Die Bach-Familie / The Musical Legacy of a Legendary Family

The name “Bach” was virtually synonymous with “musician” in Central Germany during the Baroque period. The family tree of male members of the branched lineage of musicians was compiled by Johann Sebastian himself, who was committed to maintaining the strong family tradition. The collection of his ancestors’ vocal compositions, which he inherited and carefully preserved – the Altbachisches Archiv – has become the foundation of the programme of the opening concert of the 26th edition of the Summer Festivities of Early Music. Berlin’s Ensemble Polyharmonique explores the musical core and interconnectedness of the works of selected members of the Bach family, offering an original insight into the universe of this musical dynasty.

The highlight of the concert will be Jesu, meine Freude, a monumental motet, in which Johann Sebastian brings this genre to perfection while adopting many stylistic elements of his compositionally proficient ancestors. Bach’s longest and most complex motet will symbolically connect all the musical genealogical lines from Johann Michael, Johann Christoph and Johann Ludwig into a brilliantly structured masterpiece of creative genius.

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Magdalene Harer, Joowon Chung | soprano
Alexander Schneider | alto, artistic director
Johannes Gaubitz, Christopher Renz | tenor
Matthias Lutze | bass
Martin Jantzen | violone
Tineke Steenbrink | positive organ