Trinity Wall Street Launches Spring Season of “Concerts at One” and “Bach at One” This Month
Trinity Wall Street and its galvanizing Director of Music and the Arts, Julian Wachner, launched the New Year with a bang, giving a performance in their recent Twelfth Night Festival that prompted the New York Times to declare: “A strong contender for the 2015 classical music honors has already appeared.” Now March sees the return of Trinity’s “Concerts at One” series, highlighted by the world premiere of Jeff Myers’s Requiem Aeternam (March 12) and a trio of “Third Thursday” concerts featuring NOVUS NY, Trinity’s resident new-music ensemble, in orchestral music of the past century (March 19, April 16, & May 21). March also brings back another Trinity staple, when the Grammy-nominated Choir of Trinity Wall Street and Trinity Baroque Orchestra continue their ongoing presentation of Bach’s complete cantata output in the ever-popular “Bach at One” series (March 4). As the New York Times recognizes, “Trinity’s music is indispensable and unmissable.”
Concerts at One
The spring season of Concerts at One hits an early high on March 12, when Trinity presents the JACK Quartet and mezzo-soprano Rachel Calloway in the world premiere performance of Requiem Aeternam by award-winning composer Jeff Myers (b. 1977). The new piece marks Myers’s second composition for the quartet; after the group premiered the first, the New York Times reported: “Myers’s striking Dopamine [is] a harmonically rich work … punctuated by energetic outbursts and elegiac passages. … The JACK Quartet performed with dedication and understanding throughout.”
The series continues with three “Third Thursday” concerts showcasing NOVUS NY. Founded by Julian Wachner four years ago in the inaugural year of his Trinity tenure, the orchestra specializes in new and 20th-century music; the New York Classical Review pronounces it “a perfect fit for the repertoire,” meeting its “every challenge with an impressive combination of discipline and imagination.” Fresh from making their milestone Carnegie Hall debut in February, on March 19 Wachner and the ensemble present a pairing of works from opposite ends of the past century. Harmonically inventive but Romantic in gesture, Schoenberg’s Chamber Symphony No. 1 (1906) remains one of the Viennese innovator’s great masterpieces, and served as the model for John Adams’s Chamber Symphony (1992). As Adams has explained, however, he also drew inspiration from a less expected source, discovering similarities between the “hyperactive, insistently aggressive and acrobatic scores for the cartoons” watched by his young son, and “the Schoenberg music, itself hyperactive, acrobatic, and not a little aggressive.”
NOVUS NY returns on April 16 under the direction of guest conductor Grant Gershon, Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, for three very different modern classics. Written to commemorate Schoenberg’s 50th birthday, Berg’s Kammerkonzert (1925) is serial and structurally rigorous; Milhaud’s near-contemporaneous ballet, La création du monde (1922-23), was inspired in part by African folk mythology and Harlem jazz; and Messiaen’s Oiseaux exotiques (1955-56), scored for piano, winds, brass, and percussion, features carefully transcribed songs from birds of India, China, Malaysia, and the Americas – species that, as the composer acknowledged, could never exist together in nature.
For their final “Third Thursday” appearance, Wachner and NOVUS NY undertake Ligeti’s Chamber Concerto (1969), which the Hungarian composer described as “a piece for 13 concertante soloists”; Harrison Birtwistle’s Bach Measures (1996), arrangements of eight Bach chorale preludes in which the orchestral musicians function like actors, playing a different role in each; and Sinfonietta (2013) by Laura Elise Schwendinger (b. 1962), the first composer to win the American Academy in Berlin Prize Fellowship, whose work has been proclaimed “shrewd composing, the genuine article” (Boston Globe).
Concerts at One also presents bass-baritone Jonathan Woody in music by Schütz, Hassler, Schein, Kuhnau, and others (March 5); Contemporary American Art Song, featuring the poetry of Emily Dickinson, curated by Paul Sperry (March 26); jazz from up-and-coming pianist Aaron Diehl (April 9); chamber music with the Ensemble ACJW (April 23 & 30); Wachner leading the Choir of Trinity Wall Street in sacred English choral works by Howells, Finzi, and Stanford (May 14); and an appearance by one-of-a-kind Bronx-born vocal activist Melanie DeMore (May 28).
To complete the series, on May 7 the Chris Pattishall Quintet performs an original arrangement of Mary Lou Williams’s Zodiac Suite, launching “By the Waters of Babylon: A Celebration of the Power of Black Music in America.” An important six-event Trinity festival, this also comprises a composer portrait of Trevor Weston, a program showcasing Duke Ellington’s Sacred Service, a selection of spirituals led by Stanley Thurston, a reggae dance party, and a special collaboration between star vocalist Bobby McFerrin and the Choir of Trinity Wall Street (May 7-10). Further details of the festival are soon to be announced.
Bach at One
Bach’s 200-plus cantatas on the themes of the sacred calendar comprise a vast and peerless body of music. When Trinity’s celebrated Bach at One series returns this spring (March 4–May 27), the Choir of Trinity Wall Street, Trinity Baroque Orchestra, and Julian Wachner – recipients of a Grammy nomination for their recording of Handel’s Israel in Egypt – continue their ambitious ongoing traversal of the complete cycle, presenting these transcendent pinnacles of musical and religious art in their proper liturgical setting. Alongside Bach’s choral masterworks, Trinity’s twelve new programs will include music by Sweelinck, Buxtehude, Bruhns, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Brahms, and Reger, with guest conducting appearances from David Arrivée (March 11) and Grant Gershon (April 15). This season’s series will be complemented by a special offering of Bach’s sacred oratorio St. John Passion, directed by Wachner on Good Friday (April 3). It was when the music director led the Choir of Trinity Wall Street and Trinity Baroque Orchestra in Bach’s St. Matthew Passion that the New York Times observed:
“The ensemble performed with impeccable clarity and crispness. … The buoyant, elegantly shaped orchestral sound meshed beautifully with the lithe, immaculate and colorful singing of the chorus. … There were plenty of spine-tingling moments.”
Taking place in historic St. Paul’s Chapel, which dates from 1766 – just a few years after the death of Bach himself – Bach at One is broadcast live on WWFM every Monday at 1pm (listen at www.wwfm.org).
About Trinity Wall Street
One of the oldest and most vibrant of all Episcopal parishes, Trinity Wall Street is located in the heart of Manhattan’s Financial District, where it has created a dynamic home for music; as the New York Times acknowledges, “Trinity’s music is indispensable and unmissable.” Serving as director of Trinity’s Music and the Arts Program – as well as principal conductor of the Choir of Trinity Wall Street, the period-instrument Trinity Baroque Orchestra, and contemporary-music ensemble-in-residence NOVUS NY – Julian Wachner also oversees all liturgical, professional and community music and arts programming at Trinity Church and St. Paul’s Chapel. The New York Times calls his leadership “inspiring,” while the New Yorker has described Trinity Wall Street as “a mini-Lincoln Center for downtown Manhattan.” The music at Trinity ranges from large-scale oratorios to chamber music, and from intimate a cappella singing to jazz improvisation. Many concerts at Trinity Wall Street are professionally filmed and webcast live at www.trinitywallstreet.org/videos.
Trinity Wall Street presents Concerts at One
Thursdays at 1pm; Trinity Church, Broadway at Wall Street, New York
March 5
“Siècles”
Works by Schütz, Hassler, Schein, Kuhnau and others
Jonathan Woody, bass-baritone
March 12
Jeff Myers: Requiem Aeternam (world premiere)
JACK Quartet; Rachel Calloway, soprano
March 19
“Third Thursdays”
John Adams: Chamber Symphony
Schoenberg: Chamber Symphony No. 1
NOVUS NY; Julian Wachner, conductor
March 26
Contemporary American Art Song
Paul Sperry, curator
April 9
Aaron Diehl, piano
April 16
“Third Thursdays”
Milhaud: La création du monde
Berg: Kammerkonzert
Messiaen: Oiseaux exotiques
NOVUS NY; Grant Gershon, guest conductor
April 23
Hindemith: Wind Septet
Ravel: Piano Trio in A minor
Ensemble ACJW
April 30
Golijov: Mariel
Mozart: Flute Quartet in D, K. 285
Schumann: Piano Quintet in E-flat
Ensemble ACJW
May 7
By the Waters of Babylon: A Celebration of the Power of Black Music in America
Composer Portrait: Mary Lou Williams
Mary Lou Williams (arr. Pattishall): Zodiac Suite
Chris Pattishall Quintet
May 14
Finzi: Lo, the full, final sacrifice
Finzi: God is gone up
Howells: Take him earth, for cherishing
Howells: Hymn for St. Cecilia
Stanford: Three Motets
The Choir of Trinity Wall Street; Julian Wachner, conductor
May 21
“Third Thursdays”
Birtwistle: Bach Measures
Ligeti: Chamber Concerto
Laura Elise Schwendinger: Sinfonietta
NOVUS NY; Julian Wachner, conductor
May 28
“Hold Everybody Up!”
Melanie DeMore, vocal activist
Trinity Wall Street presents Bach at One
Wednesdays at 1pm; St. Paul’s Chapel, Broadway at Fulton Street, New York (except where noted)
March 4
Bach: Prelude in E-Flat Major, BWV 552a
Bach: Das neugeborne Kindelein, BWV 122
Bach: Herr Jesu Christ, wahr’ Mensch und Gott, BWV 127
Trinity Baroque Orchestra; The Choir of Trinity Wall Street; Julian Wachner, conductor
March 11
Buxtehude: Prelude in D minor, BuxWV 140
Bach: Ach! ich sehe, itzt, da ich zur Hochzeit gehe, BWV 162
Bach: O heilges Geist- und Wasserbad, BWV 165
Bach: Barmherziges Herze der ewigen Liebe, BWV 185
Trinity Baroque Orchestra; The Choir of Trinity Wall Street; David Arrivée, guest conductor
March 18
Bach: O Lamm Gottes unschuldig, BWV 656
Bach: Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein, BWV 2
Bach: Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir, BWV 38
Trinity Baroque Orchestra; The Choir of Trinity Wall Street; Julian Wachner, conductor
March 25
Sweelinck: Chromatic Fantasy
Bach: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 1
Bach: Herr Gott, dich loben wir, BWV 16
Trinity Baroque Orchestra; The Choir of Trinity Wall Street; Julian Wachner, conductor
April 1
Bach: Jesus Christus unser Heiland, BWV 665
Bach: Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee vom Himmel fällt, BWV 18
Bach: Falsche Welt, dir trau ich nicht, BWV 52
Bach: Was willst du dich betrüben, BWV 107
Trinity Baroque Orchestra; The Choir of Trinity Wall Street; Julian Wachner, conductor
April 3 (Good Friday) at 12 noon
Trinity Church, Broadway at Wall
Bach’s St. John Passion
Reger: Vater Unser im Himmelreich, Op. 67, No. 39
Brahms: O Welt, ich muss dich lassen, Op. 122, No. 3
Bach; Ich ruf zu dir, BWV 639
Bach: St. John Passion, BWV 245
Trinity Baroque Orchestra; The Choir of Trinity Wall Street; Julian Wachner, conductor
April 8
Bruhns: Prelude in G
Bach: Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden, BWV 6
Bach: Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen, BWV 12
Trinity Baroque Orchestra; The Choir of Trinity Wall Street; Julian Wachner, conductor
April 15
Bruhns: Prelude in E minor
Bach: Was soll ich aus dir machen, Ephraim, BWV 89
Bach: Herr Christ, der einge Gottessohn, BWV 96
Bach: Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan, BWV 99
Trinity Baroque Orchestra; The Choir of Trinity Wall Street; Grant Gershon, guest conductor
April 22
Bach: Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam, BWV 684
Bach: Es ist euch gut, dass ich hingehe, BWV 108
Bach: Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt, BWV 112
Bach: Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 116
Trinity Baroque Orchestra; The Choir of Trinity Wall Street; Julian Wachner, conductor
April 29
Bach: Passacaglia in C Minor, BWV 582
Bach: Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben, BWV 8
Bach: Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig, BWV 26
Bach: Wer weiss, wie nahe mir mein Ende, BWV 27
Trinity Baroque Orchestra; The Choir of Trinity Wall Street; Julian Wachner, conductor
May 6
Mozart: Fantasy in F minor, K. 608
Bach: Lobe den Herren, den mächtigen König der Ehren, BWV 137
Bach: Gott ist unsre Zuversicht, BWV 197
Trinity Baroque Orchestra; The Choir of Trinity Wall Street; Julian Wachner, conductor
May 13
Mendelssohn: Prelude and Fugue in C minor, Op. 37, No. 1
Bach: Wer da gläubet und getauft wird, BWV 37
Bach: Sie werden euch in den Bann tun, BWV 44
Trinity Baroque Orchestra; The Choir of Trinity Wall Street; Julian Wachner, conductor
May 20
Buxtehude: Prelude in F Sharp minor, BuxWV 146
Bach: Wo soll ich fliehen hin, BWV 5
Bach: Ein ungefärbt Gemüte, BWV 24
Trinity Baroque Orchestra; The Choir of Trinity Wall Street; Julian Wachner, conductor
May 27
Bach: Fugue in E-flat, BWV 552b
Bach: Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten, BWV 59
Bach: O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort, BWV 60
Bach: Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt, BWV 68
Trinity Baroque Orchestra; The Choir of Trinity Wall Street; Julian Wachner, conductor
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© 21C Media Group, March 2015