Saint Mark's Church

Choral Arts Philadelphia, with the Bach Festival of Philadelphia, presents a six-concert Bach Cantata series over the course of our 2013-14 season. Each Cantata Program will include the featured Cantata, along with a Baroque instrumental work (solo or chamber), and a thematically-related choral work.  These mid-week evening concerts will be presented in the beautiful Saint Mark's Episcopal Church on Locust Street.

Wednesday, October 16th, 2013, 7 pm
Piece d'Orgue: BWV 572
Canon and Gigue in D Major - Johann Pachelbel
Blessed are all they - Orlando Gibbons
Cantata #196: Der Herr Denket an uns
Full chorus and soloists
5 strings and continuo

Composed in 1707, the year Bach married his cousin, Maria Barbara in the small village church of Dornheim, near Arnstadt, it is only one of maybe two surviving Cantatas composed in that year, and it was intended for a wedding - was it possibly his own?  Clearly influenced by what he had just heard on his trip to Luebeck to hear and possibly study with the great Dietrich Buxtehude, Cantata 196 is full of youthful vigor and enthusiasm. It also boasts one of the most poignant duets, the "Bless you and your children" for Tenor and Bass.

To round out the program, I have chosen two "Wedding" pieces to go along:

Orlando Gibbons' Wedding Anthem "Blessed are they" is inscribed to "his Lord of Somerset"'s wedding.

Although the "Canon" of Pachelbel was not originally written for a wedding, it has become quite popular at those occasions. However, we will present it as the composer intended, on baroque violins and with its concluding "Gigue."

Wednesday, November 20th, 2013, 7 pm
Funeral Music for Queen Mary - Henry Purcell
Sonata No. 12 in D minor - Johannes Schenck
Cantata #106: Actus Tragicus
Four soloists
2 recorders, 2 violas da gamba and continuo

In the same year 1707, the young Bach inherited a small sum of money, which enabled him to marry his cousin. It is believed that this hauntingly beautiful Funeral Cantata, nicknamed "Actus Tragicus" was intended for his Uncle Tobias Lammerhirt. Scored for four singers, two recorders, two Violas da Gamba and continuo, this work stands out as one of his first true masterpieces.

Amongst Henry Purcell's most famous choral works, is his settings of the Funeral Sentences of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. They were written for the Funeral of Queen Mary II in 1695. Parts of them were repeated again one year later at the composer’s own Funeral.

Wednesday, December 18th, 2013, 7 pm
Oboe Concerto in D minor - Alessandro Marcello
Wachet auf - Hugo Distler
Cantata #140: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Full chorus and soloists
3 Oboes 5 strings and continuo

The Chorale "Wachet auf" composed in 1599 by Philip Nicolai, is about the parable of the seven wise and foolish Virgins. Many composers have had their imaginations fueled by this famous tune, probably for the evocative rising Triad in the opening Chorale.

J.S. Bach's Cantata 140 is probably one of the most often heard of the Cantatas. In contrast, Choral Arts will sing a 20th century setting by Hugo Distler (1908 - 1942) an organist and composer who was vital in the revival of Renaissance and Baroque music.

Wednesday, February 19th, 2014, 7 pm
Cantata #10: Meine Seele erhebt den Herren
Magnificat - Charles Villiers Stanford
Full chorus and soloists
2 Oboes 5 strings and continuo

The Magnificat, or the Song of the Blessed Virgin Mary was inspired by her visit with her cousin Elizabeth, when she spoke of her pregnancy and how God was going to turn over the world order. The humble and meek will find favor, and the rich and powerful will be sent away empty.

Cantata BWV10 is a paraphrase of the Magnificat text in Chorale form which in turn is based on a Gregorian Chant Theme.

The Irish composer, Charles Villiers Stanford was known for a revitalization of English Church Music, composed his setting of the Magnificat in 1919 for double choir, inspired by Bach's own setting of the Latin text.

Wednesday, March 19th, 2014, 7 pm
Cantata #150: Nach dir, Herr
Hear my Prayer, O Lord - Henry Purcell
My Prayer - Bob Chilcott
Full Chorus and soloists
Bassoon, 2 violins, cello, bass and continuo

"Nach Dir, Herr, verlanget mich" scored for intimate forces of soloists, chorus, a small number of string players and bassoon Obligato, may very well be one of Bach's very first Cantatas. Bach is known to have gotten into a street fight with a young bassoonist by the name of Geyersbach while still in his first position in Arnstadt. Could this difficult bassoon part have led Bach to calling the young man a "Nanny Goat Bassoonist"?

Henry Purcell's sublime eight part motet "Hear my Prayer, O Lord" serves as a sounding board for contemporary composer Bob Chilcott's setting anthem simply titled "My Prayer" which finds the Purcell music revealed in its midst.

Wednesday, April 9th, 2014, 7 pm
Rosary Sonatas - Heinrich Biber
Cantata #182: Himmelskonig, sei willkommen
Full Chorus and soloists
1 flute, 2 violins, 2 violas, cello, bass and continuo

We conclude our Cantata Series with a Weimar Cantata "King of Heaven, be welcome" which is appropriate both for Palm Sunday or the Feast of the Annunciation. Composed in 1714, we already sense Bach coming into his own as a composer and developing his own distinct style.

Our program opens with the "Sorrowful" Sonatas by Heinrich Biber, violin virtuoso from Salzburg in the second half of the 17th century.

A BRITTEN FESTIVAL

Commemorating the Centennial of Benjamin Britten’s Birth
November 16 & 17, 2013

:  "What matters to us now is that people want to use our music. For that, as I see it, is our job. To be useful, and to the living" - Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976)

 

A BRITTEN FESTIVAL November 16 & 17, 2013
The Choir of Saint Mark’s, members of the Bach Collegium, and Choral Arts Philadelphia, with the Musicopia String Orchestra and the Archdiocesan Girls Choir, present a weekend festival in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Britten.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16 11am
CHORAL MATINS Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1625 Locust St
Freewill Offering
Te Deum and Jubilate in C - Britten
Preces and Responses - Thomas Tomkins
Rejoice in the Lamb - Britten