The Bach Vespers Service, as presented at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, NYC, is modeled on J.S. Bach’s practice from Eighteenth Century Germany. Many of the cantatas are rendered on the same Sunday of the liturgical year for which Bach actually composed the piece and in the same service of Vespers (or Evening Prayer). Our 40th Anniversary Season is outlined below. Bach Vespers invites you to be part of this living tradition. Experience the cantatas in a setting for which they were conceived and created. All are welcome to join us regardless of religious affiliation or belief. To be added to our mailing or email-list please contact the Bach Office. |
We are located at the corner of 65th Street and Central Park West, in Manhattan.
Subways: 1 to Lincoln Center Stop, or A,B,C,D to Columbus Circle.
While there is no admission charged, a free-will offering is received during Bach Vespers services.
Doors open half an hour before each event.
| | Sunday
Oct. 7
5:00 p.m. | PRE-SEASON CONCERT “The Concert of 1789”
Featuring Samuel Felsted’s Oratorio JONAH
the first known American oratorio!
$10 suggested donation. |
| Sunday
Oct. 28
5:00 p.m. | Reformation Sunday
Bach Cantata 80 - Ein Feste Burg ist unser Gott
Dieterich Buxtehude - Erhalt uns, Herr, BuxWV 27
Organ: Prelude and Fugue in D, BWV 532
Dedication of our new positiv organ from Czech organ builder Vladimir Sobotka. For more info click here. |
| Sunday
Nov. 4
5:00 p.m. | All Saints Sunday
Bach Cantata 106 - Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit
Johann Bach - Unser Leben ist ein Schatten
Organ: Toccata in d, BWV 565 |
| Sunday
Nov. 11
5:00 p.m. | 23rd Sunday after Trinity (Pentecost 24)
Bach Cantata 55 - Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht
Johann Michael Bach - Herr, wenn ich nur dich habe
Organ: Prelude and Fugue in a, BWV 543 |
| Sunday
Nov. 18
5:00 p.m. | 24th Sunday after Trinity (Pentecost 25)
Bach Cantata 183 - Sie werden euch in den Bann tun
Johann Michael Bach - Herr, du lässest mich erfahren
Organ: Prelude and Fugue in G, BWV 541 |
| Sunday
Nov. 25
5:00 p.m. | 25th Sunday after Trinity (Christ the King)
Bach Cantata 116 - Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ
Johann Christoph Bach - Sei getreu bis in den Tod
Organ: Prelude and Fugue in G, BWV 550 |
| Sunday
Dec. 2
5:00 p.m. | 1st Sunday in Advent / World AIDS Day observed
Bach Cantata 90 - Es reißet euch ein schrecklich Ende
Dieterich Buxtehude - Befiehl dem Engel, BuxWV 10
Organ: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659 & 661 |
| Sunday
Dec. 9
5:00 p.m. | 2nd Sunday in Advent
SONGS OF ANTICIPATION
Motets for Advent by Praetorius, Gesius, and more |
| Sunday
Dec. 16
5:00 p.m. | 3rd Sunday in Advent
SONGS OF MARY
Motets by Handl, Pachelbel, Eccard and more
Stephen P. Bouman, Bishop of NY (ELCA), homilist |
| Sunday
Dec. 23
5:00 p.m. | 4th Sunday in Advent
LESSONS & CAROLS with Magnificat, BWV 243a
Our beloved annual celebration
with our Bach and Parish Choirs, Bach Players, and more! |
| Monday
Dec. 24
10:30 p.m. | The Nativity of Our Lord / Christmas Eve
THE CHRIST-MASS
with the Bach Choir |
| Sunday
Dec. 30
5:00 p.m. | 1st Sunday after Christmas
Bach Cantata 152 - Tritt auf die Glaubensbahn
Erhard Bodenschatz - Joseph lieber Joseph mein
Donald Meineke, guest conductor
Pre-Vespers talk 4:00 p.m.
Michael Marissen, Professor of Music, Swarthmore College |
| Sunday
Jan. 6
5:00 p.m. | The Epiphany of Our Lord
Bach Cantata 65 - Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen
Melchior Franck - Und du Bethlehem in jüdischen Lande
Organ: Pastoral, BWV 590 |
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| Sunday
Jan. 27
5:00 p.m. | 3rd Sunday after Epiphany
COMPLETE BACH MOTETS, PART I
BWV 230 - Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden
BWV 228 - Fürchte dich night
BWV 226 - Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf
BWV 231 - Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren |
| Sunday
Feb. 3
5:00 p.m. | The Presentation of Our Lord
Bach Cantata 158 - Der Friede sei mit dir
Johann Walter - Verbum Caro
Organ: Sonata No. 5 in C, BWV 529 |
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In our Lenten concert Vespers, our featured artists will examine through selected works a variety of juxtapositions: composers, styles, periods, forms and more! Each Vespers is preceded by a talk at 4:15 p.m.
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| Sunday
Feb. 10
5:00 p.m. | Invocavit (1st Sunday in Lent)
BACH: THE FRENCH CONNECTION
Trio Sonatas by Rameau, Leclair, Couperin & Bach
Peter Kupfer-violin, Carlene Stober-gamba, Jan-Piet Knijff-harpsichord |
| Sunday
Feb. 17
5:00 p.m. | Reminiscere (2nd Sunday in Lent)
SONNETS, SONGS AND PROVERBS
settings of Blake and Donne by Britten
Jennifer Bates-soprano, Joe Damon Chappel-bass |
| Sunday
Feb. 24
5:00 p.m. | Oculi (3rd Sunday in Lent)
JUXTAPOSING THE GREAT AND POSITIV
Johann Sebastian Bach - Clavierübung III (The Great Catechism)
James B. Bobb-organ, Rick Erickson-organ |
| Sunday
Mar. 2
5:00 p.m. | Laetare (4th Sunday in Lent)
BACH IN THE ROUND
A kaleidoscope event of Bach in sounds ancient and modern |
| Saturday
Mar. 8
7:00 p.m.
&
Sunday
Mar. 9
3:00 p.m. | CONCERTS (two complete performances)
ST. MATTHEW PASSION, BWV 244
with the Bach Choir, Soloists, the Bach Players
and the Choristers of Trinity Church, Worcester, MA Donation at the door - no advance sales - $20 Suggested (but no one will be turned away for inability to pay)
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| Sunday
Mar. 16
5:00 p.m. | Sunday of the Passion / Palm Sunday
Bach Cantata 182 - Himmelskönig, sei willkommen
Johann Christoph Bach - Es ist nun aus
Organ: Fantasie super: Valet will ich dir geben, BWV 735 |
| Friday
Mar. 21
12:00 p.m. | Good Friday
Rick Erickson - St. John Passion
with soloists from the Bach Choir |
| Sunday
Mar. 23
5:00 p.m. | The Resurrection of Our Lord / Easter Sunday
Easter Oratorio, BWV 249 - Kommt, eilet und laufet
Johann Michael Bach - Sei lieber Tag willkommen
Organ: Prelude and Fugue in C, BWV 547 |
| Sunday
Mar. 30
5:00 p.m. | Quasi Modo Geniti (2nd Sunday of Easter)
Bach Cantata 67 - Halt im Gedächtnis Jesum Christ
Michael Praetorius - Halleluja ist ein fröhlich Gesang
Organ: Prelude and Fugue in C, BWV 545 |
| Sunday
Apr. 6
5:00 p.m. | Misericordia Domini (3rd Sunday of Easter)
Bach Cantata 146 - Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal
Michael Praetorius - Wir wollen alle fröhlich sein
Organ: Toccata in d dorian, BWV 538
Pre-Vespers talk 4:00 p.m.
Michael Marissen, Professor of Music, Swarthmore College |
| Sunday
Apr. 13
5:00 p.m. | Jubilate (4th Sunday of Easter)
Bach Cantata 175 - Er rufet seinen Schafen mit Namen
Heinrich Schütz - Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt
Organ: Schafe können sicher weiden, from BWV 208 |
| Sunday
Apr. 20
5:00 p.m. | Cantate (5th Sunday of Easter)
COMPLETE BACH MOTETS, PART II
BWV 229 - Komm, Jesu, komm
BWV 227 - Jesu, meine Freude
BWV 225 - Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied |
| Sunday
Apr. 27
5:00 p.m. | Rogate (6th Sunday of Easter)
Bach Cantata 108 - Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe
Johann Michael Bach - Ich weiß daß mein Erlöser lebt
Organ: Prelude and Fugue in C, BWV 531 |
| July
17- 20 | BACH ON CENTRAL PARK – Bach Sommerfest NYC
with Cantatas 158, 94 & 98 Including workshops, lectures, open rehearsals, Vespers and Sunday Mass. Featured Guests: Kantor Georg Christoph Biller, current successor of J. S. Bach at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, and Bach Scholar, Michael Marissen, Professor of Music, Swarthmore College, PA. Complete details are available by clicking here.
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