Music at Historic Trinity
Just Bach, a Madison-based ensemble, gave their first performance in Milwaukee at TrinitY cHURCH
on Sunday, July 30, 2023 ~ 7:00 PM.
On Sunday we at Trinity, were treated to a delightful evening of the music of Bach and Buxtehude. Music at Historic Trinity hosted “Just Bach”…a group from Madison whose concert on Sunday was their first in the Milwaukee area. The nine musicians included 4 singers -soprano, alto, tenor, and bass- 2 violinists, a violist, a cellist, and a harpsichordist.
They are known for performing their music with instruments representative of the instruments Johann Sebastian Bach would have used. The music is thus more authentic, more true, to the style Bach would have intended. The concert is available on Trinity’s YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/live/thw-q9c9aew?feature=share
Since 2015, “Music at Historic Trinity” has sponsored concerts, recitals, special worship services, and an annual Workshop for Church Musicians. The mission statement is: “Music at Historic Trinity offers resources and opportunities to present and enjoy God’s gift of music in honor of the legacy of Trinity’s magnificent 1878 sanctuary and to the glory of God.” Since the devastating fire at Trinity in May of 2018, sister churches have graciously hosted events. Concerts and recitals sponsored by “Music at Historic Trinity” have featured the String Academy of Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Handbell Ensemble, John Behnke in organ recitals, and the Milwaukee Children’s Choir. “Music at Historic Trinity” has also sponsored an annual Epiphany Choral Vesper service which includes a combined choir from sister churches. Especially memorable is the Choral Vespers celebrating the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation/170th Anniversary of Trinity on October 22, 2017, which featured organ, piano, trumpet, and a choir of nearly 200 singers from a large number of sister churches. “Music at Historic Trinity” has also sponsored an annual “Workshop for Church Musicians,” featuring clinicians who share their expertise with participants in the areas of Choral, Handbell, and Organ music for the church. In 2020, in an abundance of caution over the spread of COVID-19, the “Music at Historic Trinity” committee decided to hold the annual workshop virtually. Three videos (Choral, Organ/Piano, and Handbell) were prepared that featured clinician and host John Behnke sharing musical recordings and demonstrations, interviews with composers, and strategies and techniques for making music safely under circumstances in which church musicians find themselves, such as having smaller choirs and fewer handbell ringers. Registrants were provided access to the three videos and, as a culmination of the workshop, an invitation to a live Zoom session during which participants could ask questions and talk with the composers and fellow directors. In addition to presenting and enjoying God’s gift of music in several ways, through registration fees and offerings, “Music at Historic Trinity” contributes funds to the church.
