A Little Sunday Time with Bach

For a Sunday respite, how about some Bach? 

I read somewhere that Bach is Benedict XVI's favorite composer. A Lutheran from Germany, Bach's music is nevertheless about as Catholic as one could imagine. It's said that near his death, Bach said he was going to heaven, whence he received the inspiration for his compositions. He signed many if not all of his compositions "Soli Deo Gloria" - To the Glory of God Alone.

Bach's Cantatas were written for Sunday liturgical services. So they're perfect listening for a Sunday. If you're so inclined, consider some time with Bach today. You might consider time with Bach time with God. He certainly wrote his Cantatas with that in mind.

Not all music comes from God. But that which does - and Bach's does - brings us closer to God. 

I've listened to many Bach Cantatas, but none as good as those performed by the Bach Netherlands Society. In recent years, this group of fine musicians has undertaken a project to record all of Bach. Not only are the performances first rate - some even beyond first rate - but the production values make these videos possibly be the finest music videos of any kind you might find on the Internet. I access them on Youtube.

I've chosen "Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir" - We thank Thee, Lord, We thank Thee - as today's offering. I draw your attention to the beginning, featuring the organist. When I sang in my parish choir, our organist could play like this. He frequently did play magnificent solos when the congregation was exiting after Mass. Today, we rarely find musicians of this caliber playing our church organs - if your church even has a proper organ anymore. Our relatively small church did.

Over the years, as the Novus Ordo replaced the traditional Mass, the organ eventually broke down and was never repaired. Given the awful music that replaced the magnificent treasury of Church music our choir once sang, who needs a quality organ? They bought some sort of electronic keyboard instead of repairing that grand old instrument.

The organ you'll hear hear in this video is the sort of instrument many churches once used. The rest of the performance - if you take the time to listen and watch - may very well take your breath away. 

I've become familiar with many of the soloists and musicians from watching many of the Bach Netherland Society's videos. I hope you enjoy this one. Perhaps you'll also come back to these magnificent musicians from time to time. It's hard to imagine time better spent either on a Sunday or during any free time you might have any other day.

A special shout-out to Mr. Sparks, our choir master and organist from those days. It's likely he is no longer with us here on earth now. But perhaps he has taken his wonderful skills to Heaven to play his Bach and please his Master. I think of him from time to time with the greatest gratitude. And I thank God for the privilege of singing in his choir. All was for the glory of God alone.

Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir!