Name: Bach Cantata BWV 125 for the Feast of the Purification
Start: 2026-02-01T17:00:00-05:00
Location: Christ Church Episcopal Chattanooga

Bach Cantata BWV 125 for the Feast of the Purification

The Chattanooga Bach Choir & Orchestra, David Long artistic director and conductor continues their Bach Cantata series featuring Cantata BWV 125 Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin (In peace and joy I now depart). The performance takes place twice: on Sunday, February 1 at 5 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 663 Douglas Street in Chattanooga. Tickets are $25; Students with ID are $5 and can be purchased at the door or in advance at: www.chattanoogabachchoir.org/.
David Long, comments, “With these Cantata concerts, the Bach Choir celebrates Bach’s many years as Thomaskantor, director of church music at the Thomas Church, in the city of Leipzig, where he was responsible for composing a Cantata for each Sunday of the Liturgical year. Cantata BWV 125 was written to celebrate the Feast of the Purification of Mary, also known as Candlemas, on February 2nd. Based on Martin Luther’s 1524 hymn, Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin, the Cantata opens with an expressive chorale fantasia for the chorus and continues with an aria for solo alto and duet for tenor and bass solos, concluding with a joyfully uplifting four-part setting of the hymn tune. The accompanying Baroque instrumental ensemble includes strings, horn, flute, oboe, oboe d’amore, and continuo.”
“We are pleased to present these concerts featuring one of Bach’s over 200 sacred Cantatas for chorus, soloists and instruments, performed on or close to the specific liturgical day for which they were written. We hope these performances of Bach’s inspiring music will provide Chattanooga music lovers with an hour of beauty and respite in their busy lives.”