Bach Cantata Vespers [BWV 172]

The program focuses on French literature, with a couple of important exceptions. The exuberant and joyful BWV541 Prelude and Fugue in G of Bach will open the concert. We are excited to present the West Coast premiere of Dr. Tom Mueller's "Sonata" written last Spring. Dr. Mueller, assistant professor of church music at Concordia University, is a diligent and careful composer, with a harmonic language that is at the same time fresh and accessible. This amazing piece is a great addition to the corpus of organ literature. Major French works from Durufle, Jongen and Saint-Saens are the core of the performance.

First Wednesday of the month - 12pm - St. John's Historic Sanctuary // half-hour concert on our 150 Rank Ballantyne Pipe Organ. This recording features Charles Raasch from Wednesday, February 5, 2020.

St. John's Concert Series is held in St. John's Historic Sanctuary, located in Old Towne Orange, California.

St. John’s dedicates our new R.M. Ballantyne Pipe Organ. Charles Raasch and William Heide will present a varied program of organ music as you experience the new sounds of our 150 rank, five manual organ. The program will also include a video tour of the inside of the organ chamber that will show and demonstrate many of the different pipes in the organ.

Cantata 172, “Sing Praises, Ye Faithful,” was written in 1714 for the Day of Pentecost. The festive nature of this cantata signifies the power and the joy that the Holy Spirit brings to the life of a Christian

Baroque orchestral music, choruses, and organ solos by Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Albinoni, and others.

Lobe den Herren, den maechtigen Koenig der Ehren (BWV 137) - “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,” is a chorale cantata based on this well-known hymn. All five stanzas of the hymn are used as the text for the cantata, and the familiar melody appears in 4 of the movements. Cathedral Singers, 4 Soloists, and Orchestra

St. John's Concert Series is held in St. John's Historic Sanctuary, located in Old Towne Orange, California.

St. John's Concert Series 2016/2017 - Bach’s Magnificat is a beautiful setting of Mary’s song of praise. He composed this version in 1733.