Juneau Bach Society
2023 - 2024 Season
Music of J. S. Bach for the Holiday Season
BWV 700 - Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her
BWV 1 - Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
BWV 248 - Christmas Oratorio (excerpts from part 2)
BWV 61 - Nun kommt der Heiden Heiland
December 2 - 8:00 PM, December 3 - 3:00 PM
Ḵunéix̱ Hídi Northern Light United Church
20 dollar tickets at the door, students free
2022 - 2023 Season
Spring Concert
Bach Cantata 6 and the Fauré Requiem
April 29 - 8:00 PM, April 30 - 3:00 PM
Northern Light United Church
20 dollar suggested donation at the door
Winter Concert
Bach Cantata 137 and Vivaldi Gloria
December 3 - 7:30 PM, December 4 - 3:00 PM
Northern Light United Church
Chorus rehearsals - Mondays, 7:00 - 9:00 PM - Resurrection Lutheran Church
Welcome to the internet home of the Juneau Bach Society.
Founded in 1988, the Juneau Bach Society provides opportunities to perform music from the early Baroque through Romantic periods. The JBS focuses on works in the choral/orchestral repertoire, with particular emphasis on the music of Johann Sebastian Bach.
At the heart of the mission of the JBS is the desire to introduce musicians to the genius inherent in this musical repertoire, and to offer informed performances of these masterpieces to Juneau audiences.
To this end, the JBS often collaborates with other musical organizations in Juneau, including the Alaska Youth Choir, the Juneau Symphony, the Juneau Lyric Opera, Juneau's Opera-to-Go, choirs from the Juneau Douglas school district, and various "unaffiliated" musicians and ad hoc ensembles from the community.
The Juneau Bach Society welcomes musicians of all ages, regardless of recent performance experience.
SOME PREVIOUS SEASONS 2016-2017
Juneau Bach Society, Winter Concerts 2016
The program includes Cantata BWV 70, Wachet! betet! betet! wachet! (Watch, pray, pray, watch), the chamber work BWV 1060R (the double concerto for Oboe and Violin), the Corelli Op 6, number 4 double violin concerto, and the Saint Anne Fugue for Organ.
The concert features vocal soloists Jessica Skiba, Wendy Byrnes, Mark Calvert, and Philippe Damerval, and instrumental soloists Steve Tada, Jetta Whittaker, Lindsay Clark, David Miller, Nancy Nash, and Laurie Clough. Chorus and orchestra are conducted by Bruce Simonson.
Saturday, December 3, 8 PM - Northern Light United Church
Sunday, December 4, 3 PM - Chapel by the Lake
Choir rehearsals are at Resurrection Lutheran Church, on Monday and Thursday evenings -- but check the calendar here JBS performance and rehearsal calendar for particulars on specific days.
PREVIOUS SEASONS
Juneau Bach Society, Christmas Concerts 2012, Northern Light United Church
Saturday, December 1, 8 PM
Sunday, December 2, 3 PM
$15 general admission; $10 seniors, students - tickets at the JACC, Hearthside Books, and the Door.
Cantatas for the Beginning and Ending of Time
BWV 19 - Es erhub sich ein Streit
Great Discord Arose.
BWV 140 - Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Wake, awake!
Cantata 19, "Es erhub sich ein Streit" is based in part on the passage in the Book of Revelations where St Michael and legions of angels take on the Devil and his minions. The work begins with a full battle scene, ala Bach at his best, in the music of the high Baroque. This is stunning music which, as the cantata progresses, becomes more and more intimate, and culminates in a chorale of exquisite beauty.
Cantata 140, "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme", is one of Bach's best known works. The cantata was written for the last sunday in the Lutheran church year, and speaks of the need for preparation, in anticipation of the coming of Christ in the upcoming Advent season, as well as at the end of the liturgical cycle.
Both of these works are exceptional, featuring parts for solo voices, obbligato violin and oboe, full orchestra with trumpets and timpani, and full chorus.
Featured performers include Kathleen Wayne, Mark Calvert, Philippe Damerval, Lisa Ibias, Jetta Whittaker, Emily Weaver, and Rick Trostel, with Bruce Simonson conducting.