Bach's Birthday: From Brandenburg to Magnificat

Nashville Symphony & Chorus | Tucker Biddlecombe, chorus director Johann Sebastian Bach was born on March 21, 1685. After his death in 1750, his music fell into near obscurity until a 20-year-old Felix Mendelssohn conducted a revival concert in 1829 that changed the course of music history. Tonight we celebrate the composer the world almost lost. The evening spans the full range of Bach's genius: the Brandenburg Concertos No. 2 and No. 3, with their dazzling interplay of instruments; the achingly beautiful Prelude from the Cello Suite No. 1; the Toccata and Fugue in D minor — one of the most instantly recognizable pieces ever written, heard in everything from Fantasia to Halloween soundtracks; the stately grandeur of the Suite No. 3 with its famous Air; and the beloved "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring." The evening culminates in the Magnificat: Bach's most jubilant choral work, a blazing setting of Mary's song of praise for chorus, soloists, trumpets, and full orchestra. Nashville Symphony Chorus Director Tucker Biddlecombe conducts. Program Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F Major, BWV 1047 “Prelude” from Cello Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007 Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major, BWV 1048 Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 Suite No. 3 in D Major for Orchestra, BWV 1068 Magnificat, BWV 243 “Jesus bleibet meine Freude” from Cantata No. 147 ("Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben"), BWV 147