Weekly Bach Cantata Series
Emmanuel Music’s Weekly Bach Cantata Series presents Bach’s sacred cantatas as part of the Sunday Eucharist at Emmanuel Church, preserving the liturgical setting for which the works were written. The series runs from September 20, 2026, through May 9, 2027, with the cantata performed shortly before the service’s closing hymn. The season also includes related sacred choral works, premieres, and music by composers including Bruckner, Brahms, Schütz, Byrd, Purcell, Handel, Britten, Mendelssohn, Vivaldi, Caroline Shaw, and others.
When: September 20, 2026–May 9, 2027.
Showtimes: Sunday Eucharist begins at 10:00 a.m., and the cantata begins shortly before the closing hymn. The page separately lists a Christmas Eve performance at 7:00 p.m.
Schedule: September 20 features Bach’s *Nimm, was dein ist, und gehe hin*, BWV 144, conducted by Ryan Turner, with Corrine Byrne, soprano; Katherine Maysek, alto; Charles Blandy, tenor; and Jennifer Slowik, oboe d’amore. Bruckner’s *Locus iste* is also scheduled.
September 27 presents Bach’s *Es erhub sich ein Streit*, BWV 19, conducted by Ryan Turner, with Sonja Tengblad, soprano; Morgan Mastrangelo, tenor; Andrew Padgett, bass; Terry Everson, trumpet; and Jennifer Slowik and Catherine Weinfield-Zell, oboes d’amore. The program also includes Brahms’s *Schaffe in mir, Gott, ein rein Herz*, Op. 29, No. 2.
October 4 features Bach’s *Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende?*, BWV 27, conducted by Ryan Turner, with Mara Riley, soprano; Clare McNamara, alto; Jonas Budris, tenor; David McFerrin, bass; Nancy Dimock, English horn; and Michael Beattie, organ. Schütz’s *Die Himmel erzählen*, SWV 386, is also included.
October 11 presents Bach’s *Wer sich selbst erhöhet, der soll erniedriget werden*, BWV 47, conducted by guest conductor David Chin, with Janet Ross, soprano; Will Prapestis, bass; Heidi Braun-Hill, violin; and Jennifer Slowik, oboe. Byrd’s *Miserere mei Deus* follows.
October 18 features Bach’s *Falsche Welt, dir trau ich nicht!*, BWV 52, conducted by Ryan Turner, with Carley DeFranco, soprano; Jennifer Slowik, Catherine Weinfield-Zell, and Elizabeth England, oboes; and Whitacre Hill and Sarah Sutherland, horns. Guerrero’s *Rorate caeli* is also scheduled.
October 25 presents Bach’s *Gott soll allein mein Herze haben*, BWV 169, conducted by Ryan Turner, with Carrie Cheron, alto, and John McKean, organ. Purcell’s *Lord, How Long Wilt Thou be Angry*, Z. 25, is also included.
November 1 features Bach’s *Ich geh und suche mit Verlangen*, BWV 49, conducted by Ryan Turner, with Susan Consoli, soprano; Will Prapestis, bass; Jennifer Slowik, oboe d’amore; Rafael Popper-Keizer, cello; and Michael Beattie, organ. Beach’s *Nunc Dimittis* and *Peace I Leave with You* are also scheduled.
November 8 presents Bach’s *Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ*, BWV 116, conducted by Ryan Turner, with Corrine Byrne, soprano; Krista River, alto; Richard Pittsinger, tenor; Andrew Padgett, bass; and Jennifer Slowik, oboe d’amore. Britten’s *Deus in adjutorium meum* is also included.
November 15 features Bach’s *Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme*, BWV 140, conducted by guest conductor Ken-David Masur, along with Mendelssohn’s *Herr, du bist unsre Zuflucht*, Op. 79.
November 22 presents Handel’s *Let thy hand be strengthened*, HWV 259, conducted by Ryan Turner.
November 29, the first Sunday of Advent, features the premiere of Howard Frazin’s *Peace Cantata*, conducted by Ryan Turner.
December 6 presents Bach’s *Freue dich, erlöste Schar*, BWV 30, conducted by Ryan Turner. December 13 features Bach’s *Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn!*, BWV 132, conducted by Ryan Turner. December 20 presents Bach’s *Du Hirte Israel, höre*, BWV 104, conducted by Ryan Turner. The page also lists a Christmas Eve performance on December 24, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., featuring Bach’s *Christum wir sollen loben schon*, BWV 121, conducted by Ryan Turner.
January 3, 2027, features Bach’s *Schau, Lieber Gott, wie meine Feind*, BWV 153, conducted by guest conductor Michael Beattie. January 10 presents Bach’s *Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam*, BWV 7, conducted by Ryan Turner. January 17 features Bach’s *Meinem Jesum laß ich nicht*, BWV 124, conducted by Ryan Turner. January 24 presents Bach’s *Ich steh mit einem Fuß im Grabe*, BWV 156, conducted by Ryan Turner. January 31 features Bach’s *Ich habe genug*, BWV 82, conducted by Ryan Turner.
February 7 presents Bach’s *Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffen?*, BWV 81, conducted by Ryan Turner. February 14, the first Sunday of Lent, features Bach’s *Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten*, BWV 93, conducted by Ryan Turner. February 21 presents Bach’s *Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen*, BWV 56, conducted by Ryan Turner. February 28 features Bach’s *Herr, deine Augen sehen nach dem Glauben*, BWV 102, conducted by Ryan Turner.
March 7 presents the premiere of Elena Ruehr and Rev. Pamela Werntz’s *O still, small voice of calm*, conducted by Ryan Turner. March 14 features John Harbison’s *Chorale Cantata*, conducted by Ryan Turner. March 21, Palm Sunday, presents Vivaldi’s *Stabat Mater*, RV 621, conducted by Ryan Turner. March 26, Good Friday, features Caroline Shaw’s *To the Hands*, conducted by Ryan Turner. March 28, Easter, presents Bach’s *Christ lag in Todesbanden*, BWV 4, conducted by Ryan Turner.
April 4 features Bach’s *Der Friede sei mit dir*, BWV 158, conducted by Ryan Turner. April 11 presents Bach’s *Ich lebe, mein herze, zu deinem Ergötzen*, BWV 145, conducted by Ryan Turner. April 18 features Bach’s *Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt*, BWV 112, conducted by Ryan Turner. April 25 presents Bach’s *Bringet dem Herrn Ehre seines Namens*, BWV 148, conducted by Ryan Turner.
May 2 features Bach’s *Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied*, BWV 225, conducted by Ryan Turner. The season concludes on May 9 with Bach’s *Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen*, BWV 43, conducted by Ryan Turner.
Conductors: Ryan Turner conducts most performances. Guest conductors listed for the season are David Chin, Ken-David Masur, and Michael Beattie.
Venue: Emmanuel Church.
Format: The cantatas are performed within the Sunday Eucharist rather than as a separate conventional concert. Emmanuel Music describes the series as a regular presentation of Bach’s cantatas in their original liturgical context.
Livestream: A livestream is provided through the series webpage.
Tickets: Price not available.
Run time: Not specified.
Ages: Not specified.
Accessibility: Not specified.