This preview has been provided by the 2016-2017 Al Purrington Sacred Music on the Square concert series.
Praised for their “seamless sound,” “strength, and contextual accuracy,” The Raleigh Bach Soloists and The North Carolina Baroque Orchestra give the final performance of this Sacred Music on the Square concert season in grand baroque style with three of Bach’s most celebratory pieces with period trumpets, timpani, oboes, strings, and organ. This free performance will be held Friday, April 28th at 7 pm in the sanctuary of the historic Christ Episcopal Church on Capitol Square in downtown Raleigh.
Bach’s first ever Easter Cantata, Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4, opens the evening with its subdued and mysterious Sinfonia evoking the scene at Christ’s empty tomb early in the darkened hours of Easter morning. From there we erupt into full-blown celebration with cantata 137, “Praise the Lord, the Mighty King,” and motet 230, “Praise the Lord, all ye nations,” famous for its “Hallelujah” fugue. The evening ends with the brilliant, joyful cantata “We thank you God,” BWV 29 with its fast and intricate obligato organ writing and large-scale orchestration.
For more information, please visit https://ccral.org/events/sacred-music-series/music-for-celebration
