Johann Sebastian Bach

 The great musician Johann Sebastian Bach spent the last 27 years of his life as Cantor of St. Thomas' Church, Leipzig, and he is buried beneath the floor of the chancel. His grave always has a tribute of flowers and is visited by people from all over the world.

The church had a choir which sang at the church of St. Thomas and St. Nicholas, and continues to this day. During the post war period when Leipzig was under Communist rule the choir kept going as best they could.

The St. Thomas Choir has traditionally played a leading role in the performance of Bach's music. Even in the GDR period this choir and the name of Bach were used for representation purposes, but the authorities at the same time tried to link them with Socialist ideas. The attempt to keep the music of Johann Sebastian Bach away from its Lutheran background led to the absurd situation that St. Thomas Choir was only allowed to take part in services in St. Thomas Church as a sort of secular ensemble, and that the choir boys had to leave the service before the sermon to protect them from the Christian "propaganda" that was undesirable for the GDR government and its faithful followers.

To-day, St. Thomas Choir is firmly integrated into the church services again. Apart from the sum-mer break and the concert tours that are undertaken throughout the world, the choir performs works by Johann Sebastian Bach every week. Every Friday at 6 o'clock in the evening so-called motettes are performed in which the a cappella repertoire of the 14th to the 20th centuries is performed.

The climax of the motet event on Saturday afternoons is normally a cantata by the great cantor of St. Thomas which is selected with a view to the church year. The Gwendhaus orchestra is traditionally obliged to take part in these performances, and for performances in keeping with historical practice specialised ensembles are also called on. The motets are designed in the form of a vesper service which means that there is scope for a religious meditation and a hymn which is sung alternately by the St. Thomas Choir and the motet audience [congregation]. The St. Thomas Choir also performs to a great extent in the Sunday services, although a performance of complete cantatas is only possible on high feast days, particularly for reasons of time.

From 'Bach in Leipzig' by Erlich Leisinger

BachFest 2000

"Local choirs took part as well, all young people, committed singing, very, very polished. They are used to this music. It captures you. The introit at Matins in St. Thomas was a canon, as the singers slowly processed down all three aisles, singly, and in twos and threes. A capella and no conductor, but perfectly in time. Cascades of sound.…... Wundabah!! They dash off Bach's music as if they've been singing it for 250 years! But Arvo Part and Peter Eben were not neglected. A never-to-be-forgotten feast of absolutely marvellous things.

Matins at St. Thomas and St. Nicholas at 9.30 am each morning. An organ recital in St. Thomas - JSB's The Art of Fugue - played by the St. Thomas' organist on the new four manual Bach organ that includes provision to replicate the stop list of the first organ Bach played - at Arnstadt. The organs we heard are splendidly voiced -and always right for the buildings.

We sat in St. Thomas', soaking up the atmosphere, listening to rehearsals for the St. Matthew Passion and the B minor Mass. Sung and played with panache! Surge and sweep and commitment. The boys of the St. Thomas' choir sang - as they have done for the past 800 years. Full, clear, confident sound, with that deep timbre of the continental style. The old man himself, in his tomb beneath the chancel stones a few yards away, must have slept contentedly. He certainly started something - and he never knew!

Bach's famous statue outside, a kerchief hanging from the left hand pocket of his coat. The wags say the pocket is turned inside out - he, with 13 surviving children to educate, always complained to his employer that he was broke!

The 27 years JSB spent at St. Thomas' were ironically the unhappiest of his life. Unruly, unskilled, uninterested boys, incompetent orchestral players, unsupportive and antagonistic church authorities, and in constant battle with the civic authorities over his rights. He rarely heard his music performed more than to a poor and disappointing standard.

The Lutheran service itself, a rich mix of music and words, nevertheless, inspired him and enabled his gift to develop and find its sublimest expressions - and towering bequest to the world".

Vale Johann Sebastian!

Graham Jones