It's the Feast Day of St. Luke and we’re celebrating with Bach!
Described as a service that will be a feast for the senses, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church presents Bach, Brews & Brats on Sunday, October 20 at 10:30 a.m. This beautifully crafted service will include famous Bach hymns and organ works and culminates with J.S. Bach’s Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden BWV 230.
It is based off Psalm 117 and its opening line is translated "Praise the Lord, all ye nations," which is fitting because choirs from two different countries will be joining together to perform this work. The world-famous Ensemble Heinavanker will be flying all the way from the country of Estonia to share their talents with us. This exquisite 7-person vocal ensemble will join the St. Luke's Parish Choir in performing the Bach cantata during the sermon time of the service.
It is one of six surviving Bach motets and was most likely written between 1723 and 1727. It is almost certain that Lobet den Herrn, all Heiden, along with his other five surviving motets, have been performed at least once every year since Bach's death in 1750. No other composer or set of works can boast such a distinguished legacy.
Following such Divine spiritual sustenance, and in line with Bach’s German roots, we’ll feed the body at a rousing barbecue complete with bratwurst, assorted microbrews and root beer and polka music performed by CSU’s Neue Polka Colorado (NPC).
Neue Polka Colorado is a polka band for the 21st century. Inspired by the singing, playing, camaraderie, and antics of the town bands of Central Europe, the band is exclusively brass instruments, and is populated almost entirely by music majors at Colorado State University. They describe themselves as one-part Oktoberfest, one-part 1990s mix tape and 100% fun.
Be sure to return to St. Luke's that evening at 7:00pm to hear an exciting variety of ancient church music as well as traditional music from Estonia and the surrounding native region. This is native music from people steeped in the culture and tradition in which the music was written, that we as Americans, don't often get to experience.
More information at 970-493-7512.