The Bach Institute

Pamela Dellal, Director; Ryan Turner, Associate Director

The Bach Institute, with public events throughout each performance season, provides engagement with Bach’s music through presentations and participatory activities. We are creating and sharing a trove of resources specific to the varied interests of music professionals, amateurs, aficionados, and anyone curious about what Bach’s music may offer to today’s listeners.

Season-Long EventsJanuary Intensive Events

January Intensive 2024: Bach's Time

featuring special guest Nicholas Phan
January 4-15, 2024

Time fascinated Bach; his music contemplates both eternity and the brevity of time. Bach was a man very much of his time, and simultaneously a composer for all time; his relationship to the legacy of history and to posterity is vigorous and multi-stranded. For the 2024 Bach Institute January Intensive we will go on a journey through time and about time with the master, to discover what he can teach us about our place in history, in eternity, and even in the score!

During the BI January Intensive we invite a group of auditioned talented young musicians for a 10-day exploration of Bach's marvelous cantata repertoire, including lectures, masterclasses, open rehearsals, and stimulating conversations. Bach's music is fully alive at Emmanuel Music; come watch us play in our living laboratory, testing and examining sound, text, and structure to discover the underlying messages in the music.

How to ApplyLinks to 2022 and 2023 events

Bach Institute 2023-24
Public Events

Conversation: Pamela Dellal, Ryan Turner, and Nicholas Phan

Is Bach for Everyone?

Jan. 5, 2024 at 7.00pm

Nick, Pam, and Ryan will conduct a stimulating round-table discussion on what Bach means for us in this time; what he intended to say to his own time, and how Bach will remain relevant for future times.
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Open Cantata Rehearsals

Jan. 6, 2024 at 11.30am and 1pm

Grab a front row seat to see how the weekly cantata performance comes together in just one rehearsal. Listen to Artistic Director Ryan Turner and guests discuss the musical intricacies of the cantata they are preparing.

11:30 am: Cantata Open Rehearsal: Ryan Turner conducts BWV 7
1:00 pm: Conversation: Ryan Turner and Pamela Dellal discuss

Cantata BWV 7:  
Ryan Turner conducting

with Nicholas Phan, tenor soloist

Jan. 7, 2024 at 10.00am

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Master Class - led by special guest Nicholas Phan

featuring the Bach Institute Fellows

Jan. 8, 2024 at 7.00pm

photo credit: Jonathan Sachs

Conversation: Teresa Neff

The Past Becomes Present: Bach's Use of the Chorale in His Cantatas

Jan. 10, 2024 at 7.00pm

By Bach’s time the chorale had been a fundamental part of the Lutheran worship service for generations and had inspired compositions for both worship and home entertainment. These texts and tunes with roots reaching back to Martin Luther were part of a musical language shared by most Lutherans. Bach enriched this tradition by incorporating dramatic musical settings of a chorale within a cantata or framing the cantata with chorale settings as the outer movements. Bach also used the chorale to connect specific events – usually related to the birth or death of Jesus – with the contemporary believer. In this context, the chorale acts as a musical bridge, bringing new meaning and impact to a familiar moment from a Biblical narrative. This presentation will explore how Bach’s use of the chorale shifted the perspective of the congregation from spectator to participant.

Conversation: the Rev. Pamela Werntz and Dr. Karen King

Translation Backwards and Forwards

Jan. 11, 2024 at 7.00pm

Open Cantata Rehearsals

Jan. 13, 2024 at 11.30am and 1pm

Grab a front row seat to see how the weekly cantata performance comes together in just one rehearsal. Listen to Artistic Director Ryan Turner and guests discuss the musical intricacies of the cantata they are preparing.
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11:30am: Cantata Open Rehearsal: John Harbison conducts BWV 79
1:00 pm: Conversation: John Harbison discusses the cantata
Members of the public are welcome
to bring a bag lunch to the talk at 1 pm

Cantata BWV 79:
John Harbison conducting

Jan. 14, 2023 at 10am

Showcase Concert featuring Bach Institute fellows

Jan. 14, 2024 at 7.00pm (SNOW DATE: Jan. 15, 2024 at 7,00pm

Season-Long Events

Cantata Conversations

Saturdays
10:00am-11:30am – conversations in the Emmanuel Room
11:30am-12:30pm – open rehearsals in the sanctuary

Stand-alone conversations examining the cantata of the week led by Pamela Dellal and other members of our community. We will listen to excerpts from the cantata and discuss specific examples of Bach's masterful use of this musical form. After our conversation you are invited to listen in on the orchestra and chorus’ Saturday rehearsal.
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2023-2024 Conversation Dates

10/21 - BWV 163
11/4 - BWV 198
11/11 - BWV 116
2/10 - BWV 22
2/17 - BWV 93
3/2 - BWV 102

Community Chorale Sing

November 19, 2023 | 12:30-2:00pm

Artistic Director Ryan Turner and Bach Institute Director Pamela Dellal lead an exploration of the beautiful and varied chorales in the Bach cantatas. All are welcome to participate; scores will be provided in advance.

Masterclass for All!

TBD (Summer 2024) The Music Room

Explore how to sing or play a Bach piece with Artistic Director Ryan Turner and Bach Institute Director Pamela Dellal. No audition required, but you must register with a piece already chosen and prepared. All welcome to observe; participation limited to six individuals or ensembles, with the potential for two alternates.

Pamela Dellal, Director;Ryan Turner, Associate Director