With its initial focus on sorrow, the text of this cantata might lead us to believe that it was written for a penitential season rather than the Fourth Sunday of Easter. But sadness turns to joy at the end, in anticipation of the joys of heaven. Composed in 1726 or 1727 the cantata opens with a sinfonia and chorus based on the first two movements of a lost concerto for violin solo, strings, and continuo. It also uses material from Bach’s Concerto for Harpsichord in D minor (BWV 1052) which is now assigned to obbligato organ.

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

Susan Nelson, soprano
Sarah Ponder, mezzo-soprano
Ryan Townsend Strand, tenor
Douglas Anderson, baritone

Admission is free; a free-will offering will be received.
Bach Cantata Vespers is a ministry of Grace Lutheran Church and School, 7300 Division Street, River Forest, Illinois.