Steven Fox, conductor
Bach's motets were some of his only works not to fall into obscurity in the late-18th and early-19th centuries. The celebrated Clarion Choir will perform three of three of these beloved motets as a prelude to their performance of the Bach's B minor Mass in May, also in the glorious St. Jean Baptiste Church.
Brahms knew the Bach motets well, and in his own motets he pays homage to Bach as well as to the great polyphonists of the Renaissance. At the same time, Brahms' motets are the quintessential Romantic works, expressive and rich in their counterpoint.
Program:
J.S. Bach:
Komm, Jesu, Komm, BWV 229
Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227
O Jesu Christ, mein Lebens Licht, BWV 118
J. Brahms:
Geistliches Lied, Op. 40
O Welt, ich muss dich lassen, Op. 122
Warum ist Das Licht Gegeben, Op. 74, no. 1