Concerts to be given to commemorate the 268th anniversray of the death of Johann Sebastian Bach

This Saturday marks the 268th anniversary of the death of German composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) and, to commemorate this, one of the last pieces he ever wrote, “The Musical Offering” is being performed twice, once at 8pm at the Reformed church on Alpenstrasse in the city that day, and secondly at the Catholic Pfarrkirche in Walchwil on Sunday, also at 8pm.

It seems Bach was encouraged to write this piece (BWV 1079) by King Friedrich II of Prussia (1712-1786), for whom the composer’s son, Carl Philip Emanuel Bach, was court musician at Potsdam. Friedrich II, also known as Friedrich the Great, was himself a composer, having written the Hohenfriedberger March, which was used years later by director Stanley Kubrick as theme music in the film Barry Lyndon.

Performers at the concert include Daniela Hürlimann on flute, Sophie Jeanmaire on violin, Uta Haferland on bass viola and Hans-Jürgen Studer on cembalo; the latter will also give a talk about the work beforehand.

There is no charge for admission to either concert though there will be a collection.