San Gabriel Chorale

2017-2018 Season

Celebrating Dr. Bruce Cain in his 20th year as Musical Director

Fall Concert: Music of the Reformation

  • Cantata BWV 80 Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott by Johann Sebastian Bach
  • Other works by Schutz and Praetorius

When: Sunday, November 19th, 2017, at 3:00 pm
Where: Lois Perkins Chapel at Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas
Who: San Gabriel Chorale with soloists and orchestra under the direction of Dr. Bruce Cain
Tickets: $20 adults, $10 students (free with SU ID)


Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was a prolific German composer in the Baroque style whose works are well known for their artistic beauty, technical command and intellectual depth. In his lifetime, he was considered an accomplished organist with his prodigious gifts of composition becoming better appreciated after his death.
Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott Cantata BWV 80 was composed in Leipzig for Reformation Day, October 31. The exact year this work was composed is not clear, though many of his cantatas were written in the mid-1720’s. Based on Martin Luther’s hymn of the same name, Bach scored this piece for 4 soloists, four part chorus and orchestra. Bach frequently composed cantatas for specific Lutheran church holidays, which were performed by musicians under his direction, as part of his duties as Cantor in Leizig.
Additional works performed in this concert include Bach’s Jauchzet dem Herrn, Alle Welt BWV Anh.160 and Michael Praetorius’ Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir.