo, Metropolitan New York Synod, ELCA, homilist Martin Jean, Yale Institute of Sacred Music, New Haven, Conn., organist Free-will offering to benefit Lutheran Music Program, home of the Lutheran Summer Music Academy and Festival. Martin Jean Robert Alan Rimbo

5 Betty Lewis November 22 Rebecca Schalk Nagel October 25 3:00 p.m. Cantata Preview: Mark P. Bangert, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago 3:45 p.m. Gott, man lobet dich in der Stille God, you are praised in the stillness (BWV 120) Frank C. Senn, Evanston, Ill., homilist J. S. Bach: Concerto for Oboe and Violin in C minor, BWV 1060 R. Hillert: Prelude to Evening Prayer Rebecca Schalk Nagel, Columbia, S.C., oboe Betty Lewis, Wilmette, Ill., violin Frank C. Senn 3:00 p.m. Cantata Preview: Mark Peters, Trinity Christian College 3:45 p.m. Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland Now come, O Savior of the nations (BWV 61) Amy C. Schifrin, Trinity School for Ministry, Ambridge, Penn., homilist Stephen Alltop, Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., organist Amy Schifrin Stephen Alltop

6 Christmas Oratorio Weihnachts-Oratorium December 25 January 6 The Christmas Oratorio of J. S. Bach is a series of six cantatas that Bach wrote for services in Leipzig during the season of Christmas in Today the Christmas Oratorio is almost always performed as a single work on the concert stage. This Christmas season at Grace we will present the six cantatas of the Christmas Oratorio in worship as part of the proclamation of God s Word, on the days for which Bach originally wrote them: Christmas Day, the Second Day of Christmas, the First Sunday of Christmas, New Year s Day, the Second Sunday of Christmas, and the Epiphany of Our Lord. Each of these services will be unique in its own way. Some will be services of Holy Communion with Grace pastors preaching. Others will follow the Vespers liturgy, with guest homilists. We hope you will join us for as many of these services as you are able, as Bach s music in adoration of the Christ Child continues through the entire Christmas season.

7 Weihnachts-Oratorium Christmas Oratorio Presented in worship at the following dates and times: December 25, 10 a.m. December 26, 7 p.m. Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage Celebrate, rejoice, arise, praise these days The Incarnation of Our Lord, Christmas Day: Service of Holy Communion Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend And there were shepherds in the same region The Second Day of Christmas: Bach Cantata Vespers Robert F. Burke, homilist December 27, 4 p.m. Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen Lord of the heavens, hear the murmuring The Third Day of Christmas: Bach Cantata Vespers Phyllis N. Kersten, homilist January 1, 10 a.m. Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben Fall down with thanks, fall down with praises The Name of Jesus, New Year s Day: Service of Holy Communion January 3, 4 p.m. Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen Praises to you, God, be sung The Second Sunday of Christmas: Bach Cantata Vespers Jill Peláez Baumgaertner, homilist January 6, 7 p.m. Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben Lord, when our proud enemies snort with rage The Epiphany of Our Lord: Service of Holy Communion Mark P. Bangert, homilist

8 January 31 3:00 p.m. Cantata Preview: Mark Peters, Trinity Christian College 3:45 p.m. Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin In peace and joy I now depart (BWV 125) Concordia University Chicago Kapelle Kevin L. Strickland, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Chicago, Illinois, homilist Michael D. Costello, Grace Lutheran Church and School, River Forest, Illinois, organist Kapelle, Concordia University Chicago, guest choir; Charles P. Brown, director Charles P. Brown

9 Susan Nelson March 20 Dianne Ryan February 28 3:00 p.m. Cantata Preview: Carl Grapentine, WFMT Radio 3:45 p.m. Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut My heart swims in blood (BWV 199) Susan Nelson, soprano Rebekah Weant Costello, St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Itasca, homilist A. Corelli: Sonata in B-flat Major, Op. 1, No. 5 J. C. Graupner: Concerto for Bassoon in G Major, GWV 328 Dianne Ryan, bassoon 3:00 p.m. Cantata Preview: Carl F. Schalk, Concordia University Chicago 3:45 p.m. Himmelskönig, sei willkommen King of heaven, welcome (BWV 182) James L. Brooks, Harmony Community Church, Chicago, Ill., homilist G. P. Telemann: Ouverture in A minor, TWV 55:a2 James L. Brooks

10 April 24 3:00 p.m. Cantata Preview: Mark Peters, Trinity Christian College 3:45 p.m. Wahrlich, wahrlich, ich sage euch Truly, truly, I say to you (BWV 86) David S. Yeago, Trinity School for Ministry, Ambridge, Penn., homilist Steven Wente, Concordia University Chicago, organist May 22 3:00 p.m. Cantata Preview: Mark P. Bangert, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago 3:45 p.m. Gelobet sei der Herr, mein Gott Praised be the Lord, my God (BWV 129) David S. Yeago Steven Wente E. Jon Benson, St. John Lutheran Church, Council Bluffs, Iowa, homilist J. S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major, BWV 1050 E. Jon Benson

11 Cantata Vespers Bach 45th Year Grace Lutheran Church River Forest, Illinois Sunday afternoons Prelude at 3:45 p.m. Detach this page and use the enclosed envelope when making your tax-deductible donation to the Bach Cantata Vespers Ministry. Name Street Address City/State/Zip I would like my name listed under the following category: Please make checks payable to Grace Lutheran Church. Contributor ($75+) Benefactor ($1,000+) Friend ($150+) Sponsor ($2,500+) Partner ($250+) Guarantor ($5,000+) Patron ($500+) Other

12 Bach 45 th Year Cantata Vespers Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Oak Park, IL Permit No Division Street River Forest, Illinois (708)