A Passage Back in Time: Week 2

I apologize for the lateness of this post, but better late than never!

With the completion of our second week of study and exploration, many more incredible memories and experiences were had and shared.  In particular, we capped off our eventful week with a 3-day, 2-night stay in the city of Leipzig, the birthplace and home for many of the great musicians and composers. 

This past week was incredibly special because it was the conclusion of “Bachfest,” a celebration of all things musical relating to Johann Sebastian Bach, as well as the works of many other legendary composers of the Baroque era.  The central area of the city was alive with the passion for the virtuoso composer, with multiple churches and other locations serving as venues to play his and his contemporaries’ works.  On Friday evening in a concert and on Sunday morning during a service, I was able to experience the marvel that was J. S. Bach’s artistic genius.  Both of my experiences took place in St. Thomas Church, where Bach was the cantor from 1723 until his death in 1750.  The organ be used bore the crest of Bach (his initials superimposed onto a mirror image of itself), and was recently renovated with specifications to create the most tonally authentic recreation of what Bach had used.  Also in the church were the remains of J. S. Bach himself, which added to the energy of the performance of his works.  If you closed your eyes and allowed Bach’s tantalizingly rich and complex melodies to wrap around you ears, mind, and then consciousness, you feel as if, while standing in the historic church listening to the true musical essence of an era of our human history, you were there, beside Bach and his masterful artistic expression, and all those other souls of the day that were transported to a better place riding on the touch of one man’s fingers.  I can say it was truly a divine experience to be able to listen to Bach in such a natural form, and the energy from my experience will surely resonate with me for quite some time, just like those souls of the day.