Bach Akademie Australia is delighted to present In the Steps of Bach – The Road to Lübeck, a musical journey of self-discovery and inspiration at St James’ Church, King Street on Friday September 20th.

Featuring three of Australia’s finest musicians, organist Marko Sever, Bass Baritone Andrew O’Connor, and Countertenor Russell Harcourt, Bach Akademie Australia will take audiences on the young Bach’s 400-kilometre expedition from Arnstadt to Lübeck, in pursuit of his idol, Buxtehude.

It was the autumn of 1705. A young 20-year-old Bach began a journey on foot of almost 400 kilometres from Arnstadt in the heart of Germany, to Lübeck near the Baltic coast. 

Who would undertake such a gruelling expedition? Only one such as J.S. Bach, whose desire to study the art and craft of the famous organist Dietrich Buxtehude, drove him to complete a journey most would baulk at – such was his desire to learn from his idol and better himself as a musician. 

Opening the program is J.S Bach’s older cousin, Johann Christoph Bach’s magnificent Chorale zum praeludium ‘Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott’. A mixture of works by the great Baroque masters follow, including Pachelbel’s Chaconne in F minor for organ and Bach’s “mighty musical pillar” (The Listener’s Club) and symbol of the Holy Trinity, his Prelude and Fugue in E flat major BWV 552, all performed on the organ.

The St James’ performance marks one of the first concerts featuring the Church’s brand-new pipe organ following its installation earlier this year as part of St James’ 200th Anniversary celebrations.