Sacred Bach Cantatas

Radomski

Carolina Baroque - James and Susan Bates

Holly Maurer

Doug Crawley

John Pruett

Carolina Baroque - Dale Higbee

Carolina Baroque will present its opening concert in the 2009-10 Salisbury Bach and Handel Festival 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Chapel of St. John's Lutheran Church, 200 W. Innes St. There is no admission charge, but a $10 donation at the door is suggested to help cover expenses.

Titled "Sacred Bach Cantatas," this concert will include four complete cantatas, two movements from a fifth cantata, all written in Leipzig, and an organ chorale prelude.

Opening the program is Cantata BWV 156, "I stand with one foot in the grave," written for the third Sunday after Epiphany and probably first performed in 1729. This will be followed by "O man, weep for your great sin," one of 46 organ chorales composed in Weimar, 1713-15.

Also to be performed: Cantata BWV 166, "Whither goest thou? for the fourth Sunday after Easter and first performed in 1724; Cantata BWV 56, "I will gladly carry the cross-staff," was written for the 19th Sunday after Trinity, first performed 1726 (probably Bach's first cantata for solo bass); Cantata BWV 33, "In You alone, Lord Jesus Christ" from 1724. Only the third movement alto aria and final chorale will be presented.

The final work on the program is Cantata BWV 32, "Dearest Jesus, my desire," for the first Sunday after Epiphany, dating from 1726. The text, a dialogue between the Soul (soprano) and Jesus (bass), based on the Gospel reading for the day (Luke 2: 41-52) tells of the young Jesus preaching in the temple.

Performers in the concert will include Teresa Radomski, soprano; Lee Morgan, contralto; Richard Cook, tenor; Doug Crawley, bass-baritone; John Pruett and Susan Perkins, baroque violins; Maureen Michels, baroque viola; Holly Maurer, viola da gamba; Susan Bates, harpsichord and organ; James Bates, conductor; and Dale Higbee, music director and recorders.

Carolina Baroque is a funded member of the Rowan Arts Council and a professional ensemble member of Early Music America. The group has performed throughout the southeastern USA, on Public TV, and Public Radio. They have released 29 CDs..

For more information, visit www.carolinabaroque.org or contact info@carolinabaroque .org.