Rudolf Lutz, the artistic director, aims to create a 'living Bach experience' for today's listeners, based on historical knowledge and informed by his expertise in baroque music and improvisation.
Performer Biography
The J.S. Bach Foundation of St. Gallen, Switzerland, founded by musician Rudolf Lutz and private banker Konrad Hummler, is undertaking a 25-year project to re-interpret Bach's complete vocal works.
Composer Biography
Bach's compositional scores often lacked detailed bowing, articulation, or chorale texts because he worked with his own professional musicians who understood performance conventions, but he almost always completed the figured bass himself.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Rudolf Lutz describes Bach as an artist with an 'endless set of colours' who could create something extraordinary from any text or musical theme, emphasizing the diversity and luminosity in his works.
Composition History
Cantata BWV 191, 'Gloria in excelsis Deo,' is a 'pragmatic parody' where Bach reused and adapted movements from his earlier B Minor Mass for a Christmas setting, including a shortened duet and altered closing chorus.
Recording & Production
Since October 2006, the J.S. Bach Foundation has performed one cantata per month in the baroque church of Trogen, Switzerland, documented on DVD and released on CD annually.
Composition History
Bach often used 'Jesu Juva' (J.J.) at the beginning of his church pieces, demonstrating his belief in divine protection for his work, and 'Concerto' was a more common genre term than 'Cantata' at the time.
