November 21
Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 61
Now come, Savior of the nations
Bach’s cantata for the first Sunday in Advent, composed in Weimar in 1714, was performed again in his first Advent season in Leipzig in 1723. The opening movement sets the medieval melody of Luther’s traditional Advent chorale against the rhythms of a French overture, a royal welcome for the world’s Redeemer. The movements that follow pray that Jesus would come to the church and ultimately, knock at the door of the human heart. The closing chorale exclaims, “Amen! Come, you fair crown of joy!”
3:00 p.m. Cantata Preview Lecture
Mark Peters, Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights
3:45 p.m. Bach Cantata Vespers
Chad Fothergill, guest organist
Brahms: O Heiland reiss die Himmel auf
Esther Menn, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, homilist
Maura Janton Cock, soprano
Ryan Townsend Strand, tenor
Douglas Anderson, baritone
Bach Cantata Vespers Chorus and Orchestra
Grace Cantor Michael D. Costello, conducting