The Central Moravian Church

The Moravian Church had its origin in the pre-Reformation awakening under John Hus.

The Unitas Fratrum (Unity of the Brethren) was organized in 1457. Because much of its

early history is centered in Moravia, the Unity is known formally as the Moravian Church,

and recognized as the oldest organized Protestant denomination in the world. The Moravian

Church places much emphasis on mission, music, and education. It was J. Fred Wolle,

organist of Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem, who founded The Bach Choir of

Bethlehem in 1898 and conducted The Choir in the first performance of Bach’s Mass in

B Minor in America here at Central Church in 1900. Central Moravian Church continues

to have a flourishing music program presented by its resident music ensembles and

visiting artists, under the leadership of Director of Music and Organist, Rebecca Lepore.

In addition to five Central Moravian Church music CDs including An Old Fashioned Moravian

Music Christmas – an organ recording featuring Rebecca Lepore, and Christmas Eve at

Central Moravian Church, a recently published 256-page book entitled Praise and

Thanksgiving: 275 Years of Music at Central Moravian Church is available at the Moravian

Book Shop. Please feel free to take a music brochure with a detailed listing of all musical

events at Central, available in the pew racks.

Special thanks to:

Central Moravian Church, especially

Rt. Rev. Hopeton Clennon,

Rev. Dr. Lynnette Delbridge, and

Rebecca Lepore, Director of Music

The Guarantors of The Bach Choir

for their continuing support.

Free-will offerings to help

support Bach at Noon will be

accepted at all four doors.

You may also mail your offering

in the envelope provided or

donate online at BACH.org

The Bach Choir of Bethlehem gratefully acknowledges our

Bach at Noon corporate & foundation sponsors.

610-866-4382 | BACH.org

Estelle Browne-PallrandCharitable Trust

Jephson Educational Trust

Keystone Savings Foundation

Presser Foundation

This project is supported in part by a grant from the National

Endowment for the Arts

Bach at Noon Allentown 2019 Schedule June 11, July 9 & August 13 (St. John’s Lutheran Church)

For further information about The Bach Choir of Bethlehem:

• Visit Bach.org for upcoming concert and ticket information, to join our mailing list

or to order CDs and other Bach Choir merchandise.

• Consider becoming a Guarantor with The Choir: learn more at the website or

by calling 610-866-4382 extension 113

• Fill out the mailing list information on the enclosed envelope & drop it in the

free-will offering basket or mail it to us. Or you can leave us your business card!

• Stop into The Bach Choir Office, 440 Heckewelder Place, Bethlehem, PA 18018

• Follow us on facebook and twitter

Second Tuesdays U 12:10–1:00pm

Central Moravian Church Historic Downtown Bethlehem

Next Bach at Noon Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Members of The Bach Choir of Bethlehem & Bach Festival Orchestra

Greg Funfgeld, Artistic Director & Conductor

present

October 9, 2018 – PROGRAM

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)Sonata in G Minor, BWV 1030b

(Andante) SicilianoPresto

– Mary Watt, oboe; Loretta O’Sullivan, cello; Greg Funfgeld, harpsichord

the harpsichord is by Willard Martin of Bethlehem, PA

Johann Sebastian BachCantata 131 Aus der Tiefen, rufe ich. Herr, zu dir (Out of the depths I cry unto you, O Lord) – Elizabeth Field, violin;

Evelyn Jacobs Luise & Lucy Windt, violas; Loretta O’Sullivan, cello; Steve Groat, bass; Mary Watt, oboe; Chuck Holdeman, bassoon; Thomas J. Goeman, organ

A Gift of Music & Spiritual Refreshment

The October Bach at Noon is supported in

part by a generous endowment gift from

Mrs. Cornelius Ayer Wood, Jr. in memory of

The Rev. Cornelius Ayer Wood, Jr., a member

of The Choir’s board of managers 1960–1977.

Bach at Noon 2018–2019 Bethlehem Schedule

2018 2019September 11 January 8

October 9 February 12

November 13 March 12

April 9

BACH at NOON

Soloists

Benjamin Butterfield, tenor

Christòpheren Nomura, baritone

Mary Watt, oboeBach at Noon Broadcast

Bach at Noon concerts are

broadcast on WWFM, a long-

time media sponsor, and made

possible by the generous support

of Mallory and Diana Walker.

Today’s concert will be broadcast

on Monday, November 12 at 1pm.

The Bach Choir of Bethlehem

The oldest American Bach Choir, The Bach Choir of Bethlehem gave the first complete American performances of Bach’s Mass in

B Minor in 1900 and Christmas Oratorio in 1901. Since its founding in 1898, the now-famous Choir has been attracting thousands of

visitors from across the United States and beyond to the annual Bethlehem Bach Festival in Pennsylvania. Since 1983, under Greg

Funfgeld’s direction, the 85 dedicated volunteer singers of The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, performing with the Bach Festival

Orchestra and distinguished soloists, have received international acclaim. Programming has expanded to 32 concerts and educa-

tional programs per year for an audience of more than 22,000. Venues have included the Herkulessaal at Munich’s Royal Residence

and the Thomaskirche, Bach’s church in Leipzig, as part of the 1995 Germany tour; The Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall as part of

The Choir’s Centennial Celebration in 1998–2000; the BBC Proms in London’s Royal Albert Hall as part of an eight-concert tour of

the United Kingdom in 2003; and Severance Hall, Cleveland for the 75th anniversary of the Baldwin-Wallace Bach Festival in 2007.

In September 2011, The Bach Choir represented the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in a 10th anniversary musical observance of 9/11

in New York City, giving concerts in Saint Paul’s Chapel and Trinity Church, Wall Street. In 2013, The Choir performed Mendelssohn’s

Elijah at Strathmore in the Washington D.C. area, and in 2014, the new opera Young Meister Bach for the 250th anniversary of the

German Society of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. The Choir has released nine recordings on the Dorian and Analekta labels includ-

ing most recently Saint John Passion (2012) and A Child’s Christmas in Bethlehem (2013). The Choir has been featured on National

Public Radio’s Performance Today and Prairie Home Companion, Deutsche Radio, the BBC World Service, CBS Sunday Morning, and

the Emmy award-winning PBS documentary on The Choir, Make a Joyful Noise. The Choir has been recognized for its outstanding

educational outreach programs (Bach at Noon, Bach to School, and interdisciplinary Family Concerts) by annual awards from the

National Endowment for the Arts (2011–2017). The J.S. Bach Foundation in Switzerland named The Bach Choir of Bethlehem as the

first American recipient of its annual award to a single Bach organization, recognizing The Bach Choir’s outstanding work in Bach

performance and education for young people (2012). Mr. Bach Comes to Call, a film based on the acclaimed Classical Kids CD, was

co-produced by The Bach Choir of Bethlehem and is distributed internationally by The Children’s Group. In July 2018, our affiliated

Bel Canto Youth Chorus, currently celebrating its 25th year under the direction of founder Joy Hirokawa, officially merged with

The Bach Choir of Bethlehem. Both organizations are looking to increase their impact in training the next generation of choral

singers and cultivating a life-long passion for the choral arts. For more information visit The Bach Choir’s website – BACH.org.

2018 Gala Concert & Fundraiser

Distinguished American pianist peter serkin’s inspired performances with symphony orchestras, in recital appearances, chamber music collaborations and on recordings have been lauded worldwide for decades.

Saturday, November 3, 20184pm Gala Concert • Central Moravian Church• Mozart: Adagio in B Minor K540

Sonata in B-flat Major K570 • Bach: Goldberg Variations BWV 988

General Admission Tickets: $40, Students $9

6pm Gala Dinner, Drinks & Auction • Saucon Valley Country ClubGala Benefactor Tickets: $275–$350 per person (includes reserved concert seating, dinner and charitable contribution) To register, call 610.866.4382 ext. 110 or 113

This event supports our Youth & Educational Outreach ProgramsVisit BACH.org for information and tickets.

Peter Serkinin a program of Bach & Mozart

The Bach Choir is thrilled to welcome pianist

1. ChorusAus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir. Herr, höre meine Stimme, lass deine Ohren merken auf die Stimme meines Flehens!

2. Arioso (Bass) So du willst, Herr, Sünde zurechnen, Herr, wer wird bestehen?Denn bei dir ist die Vergebung, dass man dich fürchte.

Chorale (Soprano)Erbarm dich mein in solcher Last, nimm sie aus meinem Herzen, die weil du sie gebüsset hast am Holz mit Todesschmerzen, auf dass ich nicht mit grossem Weh in meinen Sünden untergeh, noch ewiglich verzage.

3. ChorusIch harre des Herrn, meine Seele harret, und ich hoffe auf sein Wort.

4. Aria (Tenor) Meine Seele wartet auf den Herrn von einer Morgenwache bis zu der andern.

Chorale (Alto)Und weil ich denn in meinem Sinn, wie ich zuvor geklaget, auch ein betrübter Sünder bin, den sein Gewissen naget, und wollte gern im Blute dein von Sünden abgewaschen sein wie David und Manasse.

5. ChorusIsrael hoffe auf den Herrn; denn bei dem Herrn ist die Gnade und viel Erlösung bei ihm. Und er wird Israel erlösen aus allen seinen Sünden.

Out of the depths I cry unto you o Lord. Lord, hear my voice, may your ears heed the voice of my pleading! (Psalm 130: 1–2)

Should you thus desire, Lord, to account for sin, who then shall abide? For forgiveness is with you, that you be feared. (Psalm 130: 3–4)

Have mercy on me in such labor, take these sins from my heart, since you have done penance for them on the cross with death’s anguish, thus shall I not, in great torment, perish in my sins, nor despair forever.

I await the Lord, my soul stands watch, and I trust in his Word. (Psalm 130: 5)

My soul waits for the Lord from one morning vigil to the next. (Psalm 130: 6)

And in my thoughts, as lamented before, I am a despondent sinner, plagued by pangs of conscience, longing to be washed in your blood, and thus be cleansed of sin, like David and Manassah.

Israel, hope in the Lord; for mercy is with the Lord and abundant redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all its sins. (Psalm 130: 7–8)

Cantata BWV 131 | Aus der Tiefen rufe ich Translation by H. Ellis Finger

Soloists

Benjamin Butterfield, Tenor, has been praised by the New York Times as “clarion-voiced and vibrant,” and is known for his perfor-mances throughout North America and Europe as well as in the Middle East, and Asia. Recent seasons fhave featured a dynamic range of repertoire showcasing his versatility with both contem-porary and classic works. In North America, he performs with major orchestras including the Calgary Philharmonic and Utah Symphony (Mozart’s Requiem), and Kansas City Symphony and Newfound-land Symphony (Handel’s Messiah). Overseas, Mr. Butterfield per-formed Yevhen Stankovych’s Kaddysh Requiem with the Hamburg Philharmonic at the Kiev Opera House memorializing the 75th anniversary of Babyn Yar. Other performances include recitals at Vancouver Muzewest and the Elora Festival, and Haydn’s Creation with Capriccio Vocal Ensemble. Recent performances include Carnegie Hall with Orchestra of St. Luke’s (Haydn’s Creation), Haydn’s Masses with San Diego Symphony and Orchestre Symphonique de Québec, and Britten’s Serenade and War Requiem with L’ Orchestre Lyrique de Montreal and Victoria Symphony. Most recently as an interpreter of opera, Mr. Butterfield portrayed the role of Mime in Das Rheingold with Pacific Opera and was stage director for Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi at the Amalfi Coast Music Festival. Other operatic roles include Grimoaldo in Handel’s Rodelinda with Pacific Opera Victoria and Frère Massée in Messiaen’s St. François d’Assise with the Montreal Symphony. A prolific recording artist, he has recorded for Analekta, Dorian, CBC Records, and Koch International. Associate Professor, head of voice and co-head of performance for the School of Music at the University of Victoria, Mr. Butterfield is the 2015 recipient of the UVic. Craigdarroch Award for Excellence in Artistic Expression.

Christòpheren Nomura, Baritone: Japanese-American baritone, Christòpheren Nomura, has performed throughout the world in oratorio, opera, chamber music, song recitals and, most recently, on Broadway starring in his first Broadway musical Allegiance (along-side George Takei and Lea Solanga). While he enjoyed the daily rig-ors of the musical theatre life, he has now returned to the familiar repertoire which he’s performed since his boy soprano days in San Francisco. After studying with German baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau in Berlin as a Fullbright Scholar, he has appeared with such U.S. orchestras as the San Francisco Symphony, Boston Symphony and Pops, LA Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, the National Orchestra and opera houses in USA, Canada, Germany, Spain and Italy. Mr. Nomura’s love for Bach has brought him back to The Bach

Choir of Bethlehem and to other noted Bach festivals in Carmel, Eugene, Baldwin-Wallace, Washington D.C., and Boston to name a few. He has worked under the batons of such noted conductors as Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa, Esa-Pekka Salonen, James Conlon, Jane Glover, and recently toured with Maestro Helmuth Rilling as soloist for Bach’s Mass in B Minor, numerous cantatas and Haydn’s Creation. Most recently, Mr. Nomura was praised for his portrayal of Mr. “M” in Philip Glass’s The Passion of Ramakrishna at Carnegie Hall with the Pacific Symphony under Carl St. Clair and Chicago’s Music of the Baroque’s performances of Handel’s Esther under Jane Glover. Future performances this year take him to Fresno Symphony for Britten’s War Requiem, San Francisco Bach Choir for Bach’s Saint John Passion, and Houston Symphony for The Messiah. Mr. Nomura lives in New Jersey with his wife and three sons – one of whom is attending Muhlenberg College.

Mary Watt, Oboe, is principal oboist of the Bach Festival Orchestra, and has performed with The Choir at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. She can be heard as a soloist on many of its recordings. Ms. Watt received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Juilliard School. She performed with orchestras in the New York area including the Brooklyn Philharmonic, New Jersey Symphony, American Symphony Orchestra, Riverside Symphony, New Haven Symphony, and Hudson Valley Philharmonic. Ms. Watt was a member of the Quintet of the Americas, touring cities in the US and South America. She also played on Broadway with Cats and toured with The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Ms. Watt lives in Exeter, New Hampshire, and has performed with the New Hampshire Symphony, Vermont Symphony, Portland Symphony, the New England Bach Festival, Emmanuel Church in Boston, as well as other choral and chamber groups in New England. As a teacher of oboe, Ms. Watt began her career as assistant professor at Virginia Tech University. With the Quintet of the Americas, she was in residence at Northwestern University, and she currently teaches and coaches chamber music at Phillips Exeter Academy. Through her long association with the Kinhaven Music School in Weston, Vermont, she has taught hundreds of young oboists, and founded the Kinhaven Adult Chamber Music Workshop. She has given master classes at the Eastman School of Music, Northwestern University, University of New Hampshire, University of Massachusetts Amherst, and the University of Colorado Boulder.

J.S. Bach & Ottorino Respighi • Christmas ConcertsSaturday | December 8 at 8pm Sunday | December 9 at 4pmFirst Presbyterian Church, Allentown First Presbyterian Church, Bethlehem

• Bach: Cantata 63 Christen, ätzet diesen Tag, (Christians all, this happy day) – Brilliant and celebratory with four trumpets: Cantata 36 Schwingt freudig euch empor (Soar joyfully aloft), which includes an exquisite lullaby for soprano accompanied by muted violin.

• Respighi: Laud to the Nativity: Renaissance motifs in this piece tell the story of Jesus’ birth, scored for the brilliant woodwind players of The Bach Festival Orchestra.

Soloists: Ellen McAteer, soprano | Fiona Gillespie, soprano | Daniel Taylor, countertenor Charles Blandy, tenor | Christópheren Nomura, baritone

Tickets: Adults $38, Students $9 • BACH.org or 610-866-4382 ext. 115/110

SAVE THE DATE!