Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen, BWV 123
Dearest Immanuel, ruler of the righteous

The Christmas season concludes on January 6 with the feast of the Epiphany, but there are no wise men or gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh in this cantata, composed for Epiphany in 1725. Instead the chorale-based cantata evokes a portrait of Jesus remaining with the believer through the hard journey of this life. The unusual combination of flutes and oboes da amore with strings adds to the quiet intimacy of the music.

3:00 p.m. Cantata Preview Lecture
Mark P. Bangert, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

3:45 p.m. Bach Cantata Vespers
Kontras Quartet: Eleanor Bartsch, François Henkins,
Ben Weber, and Jean Hatmaker

Join in person (masks required) or via livestream
Bulletin for the service

Mendelssohn: There Shall a Star from Jacob Come Forth (from Christus)

Troy E. Medlin, Grace Lutheran Church and School, River Forest, Illinois, homilist

Karen Brunssen, mezzo soprano
Ryan Townsend Strand, tenor
Douglas Anderson, baritone

Bach Cantata Vespers Chorus and Orchestra
Grace Cantor Michael D. Costello, conducting