Bach: Frchte dich nicht

OBS Choral Scholars & Alumni Saturday 12th April, 2:30 pm St John the Evangelist Church, Oxford

Bachs music has moved and inspired audiences and performers for generations, but tragedy was a constant companion to him. Orphaned aged ten and father to twenty children, only ten of whom survived to adulthood, Bachs life was deeply affected by loss. This programme explores both Bachs personal relationship with death, and music which delves into the Lutheran idea of the ars moriendi, the art of dying. The central work is Heinrich Schtzs landmark work, Musikalische Exequien, the first sung Requiem in German. The final movement is a setting of the canticle of Simeon, which is paraphrased in the Lutheran burial chorale, Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin, presented here in its setting by Dieterich Buxtehude.

J.S. Bachs older cousin, Johann Christoph Bach had a link to Heinrich Schtz through his education in Arnstadt. His setting of Lieber Herr Gott, wekke uns auf was performed at J.S. Bachs funeral, and the two cousins settings of Frchte dich nicht frame the programme. Selections from J.S. Bachs great unfinished deathbed work, The Art of Fugue, is also presented here in a version for keyboard duet.

Directed by Dnal McCann, with harpsichordist Anhad Arora and singers from the OBS Choral Scholarship Scheme.