May 18, 2025, 7:30pm
First Presbyterian Church, Lexington, KY

The cantata Erschallet ihr Lieder, BWV 172 was written by Bach for Whit Sunday, the first day of Pentecost.  It is filled with references to the Holy Spirit and features a duet aria between the solo soprano (soul) and the solo alto (Holy Spirit) in the fifth movement.  The motet Der Geist hilft, BWV 226 has repeated references to the Holy Spirit, and also to the Pentecostal fire (“Du heilige Brunst, süsser Trost”).  It ends hopefully with a reference to eternal life (“Durch Tod und Leben zu dir dringen. Halleluja.”).  The second half of the program, following the intermission, consists of a group of pieces that move from sadness, fear, longing, and despair to the hope of resolution, salvation, and joy.  It begins with Die mit Tränen säen, a setting of selected verses from Psalm 126 by Bach’s predecessor, Heinrich Schütz, referring to those who sow with tears and then return joyfully bearing their sheaves. Following are two pieces by Felix Mendelssohn. The first, Hear my prayer (Hör mein Bitten), is the petition of one currently experiencing sadness and fear to find lasting hope and peace; these two contrasting states are depicted beautifully in the music. Verleih’ uns Frieden is a more fervent prayer for peace. Josef Rheinberger’s Abendlied is a plea to God to remain with us during the approaching darkness of the evening, to remain with us until the ensuing light.  Likewise, Paulus’ Pilgrim’s Hymn is a tender prayer to God to praise him for staying with us on the path from “darkness sealing us in” to light. Ending the program is a reassuring, jubilant chorus from Mendelssohn’s oratorio Elijah with the exhortation “Be not afraid” to those experiencing dire times because “thy [God’s] help is near.” 

​

Steve Bolster