One might reasonably wonder: Why Bach in Bethlehem?<\/p>\n
In a word: Moravians.<\/p>\n
The 118th Bethlehem Bach Festival explored Moravian roots in performance and lecture.<\/p>\n
Dr. Sarah Eyerly presented the Barnette Distinguished Scholar Lecture at 2 p.m. May 8, Zoellner Arts Center, Bethlehem.<\/p>\n
The topic: \u201cSounding Bach: Reflections on 250 Years of Music in Bethlehem.\u201d<\/p>\n
The lecture was based on a book Eyerly authored: \u201cMoravian Soundscapes: A Sonic History of the Moravian Missions in Early Pennsylvania\u201d (Indiana University Press, 2020). The book reconstructs the communal and environmental soundscapes of 18th-century Moravian settlements.<\/p>\n
The book received the Music In American Culture Award from the American Musicological Society and the Dale W. Brown Book Award from the Young Center for Pietist and Anabaptist Studies at Elizabethtown College.<\/p>\n
Eyerly is a consultant with the Institute for Moravian History and World Heritage at Moravian University and Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites to design sensory presentations for the Moravian Church Settlements – World Heritage site.<\/p>\n
Eyerly\u2019s lecture provided a seedbed of scholarship for the 2026 Bach Festival, especially the \u201cBach at 4\u201d concert, 4 p.m. May 8, Incarnation of Our Lord Church, Bethlehem.<\/p>\n
Synnet, Festival Artist-in-Residence, provided the sonic insight. Succinct, fascinating and frequently humorous introductions to the performances were presented before each piece by Dr. Christopher Jackson, Bach Choir of Bethlehem Artistic Director and conductor.<\/p>\n
Jackson must be credited for organizing the May 7-10, 2026, festival theme of Moravian music, performance practices of Bach and the masters of classical music, and the founding of the Bach Choir. The approach was particular pertinent for the \u201cAmerica250\u201d celebration.<\/p>\n
After a \u201cBach Chorale Sing\u201d by choir and audience, the 4 p.m. May 8 program, conducted by Jackson, included:<\/p>\n
– Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach (1732 – 1795), \u201cTrio Sonata in F Major, W. VII:3, B. 12.\u201d This was a flawless, spectacular performance with subtle flourishes by Elizabeth Field, Linda Kistler, violins; Loretta O\u2019Sullivan, cello, and Charlotte Mattax Moersch, harpsichord.<\/p>\n
– Cruse (unknown composer from the Moravian Archives), \u201cTrombone Sonata No. 1 in G Major,\u201d performed by Synnet: Patrick O\u2019Connell, cornetto; Barry Bocaner, alto trombone; Michael Holmes, tenor trombone, and David Searle, bass trombone.<\/p>\n
– Giovanni Gabrieli (1553-6 -1612), \u201cCanzon III,\u201d a4, Ch. 188, played by Synnet<\/p>\n
– Johann Rosenm\u00fcller (1619 – 1684), \u201cO dulcis Christe, bone Jesu, Charitas,\u201d with Synnet; Sherezade Panthaki, soprano; Meg Bragle, mezzo-soprano; Loretta O\u2019Sullivan, cello, and Daniel McDougall, bass.<\/p>\n
– Johann Michael Bach (1648 – 1694), \u201cEhre sei Gott in der H\u00f6he\u201d: Sherezade Panthaki, soprano; Meg Bragle, mezzo-soprano; James Reese, tenor; Edmund Milly, bass-baritone; Elizabeth Field, Linda Kistler, violins; Nina Falk, viola; Loretta O\u2019Sullivan, cello; Daniel McDougall, bass, and Charlotte Mattax Moersch, harpsichord<\/p>\n
– Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750), \u201c Motet O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht,\u201d BWV 118: Elizabeth Field, Linda Kistler, violins; Nina Falk, viola; Loretta O\u2019Sullivan, cello; Daniel McDougall, bass; Nobuo Kitagawa, Lynne Cohen, oboes; Charlotte Mattax Moersch, harpsichord, and Synnet<\/p>\n
– Heinrich Sch\u00fctz (1585 -1672). \u201cMein Sohn, warum hast duuns das getan?,\u201d Symphoniae Sacrae III, SWV 401: Sherezade Panthaki, soprano; Meg Bragle, mezzo-soprano; Edmund Milly, bass-baritone; Elizabeth Field, Linda Kistler, violins; Loretta O\u2019Sullivan, cello; Daniel McDougall, bass; Charlotte Mattax Moersch, organ; Synnet, and the Bethlehem Bach Choir.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet Freedom Sing,\u201d 7 p.m. May 27, Coca-Cola Park, Allentown<\/p>\n
The Bach Choir of Bethlehem is presenting \u201cLet Freedom Sing,\u201d celebrating America\u2019s 250th birthday, 7 p.m. May 27, Coca-Cola Park, Allentown.<\/p>\n
There will be more than 5,000 singers from adult, community and school choirs in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding counties.<\/p>\n
The concert is headlined by the Bach Choir, led by conductor Dr. Christopher Jackson.<\/p>\n
The finale is a community sing-along with a fireworks display.<\/p>\n
Gates open at 5:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
\u201cBach at Noon,\u201d June 9, St. John\u2019s Lutheran Church, Allentown<\/p>\n
The \u201cBach at Noon\u201d series resumes noon June 9, July 14, Aug. 11, St. John\u2019s Lutheran Church, 37 S. Fifth St., Allentown.<\/p>\n
Information: https:\/\/bach.org\/<\/p>\n
PRESS PHOTO BY PAUL WILLISTEINSynnet, Festival Artist-in-Residence, \u201cBach at 4\u201d concert, May 8, Incarnation of Our Lord Church, Bethlehem.<\/p>\n
Dr. Sarah Eyerly presented the Barnette Distinguished Scholar Lecture, \u201cSounding Bach: Reflections on 250 Years of Music in Bethlehem,\u201d May 8, Zoellner Arts Center, Bethlehem.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"One might reasonably wonder: Why Bach in Bethlehem? In a word: Moravians. The 118th Bethlehem Bach Festival explored…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":200947,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[119,121,120],"class_list":["post-200946","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-allentown","tag-allentown","tag-allentown-headlines","tag-allentown-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/200946","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=200946"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/200946\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/200947"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=200946"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=200946"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=200946"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}