Bach Institute announces 2004-2004 concerts, lectures

Fri, September 10, 2004 |

The Bach Institute at Valparaiso University will present a series of concerts, lectures and demonstrations during the academic year examining composer J.S. Bach’s early years in Arnstadt and Mühlhausen.

The series entitled “Bach in Arnstadt and Mühlhausen,” will explore the composer’s life and musical development from 1703, when the 18-year-old composer was first hired as a Lutheran church organist in Arnstadt, Germany, through 1708, when he completed his first cantata at a Mühlhausen church.

The series opens Oct. 17 with a Cantata Vespers performance of Bach’s “Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich.” The concert will begin at 5 p.m. in the Chapel of the Resurrection on campus and be preceded by a 4 p.m. lecture in the Christopher Center for Library and Information Resources.

A weekend full of activities focusing on Bach’s composition style will be held Jan. 28 to 30 on campus.

At 7 p.m. Jan. 28, Bach scholar Dr. Daniel Melamed of Indiana University will give a lecture in the VU Center for the Arts.

A lecture and demonstration concert will be held at 5 p.m. Jan. 29 in the Christopher Center, with Bach’s “Der Herr denket an uns” and “Gott ist mein König” to be discussed and performed.

On Jan. 30, a second Cantata Vespers performance will feature the composer’s “Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir.” The concert will begin at 5 p.m. in the Chapel of the Resurrection.

The final Cantata Vespers performance of the year will take place at 5 p.m. March 20 in the Chapel of the Resurrection. Bach’s “Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit” will be performed.

The Bach Institute also will sponsor a concert in conjunction with VU’s annual Institute for Liturgical Studies on April 5.

“Christ lag in Todesbanden” will be performed at 8 p.m. in the Chapel of the Resurrection by the VU Chorale and Symphony Orchestra.

All Bach Institute events are free and open to the public with the exception of the Institute for Liturgical Studies concert.

The Bach Institute was founded last year with a gift from VU alumni Richard and Phyllis Duesenberg and is dedicated to the study and performance of Bach and his music.

“The Bach Institute offers an exciting opportunity to provide activities that ensure the legacy and theological perspective of Bach are understood by new generations,” said Dr. Christopher Cock, Duesenberg chair of Lutheran music and director of the Bach Institute.