Music at The First Lutheran Church of Boston

The First Lutheran Church of Boston presents its annual concert series, which features world-class performances of sacred works. Much of the music presented is drawn from the rich traditions of the Lutheran church, including the music of Bach and Buxtehude. Our location is among the finest in Boston for hearing such music, featuring rich acoustics and our spectacular Opus 10 Richards, Fowkes & Company mechanical action pipe organ, built in 2000 in a North German Baroque style.

To receive information about upcoming concerts and musical events at The First Lutheran Church, please subscribe to our mailing list, FLC-Concerts. Please contact the church office at 617-536-8851 or flc@flc-boston.org to learn more about our In-Residence program for musicians, our Concert Series, and our Music Outreach Program.

Concert Series 2008-2009

Hymn Festival

Sunday, May 3, 3:00 p.m.

1st Lutheran Hymn Festival will feature favorite hymns of the major Church Feasts. The selections were partly based on the results of congregational voting. Dr. Christopher Boyd Brown will lead devotions on hymn texts, and the FLC choir will be leading the congregtional singing with trumpet and organ accompaniment. If you wish to join the choir, there is a rehearsal at 2 p.m. in the choir loft. Please let your friends know about this event!

Past events:

Labor Day Concert

Monday, September 1, 7:00 p.m.

Root beer floats reception after the concert

Christa Rakich (organ)

Works by Tunder, Scheidemann, Buxtehude and Bach

Gen. Admission $15, Students and Seniors $10

FLC Concert Series 2006-2007

FLC Concert Series 2007-2008

September 28, 5:30 p.m.

Baroque Cantata Series #1

Music of Dieterich Buxtehude

Exsultemus and Balint Karosi at the FLC organ

A new series of Sunday concerts featuring major sacred choral works by great German Lutheran composers, tied to the day’s worship service. Performances feature Exsultemus, Balint Karosi (organ), and various instrumentalists. Role model to J. S. Bach, Dietrich Buxtehude was one of Germany’s most influential composers. Works include Buxtehude’s settings of Te Deum Laudamus BuxWV 218 for solo organ and Cantata Jesu Meine Freude BuxWV 61.

Tickets prices are $25 for general admission, $20 for students and seniors. Discounted subscription packages available at 857-998-0219 or on the web at www.exsultemus.org Discounted parking available for purchase at the door.

Friday, October 24, 8:00 p.m.

Improvisation Concert by Sietze de Vries

Pre-concert talk at 7:00 p.m.

Sietze de Vries is a Dutch Master of organ improvisation well known all over the World. He is back to Boston for an improvisation-only concert exclusively a Firs Lutheran! Don't miss this opportunity to listen to one of the world's best baroque improvisers. Listen to a recording of Sietze's improvisation of a five part fugue on "Ein Feste Burg" from last year's concert.. The theme was given to Sietze right before the improvisation.

Sietze de Vries: Fugue on "Ein Feste Burg"

Gen. Admission $25, Students and Seniors $20

Sunday, October 26, 4:00 p.m.

Reformation Celebration Service

The First Lutheran Church of Boston celebrates the Day of Reformation with a special service featuring FLC Choir and orchestra of period instruments performing special service music: J. S. Bach's Cantata "Gott, der Herr, ist Sonn' und Shild" BWV 79 (God the Lord, is Sun and Shield)

Friday, November 14, 8:00 p.m.

Bach Organ Concert by Balint Karosi

Pre-concert talk at 7:00 p.m.

Balint Karosi is the First Prizewinner of the XVI International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition held in Leipzig, Germany. He will perform organ works by J. S. Bach including the winning competition pieces. At the pre-concert talk Balint will introduce the audience to the world of musical competitions and the organs he played in Germany.

Free Admission

Freewill donations will help the retauration of an ancient organ in the Lutheran Church in Nemesleanyfalu, Hungary. For more info click here.

Wednesdays, December 3-10-17, 8:00 p.m.

Advent Organ Concerts

Short organ concerts following each Wednesday evening Advent worship service (which begin at 7 PM).Each concert features a different organist performing music appropriate to the season.

Wednesday, December 3, 8:00 p.m. Andrus Madsen, Second Church of West Newton

Wednesday, December 10, 8:00 p.m. Daniel Sanez, Basilica of the National Shrine, Washington DC.

Wednesday, December 17 8:00 p.m. Balint Karosi (performing J. S. Bach Canonic Variations Von Himmel Hoch BWV 769)

Free Admission

Sunday, December 7

3:00 p.m.

German Worship Service

5:30 p.m.

Baroque Cantata Series #2

Music of J. S. Bachperformed by Exsultemus and Balint Karosi

Perhaps the most well-known Baroque composer today, Johann Sebastian Bach wrote some of the 18th-century’s most beloved Christmas music. Works include Cantata BWV 61 Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland

Tickets prices are $25 for general admission, $20 for students and seniors.

Saturday, December 13, 8 p.m.

The Oriana Consort presents

MIRACLES OF WINTER

Choral music for Christmas and Hanukkah from the 17th, 18th, and 20th centuries. Suggested donation: $15 (general admission) $10 (students and seniors) http://www.theorianaconsort.org/

Sunday, February 22, 2009 5:30 p.m.

Exsultemus Baroque Series, Concert #3

Music of Heinrich Schütz

An innovative composer, Heinrich Schütz's studies in Italy and dedication to native language forver changed German music. Works include settings from the Kleine geistliche Konzerte and Symphoniae sacrae

Tickets prices are $25 for general admission, $20 for students and seniors.

Boston Bach Birthday 324

at The First Lutheran Church of Boston

Saturday, March 21, 2009; 10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Recitals by members of the American Guild of Organists

German-themed lunch for $10 and child care provided

10:30 Bálint Karosi - for children of all ages, Organ Demonstration and Guy Bovet's multi-media creation Peep the Piper

11:15 Joyce Painter Rice:

Chorale preludes are from the Individually Transmitted Organ Chorales.

Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, Fughetta, manualiter, BWV 699

Gott, durch deine Güte / Gottes Sohn ist kommen, BWV 724

Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her, Fughetta, manualiter, BWV 701

Herzlich tut mich verlangen, à 2 claviers et pédale, BWV 727

Ach Gott und Herr, per canonem, BWV 714

Prelude in b minor, BWV 544/1

Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott, manualiter, BWV 721

O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig, manualiter (prelude and Choral; no BWV number)

Fugue in b minor, BWV 544/2

12:00 Adam Peithmann:

Concerto in G major after Ernst, BWV 592

Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele, à 2 claviers et pédale, BWV 654, from Die Orgelchoräle aus der Leipziger Originalhandschrift

Prelude and Fugue in a minor, BWV 543

12:30 German-themed lunch for $10 (reservations could be made by calling the church office 617-536-8851)

1:30 Lee Ridgway:

Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue in C Major, BWV 564

Von Gott will ich nicht lassen, il canto fermo nel pedale, BWV 658, from DieOrgelchoräle aus der Leipziger Originalhandschrift

Prelude and Fugue in C Major, BWV 547

2:15 Janet Hunt, FAGO:

Chorale Preludes from Clavier Übung, Part III

Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam, à 2 Clav. e Canto fermo in Pedale, BWV 684

Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam, manualiter, BWV 685

Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, à 3, Canto fermo in Alto, BWV 675

Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr, à 2 Clav. et Pedal, BWV 676

Prelude and Fugue in E Minor (“Wedge”), BWV 548

3:00 Sean Redrow:

Fantasia and Fugue in g minor, BWV 542

Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, à 2 claviers et pédale, BWV 659, from Die Orgelchoräle aus der Leipziger Originalhandschrift

Passacaglia in c minor, BWV 582

3:45 Heinrich Christensen:

from Klavier Übung, Part III:

Praeludium pro Organo pleno, in E-Flat Major, BWV 552, 1

Manualiter Chorale Preludes

Kyrie, Gott Vater in Ewigkeit, BWV 672

Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr, Fughetta, BWV 677

Dies sind die heil'gen zehn Gebot, Fughetta, BWV 679

Wir glauben all' an einen Gott, Fughetta, BWV 681

Vater unser im Himmelreich, BWV 683

Duetto III, in G Major, BWV 804

Duetto IV, in a minor, BWV 805

Fuga a 5 con pedale pro Organo pleno, in E Flat Major, BWV 552, 2

4:30 Bálint Karosi – a 2nd performance of Guy Bovet's Peep the Piper

5:00 Bálint Karosi – Bach Organ “Fireworks”

Prelude and Fugue in C Major, BWV 531

Trio Sonata No. 3, in d minor: Andante, BWV 527/1

Toccata and Fugue in d minor, BWV 565

Exsultemus Baroque Series, Concert #4

Sunday, April 5, 5:30 p.m.

A Telemann Passion for Palm Sunday Often described as the most prolific composer in history, Telemann wrote over 40 Passion settings. Seldom performed today, this colorful work offers a new perspective on the Easter story.Tickets prices are $25 for general admission, $20 for students and seniors.

The Oriana Consort

Friday, April 3, 8 p.m.

Features works by Arvo Pärt, Yehezkel Braun and J. S. Bach's Cantata BWV 4, Christ lag in Todesbanden performed with an ensemble of period instruments.