March 24
Himmelskönig, sei willkommen, BWV 182
King of Heaven, welcome
Cantata 182 was written in 1714 when Palm Sunday and the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25 (nine months before Christmas), coincided. It was the first church cantata Bach composed after being appointed Concertmaster at the Court of Weimar. Its da capo (ABA-form) arias and overall lightness reflect his acquaintance with music from Italy, specifically Vivaldi. Bach also performed the cantata in 1724 in Leipzig on the Feast of the Annunciation, an occasion exempt from the rule about no special music during Lent. The poetry of the text likens Jesus’ incarnation and his Palm Sunday entry into Jerusalem to Jesus being welcomed into Christians’ hearts as they contemplate his Passion.
Bulletin for the service here.
3:00 p.m. Cantata Preview Lecture
Mark Peters, Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights
3:45 p.m. Organ Prelude
Steven Wente, Concordia University Chicago
4:00 p.m. Bach Cantata Vespers
Jerome Burce, Roaming Shores, Ohio, homilist
Randall Thompson: Pueri Hebræorum
Bach Cantata Vespers Chorus and Orchestra
Grace Cantor Michael D. Costello, conducting
Amanda Koopman, mezzo soprano
Ryan Townsend Strand, tenor
Douglas Anderson, baritone