Bach: Sleepers Awake!

Rosa Lamoreaux, soprano; Matthew Smith, tenor; Kevin Deas, bass; Justine Lamb-Budge, violin; William Neil, harpsichord; David Whiteside, flute; Mark Hill, oboe; Kathy Ceasar-Spall, oboe; Fatma Daglar, oboe; Michael Hall, horn; Mark Wakefield, horn

National Philharmonic Chorale

Piotr Gajewski, conductor 

Bach’s six Brandenburg Concertos are considered masterpieces and among the biggest hits of classical music. Each is written for a different combination of instruments. Concerto No. 1 requires the largest number of performers, with a string ensemble and a group of soloists. Concerto No. 5 features three solo instruments: harpsichord, violin and flute. The final piece, Cantata No. 140 for chorus and orchestra, is the famous Wachet Auf (“Sleepers Awake”), a wedding cantata depicting the uniting of Christ with the human soul. 

Bach       Brandenburg Concerto No. 1

              Brandenburg Concerto No. 5

              Cantata No. 140, Wachet Auf (“Sleepers Awake”) 

A free pre-concert lecture will be offered at 6:45 pm.