大象传媒

Presented by Catherine Bott

When, in 1723, J S Bach was appointed Cantor of St Thomas' Church, Leipzig - third choice for the job - the town council famously remarked that, since the best was not available, they must make do with the mediocre. But St Thomas' already had a long and distinguished musical tradition before Bach arrived, and this concert explores the music both of Bach and of his predecessors. Many of these, like Bach, ended their days at St Thomas' and died in office - the Cantor's post a career-summit from which they wouldn't wish to move. But for Bach, St Thomas's was a step down (after his previous more illustrious appointments at the Ducal and Princely courts) and one from which he spent a considerable amount of time trying to escape!

Live from St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, in London, the 大象传媒 Singers and St James's Baroque perform cantatas, motets and instrumental pieces by J S Bach himself and by some of his illustrious predecessors.

J S Bach: Sinfonia (BWV 174)
J S Bach: Der Geist Hilft (BWV 226)
J Kuhnau: Tristis est anima mea
Sethus Calvisius: Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied
J S Bach: Erfreute Zeit im neuen Bunde (BWV 83)

Interval - 20 minutes (see separate billing

J S Bach: Sinfonia (BWV 52)
G P Telemann: Laudate Jehovam, omnes gentes
J H Schein: Ich will schweigen; Alleluja. Wohl dem, der den Herren
J S Bach: Missa Brevis (BWV 233)

大象传媒 Singers
St James Baroque
David Hill (conductor).