Music Sunday
Be sure to join us this Sunday for a very special Music Sunday at PCOL, at 10 AM! Our worship service will be a re-creation of the worship service celebrating Ascension in Leipzig, Germany on May 19, 1735 at the St. Thomas Church — this is when J.S. Bach’s Ascension Oratorio (BWV 11) was premiered. In addition to the Bach oratorio, other music will include a motet for Ascension (by Heinrich Isaacs) and sung settings of the Kyrie and Gloria.
The Bach oratorio itself (Himmelfahrtsoratorium) will be performed in two parts wrapped around the sermon, as was done in the time of Bach. There will also be a chance for the congregation to sing two parts of the service that have been translated into English (the Gloria and Luther’s Hymn prior to the sermon). All of these have been taken from the service of 1735.
A large group of guest instrumentalists will include: violins, violas, violincello, double bass, flutes, oboe, oboe d’amore (the oboe of love), 3 baroque trumpets, timpani and organ. The balcony will be filled with musicians, both instrumental and choral. Vocal soloists will include our choir’s section leaders Kira Scharf, Julie Perri, Timothy Faulkner and Matthew Kauffman. Joshua Suslak will be featured prominently on the organ, especially in the second prelude piece — the Sinfonia from BWV 49 by Bach.
The oratorio tells the story of Jesus’ ascension to heaven from the scriptures. It will be sung in German, and the English translation will be provided. Please click here to see a video performance of the Ascension Oratorio, to prepare you to enjoy Sunday’s special event.
