Back to All Events

Cambridge Society for Early Music Series

  • Christ Church 0 Garden Street Cambridge, MA (map)

The Art of Counterpoint from Bach to Zelenka

A program demonstrating the richness of contrapuntal invention from the two great High Baroque masters. Working in close proximity to each other--Leipzig and Dresden, the capital of Saxony just 100km distance--Bach and Zelenka knew and admired each other. From their distinctive personalities they each developed equally intricate and dazzlingly virtuosic styles of counterpoint.

Jan Dismas Zelenka, Sonata I (ZWV 181/1) 
Zelenka, Vide, Domine, cantilena circularis (ZWV 179)
Johann Sebastian Bach, Contrapunctus I from The Art of Fugue (BWV 1080) 
Bach, Fugue in g minor (from Fantasy and Fugue for organ, BWV 542)
INTERMISSION
Bach, Aria from Schleicht, spielende Wellen BWV 206/7
Bach, Prelude and Fugue in C major, WTC, book 1
Bach, Canon a 2 super thema regium
Bach, Three-Part Ricercar from The Musical Offering (BWV 1079) 
Zelenka, Sonata IV, 2 oboes, bassoon, continuo (ZWV 181/4)