Peregrine Consort performs at Concord Lenten Vespers, March 18

The Peregrine Consort, a professional period-instrument musical ensemble dedicated to performing the cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach, presents Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut (My heart swims in blood), BWV 199, at 7 pm on Sunday, March 18 as part of a Lenten Vespers liturgy at Trinity Episcopal Church, 81 Elm Street in Concord, MA. This event is open to the public at no charge; all in our wider community are invited to attend. For further information about this and other events at Trinity Episcopal Church, please call the Parish Office, 978-369-3715.

Bach's cantata, Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut, written for soprano, oboe, strings and continuo, powerfully addresses the topic of redemption. Its emotions express the transformation from feeling like a “monster in God’s eyes” to finding forgiveness and wellness. The soloist will be wonderful mezzo-soprano, Thea Lobo. Works by Henry Purcell, Heinrich Schütz and Tomaso Albinoni will also be presented during this Vespers liturgy.

Founded in 2014, The Peregrine Consort places Bach's cantatas among the great icons of sacred art. From the beginning, The Peregrine Consort has striven to present Bach's cantatas in a way that provides respectful context for their essential, historical Christian nature, while also allowing their inherent broad appeal to unfold for a diverse assembly. These works memorably address universal themes, while presenting a rich variety of expressive detail. For these reasons, The Peregrine Consort finds that an evening "Cantata Vespers" is usually their most effective context.

The Peregrine Consort, ensemble-in-residence at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer (Woburn, MA), brings together some of the finest musicians in the Boston area. The Consort's musicians for this performance include Fiona Last, baroque oboe; Julie Leven and Asako Takeuchi, baroque violin; Anne Black, baroque viola; Sarah Freiberg, baroque cello; Andrew Arceci, violone; Sally Merriman, baroque bassoon; and Paul Carlson, organist and director. The Consort presents these iconic works, along with other inspiring music, throughout the Greater Boston area; funding is provided primarily through private donations.

Director Paul Carlson has served as organist at Lutheran churches in Massachusetts for over 25 years. He earned his Doctorate in Piano Performance from Boston University in 1998. His original research at BU centered on performance practice, and he has presented performance-practice papers to the American Musicological Society. He has accumulated extensive experience in a variety of collaborative performances, including Baroque music. A founding member of the Opal Ensemble, he has performed with many of the finest and most active musicians in the region. His original compositions for organ are published by GIA Publications.