On February 9 and 24, Boise State Assistant Professor of Music Dr. Michael Porter will perform several of J. S. Bach’s sacred cantatas accompanied by in-depth discussions with various “non-musical” members of Boise’s community on each work’s spiritual and humanistic theme.
These discussions will include guest speakers from various disciplinary lenses including Rabbi Dan Fink from Ahavath Beth Israel, Rev. Rich Demarest from St. Michael’s Cathedral, and Dr. Andrew Cortens from Boise State University’s philosophy department, as they explore the musical and spiritual themes in two of Bach’s choral cantatas (Ershallet, ihr lieder; and Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland). Also featured in this concert will be Boise State students Rebecca Schneider, Alisa Millard, Esther Roedel, Anthony Ames, David Le, and the Boise State University Meistersingers.
Through these discussions and performances, both students and audience members will reexamine Bach’s musical and spiritual themes through new perspectives.
The sacred cantatas of J. S. Bach offer countless opportunities for audience members to engage deeply in the works of Bach while finding themes that resonate beyond its original theological purpose. Intended as musical extensions of weekly sermons and biblical/liturgical readings, Bach’s cantatas embody the perfect fusion of Baroque musical styles with Lutheran theology. By examining these works musically–and through non-Christian and humanistic perspectives–audiences will discover commentaries on contemporary themes, thus making a 17th-century work applicable to today’s society.
Concerts will be: Feb. 9 at 7:30 pm in C200, the Morrison Center Recital Hall and February 24 at 7:30 pm at the Cathedral of the Rockies in downtown Boise. Admission is free.
Sponsored by the Boise State University School of the Arts. At Cathedral Of The Rockies, 717 N. 11th St, Boise, ID.