The livestream of this socially distanced performance will be available for you to watch from home. Please do not come to the building. This performance is not open to a public in-person audience.

J.S. Bach, known as the great master, wrote more than 200 cantatas, and UMD Choral Activities aims to sing them all in this series of short performances led by conductors in the graduate program. Conducted by Amy Broadbent, this performance will feature Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich (For Thee, O Lord, I long), BWV 150.

This cantata is a glimpse into J.S. Bach’s early life. It is considered to be one of his very earliest cantatas, and was likely composed around 1707 in Arnstadt. Though this cantata only requires a small chamber orchestra, it is rich with expression and longing, with extensive chromaticism, imitative writing, poetic text-painting and virtuosic writing for the violoncello and bassoon. The text alternates between excerpts from Psalm 25 and anonymous free-verse poetry, which serves as Biblical commentary. During these difficult days in which we are starting to glimpse the light at the end of the dark tunnel of COVID-19, one might find solace in this poetic quote from BWV 150: “My days in suffering God will nevertheless end in joy.”

All participants have met the UMD 4Maryland requirements to return to campus and have chosen to perform in-person. The performers have worn masks during rehearsals and are socially distanced. There will be no public audience. The orchestra and chorus are all one-on-a-part to minimize personnel on stage. The Bach Cantata Series is an integral part of the degree requirements for the UMD School of Music's choral conducting graduate students.