About Us

The mission of the Bach Concert Series (BCS) at Christ Lutheran Church at the Inner Harbor is to perform, free to the public, the choral works of Johann Sebastian Bach, and to educate the concert-going public about the musical language of Bach and the texts he chose to set to music. Concerts are given as intended by Bach, with professional, orchestral accompaniment, accomplished Baroque soloists, and choir.

The Bach Concert Series presents eight free concerts each year and one concert requiring an admission charge to support our operational budget. Each program features a work of Bach, and one or two additional pieces by other composers on a related theme. Concerts begin with an illustrated lecture of the musical language of Bach by Maestro Dimmock, and also feature a guest speaker who explores the meaning of the text. Thus audiences learn that the music, so lovely to listen to, is truly a multi-dimensional work of art that communicates on several levels. Audiences participate in the concert by joining in the singing of a closing hymn that furthers the theme set forth by Bach in his music.

Maestro Dimmock begins each concert with an illustrated introduction to the musical language that Bach uses in the piece about to be performed. Bach's music is full of symbolism, including music meant to sound like what words mean ("word painting"), and music intended to make the listener feel particular emotions (the "Doctrine of Affections"). Bach also uses music to make commentaries on the texts that he is setting.

Each concert also features a speaker who presents a brief lecture on an historical, theological, or musical aspect of the life and music of J.S. Bach.