Friday, January 25, 2013

Confirmed Concert Venue: Thomaskirche, Leipzig

The St. Thomas Church, located near the center of the German city of Leipzig, has become famous because it is the final resting place of Johann Sebastian Bach. The German composer, organist, violist and violinist lived from 1685 to 1750, during the Baroque period.

While the foundations of the church date back to 1160, the altar sanctuary was rebuilt in 1355, changing it from a Romanesque to a Gothic style. The Romanesque nave was torn down in 1482 and replaced with a late-Gothic church hall, which still exists today. The steeple was completed much later, in 1702. With the exception of the steeple, the architectural style of the St. Thomas Church has not chaged since the end of the 15th Century. 
 
For the past 800 years, the Thomaskirche has also been the home of the St. Thomas Boys Choir. The most famous St. Thomas Cantor was Johann Sebastian Bach himself.

The year 2000 marked the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Bach's death. It was at this time that the church received the new Bach Organ. 

Choirs visit the St. Thomas Church from around the world, because for many it is a special experience to sing in front of Bach's grave. On Sunday, March 3, 2013, the Bellarmine University Schola Cantorum has been granted permission to give a 20 Minute a capella recital from the steps of the altar room and in front of Bach's tomb.

 

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