J. S. Bach

Happy Birthday, Herr Bach!

Awaken to the coming of spring and simultaneously celebrate a most important anniversary this week on Pipedreams. We honor Johann Sebastian Bach while enjoying his music - both youthful escapades and mature profundities - as played by Simon Preston, E. Power Biggs, Jonathan Dimmock and Kate von Tricht. Other composers offer unusual homage, too, and Haken Hagegard, Rupert Gough, and Stewart Foster provide a few unexpected surprises. Dress casually, come with a friend, but bring no gifts; the best ones are already on the table. Join Michael Barone for this birthday tribute this Sunday, beginning at 9:30 pm on American Public Media.

Program Broadcast dates:

March 20, 2000

Music played in the program

( Key to abbreviations)

BACH: Chorale-prelude, Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich –Bernard Foccroulle (1778 Rommel/Saint Basilius Church, Zella-Mehlis, Germany) Ricercar CD-246812

BACH: Partita, Christ, der du bist der helle Tag, S. 766 –Simon Preston (1942 Marcussen/Sorø Abbey, Denmark) DG 429 775

BACH: Prelude & Fugue in C, S. 547 –Olivier Latry (1985 Xavier Silbermann/Dominican Convent, Paris, France) BNL CD-112738

BACH (arr. Biggs): Sheep may safely graze, from Birthday Cantata No. 208 –E. Power Biggs (1761 J.A. Silbermann/Arlesheim Cathedral, Switzerland) CBS/Sony CD-30539

GRAINGER (after BACH): Blithe Bells –Stuart Forster (1930 Skinner/Holy Rosary Cathedral, Toledo, OH) JAV Recordings CD-113

BACH: 3 Large Kyrie Settings, from Clavierübung III, S. 669-671 –Jonathan Dimmock (1737 Treutmann/Grauhof Cloister, Germany) Arkay 3CD-6161

BACH: Chorale-prelude, Wachet auf, S. 645 –Peter Sykes (1990 Nordlie/First United Methodist Church, Sioux Falls, SD) Titanic CD-181

WIDOR: March of the Night Watchman, from Bach’s Memento (1925) –Herman van Vliet (1880 Cavaillé-Coll/Church of Saint François-de-Sales, Lyon, France) Festivo CD-145/6

WATSON: Happy Birthday, Herr Bach –Rupert Gough (1857 Willis-1974 Harrison/Wells Cathedral, England, UK) Priory CD-595

C. M. SCHÖNBERG: I dreamed a dream, from Les Misérables –Håkan Hagegård, baritone; Gunnar Idenstam (1949 Marcussen/Oscarskyrkan, Stockholm, Sweden) Proprius CD-9040

BACH: Fantasy in G, S. 572 –Käte van Tricht (1939 Sauer/Saint Peter’s Cathedral, Bremen, Germany) Dabringhaus & Grimm CD-3241