The Summer Festival of Sacred Music at St. Bart's to Kick Off with Bach's MISSA IN G MAJOR, BWV 236, 6/22

The 20th annual Summer Festival begins on Sunday, June 22 at 11 am with a performance of Johann Sebastian Bach's Missa in G Major, BWV 236. St. Bartholomew's Choir will be accompanied by an orchestra of period instruments.

Composed during Bach's tenure as Kantor of the great Thomaskirche in Leipzig, these masses are re-workings of previously written sacred or secular cantata movements. By being so, the music becomes elevated with the timeless sacred Latin text of the Mass. Because of the varied instrumentation of these masses, each of them has a very different character. The Missa Brevis in G Minor is scored for choir, soloists, strings, oboes and continuo, giving it an exuberant but light quality.

The Summer Festival of Sacred Music takes place each Sunday morning at 11 am at St. Bartholomew's Church during the summer months. At a time when most churches reduce their musical offerings, St. Bartholomew's Church provides outstanding sacred music sung by St. Bartholomew's Choir and Boy and Girl Choristers, two of New York City's most renowned choirs. Works include an array of mass settings from the 15th century to the present embracing a diversity of cultures from around the world. The music is sung as part of the Eucharist or Mass, the liturgical context for which it was composed. All Summer Festival events are free and open to the public.

The Summer Festival of Sacred Music takes place at St. Bartholomew's Church at the corner of Park Avenue and 51st Street. Subway: 6 to 51st Street. For more information, call (212) 378-0222 or visit our website for the complete schedule.