GIBBONS Drop, drop slow tears
JS BACH Du wahrer Gott und Davids Sohn (You true God and Son of David), BWV 23

Our final cantata of this Bach, the Universe and Everything season, Du wahrer Gott und Davids Sohn (You true God and Son of David), BWV 23, is a soulful contemplation of eternity and forgiveness, of the human journey from darkness into light.

Du wahrer Gott und Davids Sohnwas was also potentially another work Bach submitted in application for the job as music director in Leipzig (the other being Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe, BWV 22 was performed in February 2024’s event). The unusual final movement interweaves the chorale with instrumental interludes in a German setting of the ‘Agnus dei’ from the Mass.Our guest speaker for this event will be announced shortly.

Bach, the Universe and Everything is a concert series with a difference. Across six Sunday morning events, we explore the human desire to understand our place in the cosmos, guided by the work of JS Bach – composer and intergalactic genius – through his 200 cantatas. We invite you to join us on a cosmic journey: each event is built around a Bach cantata and a talk from a guest scientist, writer or broadcaster, alongside choral and instrumental music.

Series music director: Steven Devine