BACH VESPERS
AT WESTMINSTER
2009-2011

Unique not only in Alexandria but also in the entire region, these Vesper services are based on the ancient liturgical rites; a worshiper might encounter elements from many ancient Christian traditions – candles, incense, sung Scripture, cantor-lead singing and recitation, and ancient hymns.  Johann Sebastian Bach’s organ music binds it all together.  In the course of a two-year cycle of these Vesper services, Paul Stetsenko, organist at Westminster, plays all of Bach's organ works.

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"A Story of God"

The segment "A Story of God" (October-November 2009) tells the story of creation through the Six Trio-Sonatas; it also narrates the story of Christ through the Great 18 Chorales.  

 

Sunday, October 4, 2009 at 6:00 pm

First Day of Creation - Advent

Trio sonata #1 in E-flat Major

Three chorale preludes from "The Great Eighteen Chorales":

Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland BWV 659

Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland BWV 660 (trio)

Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland BWV 661

 

Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 6:00 pm

Second Day of Creation - Christmas

Trio sonata #2 in C-minor

Three chorale preludes from "The Great Eighteen Chorales":

Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr' BWV 662

Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr' BWV 663

Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr' BWV 664 (trio)

 

Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 6:00 pm

Third Day of Creation - Epiphany

Trio sonata #3 in D-minor

Three chorale preludes from "The Great Eighteen Chorales":

Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele BWV 654

Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend' BWV 655 (trio)

Vor deinen Thron tret' ich hiermit BWV 668

 

Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 6:00 pm

Fourth Day of Creation - Lent

Trio-Sonata #4 in E-minor

Three chorale preludes from "The Great Eighteen Chorales":

An Wasserflüssen Babylon BWV 653

O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig BWV 656

Von Gott will ich nicht lassen BWV 658

 

Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 6:00 pm

Fifth Day of Creation - Easter

Trio-Sonata #5 in C-major

Three chorale preludes from "The Great Eighteen Chorales":

Nun danket alle Gott BWV 657

Jesus Christus, unser Heiland BWV 665

Jesus Christus, unser Heiland BWV 666 (alio modo)

 

Sunday, November 8, 2009 at 6:00 pm

Sixth Day of Creation - Pentecost

Trio-Sonata #6 in G-major

Three chorale preludes from "The Great Eighteen Chorales":

Komm, heiliger Geist, Herre Gott BWV 651

Komm, heiliger Geist, Herre Gott BWV 652 (alio modo)

Komm, Gott, Schöpfer, heiliger Geist BWV 667

 

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"THE LITURGICAL YEAR" - 2009-2010

The segment "Liturgical Year" (November 2009 - June 2010) incorporates 12 organ Preludes and Fugues and "Das Orgelbüchlein"

 

Sunday, November 29, 2009 at 6:00 pm  - Advent I

Prelude and Fugue in C-major (“Fanfare”)

Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland

Gottes Sohn ist kommen

Herr Christ, der einge Gottes-Sohn

Lob sei dem allmächtigen Gott

 

Sunday, January 3, 2010 at 6:00 pm - New Year Festival

Prelude and Fugue in c-minor (“Big”)

Helft mir Gotts Güte preisen

Das alte Jahre vergangen ist

In dir ist Freude

Fugue on "Magnificat"

 

Sunday, January 10, 2010 at 6:00 pm - Christmastide

Prelude and Fugue in C-major (“Wedding”)

Puer natus in Bethlehem

Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ

Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich

Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her

Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schar

 

Sunday, January 17, 2010 at 6:00 pm - Christmastide

Prelude and Fugue in d-minor (“Violin”)

In dulci jubilo

Lobt Gott, ihr Christen, allzugleich

Jesu, meine Freude

Christum wir sollen loben schon

Wir Christenleut

 

Sunday, January 24, 2010 at 6:00 pm - Epiphany

Prelude and Fugue in e-minor (“Wedge”)

Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin

Herr Gott, nun schleuß den Himmel auf

 

Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 6:00 pm - Passiontide

Prelude and Fugue in f-minor

O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig

Christe, du Lamm Gottes

Christus, der uns selig macht

 

Sunday, February 28, 2010 at 6:00 pm  - Passiontide

Prelude and Fugue in a-minor

Da Jesus an dem Kreuze stund

O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß

Wir danken dir, Herr Jesu Christ

Hilf, Gott, daß mir's gelinge

 

Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 6:00 pm - Eastertide

Prelude and Fugue in g-minor

Christ lag in Todesbanden

Jesus Christus, unser Heiland

Christ ist erstanden

 

Sunday, April 18, 2010 at 6:00 pm - Eastertide

Prelude and Fugue in C-major (“9/8”)

Erstanden ist der heil'ge Christ

Erschienen ist der herrliche Tag

Heut triumphieret Gottes Sohn

 

Sunday, May 23, 2010 at 6:00 pm - Pentecost

Prelude and Fugue in D-major

Komm, Gott Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist

Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend

Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier

 

Sunday, May 30, 2010 at 6:00 pm - Ordinary Time

Prelude and Fugue in e-minor (“Cathedral”)

Dies sind die heil'gen zehn Gebot

Vater unser im Himmelreich

Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt

Es ist das Heil uns kommen her

Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ

 

Sunday, June 6, 2010 at 6:00 pm - Ordinary Time

Prelude and Fugue in c-minor (“Little”)

In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr

Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein

Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten

Alle Menschen müssen sterben

Ach wie nichtig, ach wie flüchtig

 

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“GERMAN MASS”

The segment "German Mass" (October 2010) incorporates Bach's collection of chorales from Clavierübung III, also known as "The German (or Lutheran) Mass."  Each Vesper service will focus on a particular segment of the Mass.  The underlying theological narrative for this cycle of Vespers is Luther's Catechism.

Sunday, October 3, 2010 at 6:00 pm - "Kyrie"

Prelude in E-flat Major

Kyrie, Gott Vater in Ewigkeit

Christe, aller Welt Trost

Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist

Kyrie, Gott Vater in Ewigkeit

Christe, aller Welt Trost

Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist

 

Sunday, October 10, 2010 at 6:00 pm - "Gloria"

Prelude and Fugue in G major

Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr'

Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr'

Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr'

 

Sunday, October 17, 2010 at 6:00 pm - "Commandments-Creed"

Prelude and Fugue in b minor

Diess sind die heil'gen zehen Gebot'

Diess sind die heil'gen zehen Gebot'

Wir glauben all' an einen Gott

Wir glauben all' an einen Gott

 

Sunday, October 24, 2010 at 6:00 pm - "Lord's Prayer-Baptism"

Prelude and Fugue in A major

Vater unser im Himmelreich

Vater unser im Himmelreich

Christ unser Herr sum Jordan kam

Christ unser Herr sum Jordan kam

 

Sunday, October 31, 2010 at 6:00 pm - "Confession-Eucharist"

Aus tiefer Noth schrei' ich zu dir BWV 686

Aus tiefer Noth schrei' ich zu dir BWV 687

Jesus Christus unser Heiland BWV 688

Jesus Christus unser Heiland BWV 689 (fugue)

Fugue in Eb Major BWV 552b ("St. Anne")

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"THE LITURGICAL YEAR" - 2010-2011

The second segment "Liturgical Year" (November 2010 - June 2011) incorporates Preludes, Toccatas, Fantasia and Fugues and miscellaneous chorale preludes by J. S. Bach, arranged to trace the cycles of The Liturgical Calerndar, from Advent to Pentecost.

 

Advent - November 28, 2010 at 6:00 pm

Toccata and Fugue in d minor

Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (fugetta)

Herr Christ, der ein'ge Gottes Sohn (fugetta)

Gottes Sohn ist kommen (fugetta)

Lob sei derm allmachtigen Gott (fugetta)

Wachet auf! (from "Schübler Chorales") 

 

Christmas I - January 2, 2011 at 6:00 pm

Pastorale in F major

Vom Himmel hoch (fugetta)

Vom Himmel hoch

Canonic Variations on "Vom Himmel hoch"
 

 

Christmas II - January 9, 2011 at 6:00 pm

Toccata, Adagio & Fugue in C-major

Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ (fugetta)

Christmus wir sollen loben schon (fugetta)

Meine Seele erhebt den Herren (from "Schübler Chorales") 

Ach bleib bei uns,Herr Jesu Christ (from "Schübler Chorales") 

 

Christmas III - January 16, 2011 at 6:00 pm

Toccata and Fugue in E major BWV 566

Allein Gott in der Höh

Allein Gott in der Höh

Wir Christenleut

Jesu meine Freude
 

Lent I - March 13, 2011 at 6:00 pm

Toccata and Fugue in d minor (Dorian)

Valet will ich dir geben (B-flat)

Herzlich tut mich verlangen

Ach Gott und Herr

Trio in d-minor
 

 

Lent II - March 20, 2011 at 6:00 pm

Fantasia and Fugue in g minor BWV 542

Valet will ich dir geben (D)

Wo soll ich fliehen hin (from "Schübler Chorales") 

Wo soll ich fliehen hin
 

Lent III - March 27, 2011 at 6:00 pm

Fantasia and Fugue in c minor BWV 562

Canzona

Wer nur den lieber Gott lasst walten (manualiter)

Wer nur den lieber Gott lasst walten (manualiter)

Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten (from "Schübler Chorales") 

 

Lent IV - April 3, 2011 at 6:00 pm

Fantasia in c minor

Sei gegrüßet, Jesu gütig (Partita) 

 

Eastertide I - May 1, 2011 at 6:00 pm

Toccata and Fugue in F major BWV 540

Christ lag in Todesbanden

Christ lag in Todesbanden

Alla breve
 

 

Eastertide II - May 8, 2011 at 6:00 pm

Fantasia in G major ("Piece d'Orgue") 

Nun freut euch

Vater unser im Himmelreich

In dir hab' ich gehoffet

Pentecost - June 12, 2011 at 6:00 pm

Ein' feste Burg

Herr Jesu Christ dich zu uns wend

Lieber Jesu, wid sind hier

Lobe den Herren (from "Schübler Chorales") 

Passacaglia & Fugue in c minor