The 44th Annual Baltimore Bach Marathon

Dear Friends in Music,

As you are no doubt keenly aware, the Baltimore community is currently grappling with how best to confront the advancing coronavirus, COVID-19. We at St. David's join many other arts, community, and religious organizations in endeavoring to determine the best way forward.

A VIRTUAL CELEBRATION OF BACH

After considerable thought and discussion, we initially decided to postpone the 44th Annual Baltimore Bach Marathon until April 26. We were able to work swiftly and secure this date with nearly all of the scheduled musicians, essentially preserving the program as it was conceived and simply moving it to a later date. However, the threat of the novel coronavirus is still present.

As a capstone event of the Music at St. David's season, we are certain that many of you were looking forward to this concert. Therefore, in addition to the livestream of the "Goldberg" variations which occured on the day of the originally scheduled marrathon (Sunday, March 15), we offer an entirely digital Bach marathon, scheduled for Sunday, April 26 from 1-7 pm. You can tune in via Facebook and YouTube at any time during the day. The performance will be archived for later viewing.

SCHEDULE

(Please note that timings are approximate, and that, due to file size restrictions, the marathon will be divided into two videos, Part 1 and Part 2. Click on the hyperlinks below to go directly to that Part, archived on YouTube.)

Part 1

1:00 – Introduction and Welcome

1:05 – Paul Byssainthe, Jr., organ

                Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543

                Kommst du nun, Jesu, vom Himmel herunet, BWV 650

                Fugue on the name of BACH, Op. 60, no. 6, by Robert Schumann

1:30 – Charm City Baroque performs Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht, "Coffee Cantata", BWV 211

1:55 – Lavena Johanson, 'cello performs the 'Cello Suite in D Minor, BWV 1008

        – Jeremy Lyons, Guitar performs the "Chaconne" from Violin Partita no. 2, BWV 1004

2:30 – Mi Zhou, organ

                Prelude and Fugue in D Major, BWV 532

                Concerto in A minor, BWV 593

2:55 – The Choir of St. David's performs Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, BWV 131

3:25 – Charm City Baroque

                Trio Sonata in G Major, BWV 1038

                Amore Traditore, BWV 203

                Sonata in E minor for Flute and Continuo, BWV 1034

PART 2

4:00 – Douglas Buchanan, piano, performs the "Goldberg" Variations, BWV 988

4:50 – The Choir of St. David's performs Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 225

5:05 – Mary Hamlin-Spencer, organ

                Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 541

                Trio Sonata no. 5 in C Major, BWV 529

                O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig, BWV 656

5:40 – The Choir of St. David's performs Komm, Jesu, komm, BWV 229

5:50 – Diane Luchese, organ

                Wenn wir in höchsten Nöthen sein, BWV 641

                Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 610

                O Mensch, bewein' dein Sünde gross, BWV 622

6:00 – William Wisnom, organ, performs the Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542

6:10 – Theodore Davis, harpsichord, performs the Suite pour clavessin ("French" Suite) no. 4 in E-flat Major

6:30 – The Choir of St. David's performs Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227

AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT OUR MUSICIANS

During this time, St. David's has committed to supporting its staff musicians, as well as the musicians who appear in archived footage via streaming performances. Many musicians and artists have lost their livelihood during this time.

If you are moved by these performances while listening, or if at any time you would like to make an online donation, you may do so using the link below. All donations will be used to compensate our hired musicians, many of whom make their careers primarily as freelancers, and to support Music at St. David's.  Thank you!