Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B Minor. Concert in Memory of KMD Dr. Paul Horn's 10th Anniversary of Death

"It is the greatest work of art the world has ever seen," wrote Carl Friedrich Zelter, founder of the Berlin Sing Academy, in 1811 about Johann Sebastian Bach's Mass in B Minor. Indeed, this enormous work, whose performance lasts nearly two hours, stands as a pinnacle of Western sacred vocal music. To this day, it remains unclear for what occasion Bach composed this expansive work shortly before his death, and its sheer scale defies all conventions of the musical practice of his time. It is no accident that today we speak of Bach's legacy work, especially since Bach here once more exemplifies all the vocal genres then in use - from strict counterpoint in the "Old Style" to the contemporary concerto form of the period.

The Ravensburg Bach Choir will perform this final and most exalted work of its namesake, Johann Sebastian Bach, on December 6th of this year in Ravensburg's city church under the direction of its new conductor Reiner Schuhenn.

The Bodensee-Oberschwaben Chamber Philharmonic will accompany. Soloists include Irma Klaffenbach (soprano), Tobias Knaus (alto), Eric Price (tenor), and Christian Feichtmair (bass). Ana Schlaegel will handle the text recitation.

The choir dedicates this concert to the memory of the 10th anniversary of the death of KMD Dr. Paul Horn, who from 1954 to 1985 served not only as cantor at the city church but also as director of the Ravensburg Bach Choir. For decades, he also created continuo realizations and piano reductions for CARUS publishers, including the entire vocal works of Bach. The Bach Choir therefore performs this concert largely using the performance materials prepared by Paul Horn.