Written in Mühlhausen when Bach was only 22 years old, Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit is one of his greatest masterpieces. Also known as Actus tragicus, the cantata was composed for a funeral service, likely the funeral of a mayor of Mühlhausen in September 1708. It will be performed one voice per part, accompanied by an orchestra made up of Baroque instruments. There is perhaps no better cantata to mark All Saints Day on November 1. 

3:00 p.m. Cantata Preview Lecture 
Mark P. Bangert, Lutheran School of Theology at  Chicago

3:45 p.m. Bach Cantata Vespers 
Live streamed on the Bach Cantata Vespers YouTube page: https://youtu.be/1f1gbgv64eU

Prelude: 
Timothy Spelbring, organ
J. S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 550
and
Craig Trompeter and Anna Steinhoff, Violas da gamba
Michael D. Costello, harpsichord
Marin Marais: Prelude and Chaconne from Suite in G Major (from Pieces de violes, Book 1)

L. George Detweiler, Norristown, Pennsylvania,  homilist 

Kirsten Hedegaard, soprano 
Amy Anderson de Jong, mezzo soprano 
Ryan Townsend Strand, tenor 
Douglas Anderson, baritone
Bach Cantata Vespers Orchestra 
Grace Cantor Michael D. Costello, conducting