St. Andrew’s Bach Society is celebrating its namesake composer on Sunday, July 31.
Special guests for the afternoon include Phoenix-based/Tucson-beloved organist Guy Whatley, the Bach Society chamber orchestra, soprano Megan Chartrand and a chamber choir led by Eric Holtan.
And they will perform an all-Bach program that includes the Concerto for Violin in E with Bach Society artistic director/violinist Ben Nisbet soloing and the Kyrie from Bach’s G Major Mass; and other works that define the genius of Johann Sebastian Bach.
Behind all that genius are a few fun facts that defined the man and his music.
- Daddy of all daddies: Bach fathered 20 kids with two wives over the years from his 24th to his 57th birthdays — between 1708 and 1742. Ten of those off-spring lived to adulthood; four sons, including C.P.E. Bach, followed dad and became famous composers.
- Rocking Hollywood: Bach’s somewhat haunting organ piece the Toccata and Fugue in D minor has made its way into at least 23 movies including the 1957 horror flick “The Unearthly” and Martin Scorsese’s 2004 Howard Hughes biopic “The Aviator.”
- Rocking the jukebox: Whether by design or deception, Bach has been mashed into pop songs from the Beach Boys (“Lady Lynda” mashed with “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring”) to Welch singer-producer Jem (“They,” taking its lead from Prelude No. 12 in F minor).
Sunday’s concert starts at 2 p.m. at Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2331 E. Adams St. Tickets are $12, $6 for students at the door or at standrewsbach.org Details: 808-2122.
