JS & JC Bach: Motets
"virtuosic fioritura and vivid articulation of text and musical texture were combined in a performance of prayerfulness, playfulness and uninhibited, unmediated expressiveness"
The Times ★★★★★ full review
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) represented the fourth generation of a family of professional musicians, but, when drawing up the family genealogy in 1735, he singled out his father's cousin Johann Christoph in particular as der profunder Componist (the profound composer).
Johann Christoph was born in Arnstadt, Thüringia (where Johann Sebastian was later to take his first organist position) in 1642, and became organist of the castle chapel there. He also held two positions in Eisenach at the time that Johann Sebastian was born there, and the organ playing of his older relative must have been one his first encounters with the instrument. Johann Christoph is even mentioned in Johann Sebastian's obituary notice, as being 'as good at inventing beautiful thoughts as at expressing words ... On the keyboard he never played with fewer than five independent parts'.
The music of JS Bach's organist and harpsichordist ancestor had a strong influence on him, and Johann Sebastian performed a number of his works during his tenure in Leipzig. For our first performance at the Barbican Centre, and as part of John Eliot Gardiner's Bach Weekend, we have chosen to perform those motets by JC Bach that Johann Sebastian performed in Leipzig during the last few years of his life, together with five of his own works.
Repertoire & personnel
Johann Christoph Bach (1642-1703)
- Fürchte dich nicht
- Lieber Herr Gott, wecke uns auf
- Herr, nun lässest du deinen Diener in Friede fahren
- Der Gerechte, ob er gleich zu zeitlich stirbt
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
- Fürchte dich nicht
- Komm Jesu, komm
- Lobet den Herrn
- Jesu, meine Freude
- Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied
2 sopranos ~ 2 altos ~ 2 tenors ~ 2 basses
Organ
Performances
June 2018: John Eliot Gardiner's Bach Weekend, Barbican Centre, St Giles Cripplegate
4 May 2019: Bachkirche Arnstadt, Thüringer Bachwochen, Germany
7 June 2019: JS Bach Motets and Cello Suites with Jonathan Rees at St George's Bristol
The Times ★★★★★ full review
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) represented the fourth generation of a family of professional musicians, but, when drawing up the family genealogy in 1735, he singled out his father's cousin Johann Christoph in particular as der profunder Componist (the profound composer).
Johann Christoph was born in Arnstadt, Thüringia (where Johann Sebastian was later to take his first organist position) in 1642, and became organist of the castle chapel there. He also held two positions in Eisenach at the time that Johann Sebastian was born there, and the organ playing of his older relative must have been one his first encounters with the instrument. Johann Christoph is even mentioned in Johann Sebastian's obituary notice, as being 'as good at inventing beautiful thoughts as at expressing words ... On the keyboard he never played with fewer than five independent parts'.
The music of JS Bach's organist and harpsichordist ancestor had a strong influence on him, and Johann Sebastian performed a number of his works during his tenure in Leipzig. For our first performance at the Barbican Centre, and as part of John Eliot Gardiner's Bach Weekend, we have chosen to perform those motets by JC Bach that Johann Sebastian performed in Leipzig during the last few years of his life, together with five of his own works.
Repertoire & personnel
Johann Christoph Bach (1642-1703)
- Fürchte dich nicht
- Lieber Herr Gott, wecke uns auf
- Herr, nun lässest du deinen Diener in Friede fahren
- Der Gerechte, ob er gleich zu zeitlich stirbt
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
- Fürchte dich nicht
- Komm Jesu, komm
- Lobet den Herrn
- Jesu, meine Freude
- Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied
2 sopranos ~ 2 altos ~ 2 tenors ~ 2 basses
Organ
Performances
June 2018: John Eliot Gardiner's Bach Weekend, Barbican Centre, St Giles Cripplegate
4 May 2019: Bachkirche Arnstadt, Thüringer Bachwochen, Germany
7 June 2019: JS Bach Motets and Cello Suites with Jonathan Rees at St George's Bristol
