The popular Bach & Friends Workshop is a day-long musical event where enthusiasts of all skill levels can come together to explore the works and historical context presented by expert leaders. Participants will then have the opportunity to perform these compositions as a group. All voices and instruments are welcome!

Bach’s Funeral Music Repertoire:

Johann Sebastian Bach:

BWV 106 - Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit

Sonatina (Instrumental only)
Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit (Chorus)

BWV 54 - Widerstehe doch der Sünde (Alto solo with orchestra)

BWV 131 - Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir - Opening Chorus (Chorus with orchestra)

BWV 170 - Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust (Alto solo with orchestra)

Mozart: Ave Verum Corpus (Chorus with orchestra)

Schedule of the Day:
9:00 AM - Participant arrival and check in
9:30 AM - Introductions, talk about history and style
10 AM – 12 PM - Choir and orchestra rehearse separately
12:00 PM - Lunch break
12:45 PM - Tutti rehearsal
2:45 PM - Play through

Led by Bach Society Musicians:

Marco Real-d’Arbelles, Associate Artistic Director
Carey Shunskis, Soprano, Co-Director of Bach & Friends Workshop

3:30 PM - The Story of Anna Magdalena Bach and Her Notebooks: A Lecture/Demonstration Recital

Children all over the world play music from the Anna Magdalena Notebooks. Come and learn the story behind these books, learn about the Bach family, and hear some of the great music of Johann Sebastian Bach played on clavichord, pipe organ, and piano. This engaging Lecture/Demonstration Recital will feature excerpts from these books as well as portions of the Brahms transcription of Bach's Chaconne in D Minor for Solo Violin, BWV 1004. An appearance may even be made by Anna Magdalena herself.

Led by Dr. Martin Dicke

Martin Dicke is organist and choir director at Saint James Lutheran Church, West St. Paul. He earned a MM in Choral Conducting from the University of Minnesota (1987) and a DMA in Choral Conducting from the University of Iowa (2008). He has served Lutheran schools and churches in the Twin Cities, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and for 14 years was Cantor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Peoria. In the Twin Cities and Iowa City he directed community choirs. While in Peoria he co-founded the Peoria Bach Festival (2003) and currently serves as its director. From 2016-22 he served as a Music Specialist in Papua New Guinea and Taiwan. He is on the Board of the Bach Society of Minnesota and David’s Harp, an organization dedicated to helping churches train a new generation of musicians. To celebrate the 500 th anniversary of the Lutheran chorale he collaborated with David’s Harp to publish Hymns of the Reformation, a primer level repertoire book for young pianists and organists. His other compositions and arrangements are available on www.sheetmusicplus.com and www.jwpepper.com.

Please find a Q & A list on the workshop page. Let us know if you have any other questions.