The Bach Parley concert on November 11 will feature two Bach Cantatas, numbers 61 and 150, with musicians playing period instruments and the Bach Parley Chamber Singers. Music director Valerie Arsenault will explain what cantatas are, how they are structured, and how they are alike and different from an opera or an oratorio.

Cantata 150 was written when Bach was near the beginning of his career, and the final movement was the inspiration for the finale of Johannes Brahms’s 4th symphony. Cantata 61 is from the middle of Bach’s career when he worked in Weimar and was written for the first Sunday of Advent, just about this time of year.

The Bach Parley Chamber Singers will be joined by tenor soloist Larry Gerber in Cantata 61. For this concert the singers are Anna Marie Friars, Arianne Johnson Quinn, Kendra Weineke, Tina Stringfellow, John Martin, Joe Kraus, Brian Arsenault, and Rick Effinger. The instrumentalists are Valerie Arsenault, Carrie Holden, Melissa Brewer, Kim Jones, Nina Scheibe, Melanie Punter, and Charlie Brewer.

The French word “parley” means discussion, and a key element of Bach Parley concerts is the commentary from our music director to discuss historical context for the composers and their world and to offer suggestions about what to listen for in the music. These conversational remarks create a relaxed concert atmosphere and connect the audience with the performers.

There is a suggestion donation of $10 and free childcare is available.

For more information about the Tallahassee Bach Parley and our non-profit music school, the Bach Parley String Academy, please visit us at www.bachparley.org.