BACH CANTATA 31 — “Der Himmel lacht! Die Erde jubilieret” (Festival of Easter: “Heaven laughs! Earth exults”)
Sunday, May 1st at 5:00pm
Bach’s Easter Cantata #31 “Heaven laughs! Earth rejoices” will be sung at the May 1st Bach Vesper at 5:00pm. This tour de force Easter cantata is one of only two extant cantatas that Bach composed for Easter Day (Christ lag in Todesbanden, #4 is the other). The lavish orchestration of 3 trumpets, 3 oboes, tympani, strings, organ, SATB choir, and 3 soloists — soprano Christine Welch-Elder, tenor Brian Tierney and an unconfirmed bass soloist — will raise the roof in celebration of Christ’s resurrection. Special guest homilist is Matt Becker, who is faculty member of the theology department faculty at Valparaiso University. Freewill offering.
