Annual Peoria Bach Festival Young Artists' Concert - 12:05 p.m. (FREE)

The 2011 Peoria Bach Festival begins with our annual Young Artists' Concert. Come and hear young adults and children of all ages sing and play the violin, keyboard, brass, and woodwind instruments. If you know of a child or young adult that would like to participate, please call Dr. Martin Dicke at (309) 676-4609 (x207).

The Bach/Busoni Transcriptions - 12:05 p.m. (FREE)

John Orfe, piano

Ferruccio Busoni (1866-1924) was an Italian composer, pianist, editor, writer, piano and composition teacher, and conductor. He was born in Empoli in Tuscany, Italy, the only child of two professional musicians. A child prodigy, he made his public debut on the piano with his parents, at the age of seven. Busoni edited and transcribed works by other composers for piano, in particular those of Bach, Liszt, and Mozart. The best known of these is his edition of the solo keyboard works of Bach, which he edited with the assistance of his students Egon Petri and Bruno Mugellini. He also created many piano transcriptions of Bach works, including the Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (originally for organ) and the Chaconne from the Partita No. 2 in D minor for solo violin, BWV 1004. Busoni became so well-known as a transcriber of Bach's pieces, that the name "Bach-Busoni" was sometimes mistaken for his surname, and on one occasion his wife was introduced to someone as "Mrs. Bach-Busoni". For this program, Dr. John Orfe of Bradley University will perform some of these transcriptions.

Organ Recital: "Arisen is the Holy Christ" - 8:00 p.m. (free)

Jonathan Wessler, organ

Jonathan Wessler returns to present another innovative and spiritually meaningful organ recital based on the theme of the resurrection of Christ and featuring the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The program will consist of three parts: settings of the Gloria in the form of the hymn "Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr" ("All Glory Be to God on High"), music for Lent, Easter, and Pentecost including the hymn "Erstanden ist der heiligen Christ" ("Arisen is the Holy Christ") from which the program title comes, and chorale preludes on hymns of trust and hope in the Resurrection including "Wer nur den lieben Gott" ("If Thou But Trust in God to Guide Thee"), "Herzlich lieb hab ich dich" ("Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart"), and "Vor deinen Thron" ("Before Your Throne"). The program will be framed by two free compositions: the Vivaldi Concerto in D minor (arr. by Bach) and the Pièce d'Orgue, BWV 572 (formerly known as the "Fantasy in G"). Admission is free (a free-will offering will be taken).

Lunch With Bach: The Easter Oratorio - 12:00 p.m. (FREE - call to reserve a lunch)

Dr. John Jost, lecturer

Have a FREE lunch on us and learn about Bach's Easter Oratorio. One of our themes central themes with the Peoria Bach Festival 2011 completing the story that we began last year with the performance of the St. Matthew Passion. The crucifixion of Jesus is not a story in and of itself, but part of a larger story of our salvation that continued with the resurrection of Jesus several days later. Besides several Easter cantatas, Bach also composed what later came to be known as the Easter Oratorio. It was first performed in Leipzig on Easter Sunday in 1725. Dr. John Jost, Artistic Director of the Peoria Bach Festival, will take time to explain the history and musical aspects of this setting of the resurrection story. Lunch is served at 12:00 noon. The lecture will begin at 12:10 and conclude at 1:00 p.m.

The lecture is FREE. Call (309) 676-4609 to reserve a FREE lunch.

Bach at Noon: Bach Meets Jazz - 12:05 p.m. (FREE)

Edward Kaizer, piano, and friends

In his time, Bach was known as an improviser par excellence. In fact, after improvising on the organ for the great Johann Reincken, Reincken remarked "I thought this art was dead, but I see that it lives in you." As an improviser and composer, Bach would probably have been very interested in the improvisatory techniques and skill of today's best modern jazz musicians. Jazz pianist Ed Kaizer returns with his family and friends for an encore performance of jazz inspired by Bach's harmonies. This concert promises to be another way to enter into the music, world, and mind of Bach.

Hey Kids! Meet Mr. Bach: Creating, Composing, and Recreating - 4:00 p.m. (Admission $2.50)

How did Bach compose his music? What were his methods and inspirations? In this program Mr. Bach explains and shows how he composed his music, how he sometimes revised and recreated his music, and what the primary influences and inspirations were for his music.

The first 50 families in attendance will receive a free gift. To order tickets, please call (309) 676-4609 or e-mail us at peoriabachfestival@trinitypeoria.com.

Lunch With Bach: The Motets - 12:00 p.m. (FREE - call to reserve a lunch)

Dr. Martin Dicke, lecturer

Bach composed at least six motets. These works are quite different from his cantatas. Although it is likely that he used instruments in the performance of these motets, they have no independent instrumental parts. It appears that many of them were composed for the funerals of prominent citizens. This lecture explores various aspects of Bach's motets and focuses particularly on the motet "Jesu, meine Freude" ("Jesus, Priceless Treasure"), which juxtaposes settings of the hymn by the same name with free compositional settings of verses from Romans 8. By following this procedure, Bach makes some powerful and profound musical as well as theological statements.

The lecture is FREE. Call (309) 676-4609 to reserve a FREE lunch.

Chamber Concert 2011: Bach Meets Tango - 5:30 p.m. (FREE)

Tango Espejo with Garold Fowler, double bass; Jonathan Kotulski, bandoneón and accordion; Brian Gehrich, violin; George Turner, electric guitar; and Lara Driscoll, piano

One of the ongoing themes of the Peoria Bach Festival is to explore the music of composers who were influenced by him. Our Chamber Concert this year features Garold Fowler, who has played double bass in our orchestra for many years, and a group of his entitled Tango Espejo. Their mission is to perform the music of Astor Piazzolla (1921-92) in the style of Piazzolla. Piazzolla was an was an Argentinian tango composer and bandoneón player. His oeuvre revolutionized the traditional tango into a new style termed nuevo tango, incorporating elements from jazz and classical music. A virtuoso bandoneónist, he regularly performed his own compositions with a variety of ensembles.

For this concert they will perform music by Piazzolla that was inspired by the music of Bach. Musical selections will include the Four Seasons of Beunos Aires, Suite del Angel, and more.

Bach at Noon: Music for Cello and Flute - 12:05 p.m. (FREE)

Janet Anthony, cello; Kyle Dzapo, flute; and Carol Wessler, harpsichord

One of the mainstays of our Bach at Noon concerts has been the chamber music that is rarely performed. For this year's final Bach at Noon recital, Janet Anthony, a professor at the Conservatory of Music at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, returns to perform Bach's Suite No. 5 in C minor for Solo Cello and Kyle Dzapo, professor at Bradley University and Principal Flutist for the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, performs the Sonata in B minor for flute and harpsichord.

Coffee with Bach- 6:00 p.m.

Pre-concert Lecture - 6:45 p.m.

Coffee Concert 2011 - 7:30 p.m. (Admission $12 Adults/$8 Students at the door)

Peoria Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra, Dr. John Jost, conductor

Come and hear the the Peoria Bach Festival Orchestra in some of Bach's most beloved compositions - Orchestral Suite No. 3 (featuring the famous "Air on the G String"); Brandenburg Concertos No. 3 and 5; and the Harpsichord Concerto in D minor featuring Kathryn Reed, harpsichord. Tickets are $12 at the door or $10 if paid for in advance. Students may purchase tickets for $8 at the door or $5 in advance.

To order advance tickets, please call (309) 676-4609 or e-mail us at peoriabachfestival@trintypeoria.com.

Festival Concert 2011 - 7:30 p.m. (Admission $12 Adults/$8 Students at the door)

Peoria Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra, Dr. John Jost and Dr. Martin Dicke, conductors

On this concert the Peoria Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra present the Easter Oratorio to complete the story begun with last year's performance of the St. Matthew Passion. Also on this evening's program is the motet "Jesu, meine Freude" ("Jesus, Priceless Treasure"). Tickets are $12 at the door or $10 if paid for in advance. Students may purchase tickets for $8 at the door or $5 in advance.

To order advance tickets, please call (309) 676-4609 or e-mail us at peoriabachfestival@trintypeoria.com.

Festival Worship Services - 8:00 & 10:45 a.m.

Celebrate Pentecost Sunday with the Trinity congregation. For this year's festival services, the Peoria Bach Festival Choir will sing the motet "Jesus, Priceless Treasure," which focuses on the joy that is ours through salvation in Jesus Christ.

All concerts and events will be held at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 135 NE Randolph Ave., Peoria, Illinois 61606. For directions, please call (309) 676-4609 or follow the instructions below:

Trinity is on the corner of Hamilton Blvd. and Randolph Ave. on the bluff overlooking downtown Peoria. To find Trinity, click here here for a map or follow the directions below.

FROM DOWNTOWN PEORIA - Locate Hamilton Blvd. and turn onto it heading up the hill and away from the river (i.e. NW). Shortly after Methodist hospital, you will see Trinity at the top of the hill on the left side. Turn left onto Randolph Ave. and then take the first right. This will bring you into the church's main parking lot.

FROM BRADLEY UNIVERSITY - Find Main St. (just North of Bradley) and turn East. When you reach North St., turn left. Both the second and third right turn on North St. will bring you into the church's parking lot.