Sunday, April 26, 2026, 4:00pm
Bach’s Cantata 4—“Christ lag in Todesbanden” (Christ lay in bonds of death)—reminds us of Jesus’ victory over death and his promise of new life given to all. The Elm Ensemble leads a service of evening prayer that includes performances of Cantata 4 on Baroque instruments and Bobby McFerrin’s The Twenty-Third Psalm. Free and open to the public. Reception to follow.
Bach’s Jesu, meine Freude and More
Saturday, March 21, 10:30am
Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church ● 1900 Wellesley Avenue, St. Paul
Each year, Twin Cities organists associated with the American Guild of Organists host the free “Bach’s Birthday Bash”—an all-day celebration of Bach’s work. The 10:30 hour this year will include “Jesu, meine Freude” (Jesus, my joy), the longest and most musically complex of Bach’s motets, performed by the Elm Ensemble—with Mary Burke on gamba and Bruce Jacobs using a petite portion of Nativity’s big Casavant organ. You’ll enjoy hearing more of the Casavant and other instruments in the rest of the hour.