April 25
Cantata
Ein Herz, das seinen Jesum lebend weiß, BWV 134
A heart that knows its Jesus is living
In 1724, after the premiere of his St. John Passion and the busyness of Easter, Bach reworked a secular cantata composed in 1719 in Cöthen for services on Easter Tuesday. Joyful dance rhythms celebrate the risen Christ and his victory over death. The final chorus, “Erschallet, ihr Himmel” (“Resound, you heavens”) is a fitting summation of the three-day celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.
The Kapelle of Concordia University Chicago joins us for their annual appearance at Grace, under the direction of Dr. Charles P. Brown. Organist Scott M. Hyslop, Cantor of Zion Lutheran Church and School in Dallas, Texas, joins us for the service and performs a pre-service recital as prelude to the service at 3:45 p.m. Join us at 3:00 p.m. in the Seminar Room at Grace for a pre-service lecture by Stephen Alltop on the day’s cantata. Alltop is Senior Lecturer in conducting, harpsichord, and oratorio in the Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, where he conducts the Baroque Music Ensemble and Millar Choir. He also serves as music director for the Apollo Chorus of Chicago, the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, and the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra.
Homilist
Robert L. Shaner, Hinsdale, Illinois, homilist
Prelude
Scott M. Hyslop, Zion Lutheran Church and School, Dallas, Texas, organist
Motet
Johann Sebastian Bach, Es war ein wunderlicher Krieg, from BWV 4
Musicians
Kapelle of Concordia University Chicago, guest choir
Charles P. Brown, conducting
Elizabeth Frey, mezzo-soprano
Brian Skoog, tenor
