Special Bach Program

275 Years of Bach

In commemoration of the 275th anniversary of the death of Johann Sebastian Bach in 1750, Director of Music Colin MacKnight will perform Bach’s complete organ works throughout 2025. Bach is indisputably the most important composer of organ music, but due to the difficulty and quantity of Bach’s organ music, very few organists ever perform the complete works.

Bach’s music, including his organ music, is a pillar of our sacred music tradition. In celebration of this gift, we are offering these free performances to the Little Rock community to allow people to experience the majesty of Bach’s music and enrich our music ministry.

Bach’s organ oeuvre comprises about 18 hours of music: six trio sonatas, 43 preludes and fugues and other free works, four trios, five miscellaneous pieces, five concertos, and over 200 chorale preludes (pieces based on Lutheran hymn tunes). Colin will perform most of these works in lunchtime recitals on Wednesdays from 12:15 to 12:45. These weekly recitals are on pause for the summe and will resume in the fall on September 10.

Clavier-Übung III

Outside of the weekly lunchtime recitals, there will be one additional concert. On Monday, July 28, 2025, the exact 275th anniversary of Bach’s death, Colin will perform the entire Clavier-Übung III. Sometimes referred to as the German Organ Mass, Clavier-Übung III is Bach’s largest and most important organ work. It comprises an opening prelude, 21 chorale preludes, four duets, and a concluding fugue, totaling about 100 minutes. This concert will be at 7 pm, with a reception after the performance.