Around the World with Bach in the Subways
Happy birthday Bach!
Thousands of musicians across the world celebrated Johann Sebastian Bach's 331st birthday by offering free Bach performances in public places all weekend and through Monday (the composer's actual birthday), as a part of Bach in the Subways, brain child of New York City cellist Dale Henderson that has blossomed into a huge event in six years.
The rules for musicians are: "Play J.S. Bach any time, anywhere between 12:00 am on Saturday, March 19 and 11:59 pm on Monday, March 21, 2016." Lucky people who stumbled on these performances (or showed up on purpose) got to witness some great playing. Take, for example, violinist Nigel Armstrong, who played the "Ciaccona" from Bach's Partita No. 2 in D minor in Los Angeles Union Station. Armstrong's performance was part of an 11-hour "Bach Marathon," so a little later in the day, I got to play some chamber music in the same place -- and I had a great time!
I joined Chamber Music Los Angeles and conductor David Newby to play movements from an Orchestral Suite, a few arias from Cantatas and Brandenburg Concertos No. 2 and 3. This was just one group in an 11-hour Bach marathon at Union Station LA.
The crowd which to several hundred as we played at LA's architecturally gorgeous Union Station.
As soprano Olivia Neely sang "Hilf, Jesu Hilf" from Cantata 147, several small children took a keen interest!
I was tickled that a student who is a graduate of the Suzuki group in which I teach, Suzuki Talent Education of Pasadena (STEP) was there, and her mother was playing!
Here I am with one of the organizers of the Los Angeles event, violinist Adrienne Andisheh, with a few more young violinists:
Here are a group of musicians and organizers of the Los Angeles Bach Marathon, left to right: Brandon Encinas, Yu-Ting Wu, Lydia Yun, Billy Tobenkin, Felix Hernandez, Adrienne Andisheh:
Our event was just one of many in the Los Angeles, and many, many more around the world! According to Henderson, last year Bach in the Subways counted thousands of groups that held mini-concerts in 140 cities in 40 countries; this year they know there are even more, but they will have to wait until the event is over (midnight March 21) to start tallying them all, "and even then, some musicians don't bother registering on the website. They just go play!"
Here are some scenes from other performances around the world, via Twitter:
Brooklyn Rider at the Bachhaus Eisenach, Germany:
Birthday Music w/ @Brooklyn_Rider at the #Bachhaus Eisenach. @EarlyMusicDay @BachInTheSubway #Bachwochen #Bach pic.twitter.com/zwsVETKDMK
— Christoph Drescher (@ch_drescher) March 21, 2016
In Singapore:
7 years old Vera joins #BachInTheSubways2016 at One Fullerton in #Singapore. pic.twitter.com/cdseYzrhzj
— Bach in the Subways (@BachInTheSubway) March 21, 2016
Brandenburg 3 in the Burlington, Vermont, International Airport Saturday:
Brandenburg 3 in the Burlington (VT) International Airport today! #BachInTheSubways2016 pic.twitter.com/sRvcpM9cYC
— Me2/ (me, too) (@Me2Orchestra) March 20, 2016
Mount Sinai Guggenheim Pavilion, New York City:
Such beautiful #bach music..... #cello #bachinthesubways by dyerohmeb https://t.co/D9Y7ubTUQr pic.twitter.com/sahwTKNmGg
— Central Park in pics (@fromcentralprk) March 21, 2016
From the Conservatory of Music in Campobasso, Italy:
#BachInTheSubways2016 from the Conservatory of Music in Campobasso, #Italy... pic.twitter.com/5cHtgeot64
— Bach in the Subways (@BachInTheSubway) March 20, 2016
Charlotte Symphony's Tom Burge:
Our own Tom Burge brings a little #Bach joy to @WFMCharlotte today! #bachinthesubways2016 pic.twitter.com/ea7j7Hy4Al
— Charlotte Symphony (@CLTsymphony) March 20, 2016
You might also like:
- Happy Birthday, Dear Johann: Thousands Worldwide to Play for Bach in the Subways this Weekend
- Interview with Nigel Armstrong: Peace after Graduate School
- Happy 326th birthday, Johann Sebastian Bach
Replies
Happy birthday Bach we should all admire this wonderful composer because of his beautiful pieces
That's so cool! I did not know about this event. I'll try to persuade people to play with me next year - in case I don't, I'll play by myself ;D
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March 22, 2016 at 06:04 AM · Wonderful! We simply need to get this music out into the public as opposed to "modernising" it or trying all sorts of gimmicks and sex appeal to make it appeal to a wider audience. The music is powerful enough to draw them in. Well done to all involved!