The Colorado Bach Ensemble launches its second season, presenting J.S. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion in Fort Collins and Denver. Says Artistic Director, James Kim, “This is a huge undertaking with a double chorus, a double orchestra, a children’s chorus, and six soloists. Many of my colleagues would agree that this is one of the most influential masterpieces in western music.”
Dann Coakwell, one of the premier tenors specializing in Bach’s music will sing the role of the Evangelist. Coakwell has been praised by The New York Times as a “clear-voiced and eloquent … vivid storyteller.” Joining Mr. Coakwell will be two favorites from last season’s performance of the Mass in B Minor: Eric Jurenas, Countertenor and Paul Max Tipton, Tenor. Also featured will be exceptional soloists Clara Rottsalk, Soprano; Stephen Soph, Tenor; and, David Kim, Baritone.

For our second season, we will build on the established expectations to bring world-class performances to this region,” says Dr. Kim. “We also believe strongly in offering our music with affordable ticket prices so that cost is not a barrier to this beautiful art form – an art that I consider a necessity, not a luxury.”

It is finally December, the last month of the year. For those liturgical friends, the Advent season has commenced; which means that you will be extremely busy planning/executing special services and programs throughout the entire month. It is also the time for shopping, travel, family get-togethers, Nutcrackers, and numerous holiday concerts.

Handel’s Messiah has been one of the most popular and celebrated works in the Christmas season. There will be hundreds of performances throughout the country, and there are multiple performances with other arts organizations and churches regionally.

Do we need another Messiah? What is unique about this particular performance? The strength of CBE’s rendition is that the chorus and the orchestra are a combination of truly remarkable individual musicians, and it remains as “chamber music”. There are only 24 singers in the chorus comprising of the singers, which include some of the best musicians within the state and some others who will be traveling from other parts of the country to be part of this production. They will join us from Texas, Ohio, Florida, California, and Wyoming.

The orchestra is also absolutely a top-notch ensemble. There are several players who will be joining us for the first time including several players from the Colorado Symphony; Monica Hanulik (2nd oboe), Judith McIntyre (3rd Chair cello), Paul Primus (2nd Principal violin), Mary Cowell (3rd Chair viola), and Tena White.

There are so many different ways to perform this magnificent masterpiece, but this will be a rare opportunity to hear the complete work (all 53 movements!) with a combination of world-class soloists, chorus and orchestra in a chamber setting.

Tickets are going fast! I encourage you to visit our website and purchase tickets in advance for either Fort Collins or Denver concert.

Join us!
Celebrate this holiday season with your entire family and friends with the Colorado Bach Ensemble!

Colorado Bach Ensemble organized and presented a benefit concert for the victims of the Aurora shooting on July 20. The concert was held at Our Lady of Loreto on Sunday, September 30. The Aurora City Mayor, Steven Hogan spoke eloquently, and the musicians performed so warmly of the program which included Gabriel Faure’s Requiem, Ubi Caritas by Maurice Duruflé, and the Geistliches Lied, op. 30 by Johaness Brahms. We raised $1,750 and the funds have been deposited into City’s holding account, and it will be disbursed to the victims and their families accordingly by the City of Aurora. It was a beautiful concert in a perfect setting. It was an honor to make music with talented and dedicated musicians who believe in serving the community with what we do best; by making music! As one of my colleagues expressed so eloquently, “Sometimes music says what is to be said, in a more profound way than words can”.

I am extremely pleased to present our first Messiah performances with such an outstanding group of soloists, chorus and instrumentalists. Please check out Andrew Garland’s youtube excerpt of singing “The trumpet shall sound” in a rehearsal with the Boston Baroque from 2011. I knew from 2001 (as he sang in my doctoral recital at the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati) that someday, he would have an international career.

Another soloist, Randall Umstead who now teaches at Baylor University sang in my church choir as the tenor section leader while I was working on a doctorate in Cincinnati. We were starving music students back then and did what we could do make it through…Who would’ve thought that we would perform together almost 11 years later as professionals?

Other soloists, Mireille Asselin and Megan Marino are just as outstanding. Ms. Asselin will travel from Toronto where she resident as a member of the prestigious Canadian Opera Company (Mireille’s Website). Megan Marino, the mezzo soloist, attended CU-Boulder for her graduate work. She is now based in Philadelphia (Megan’s Website).
The venues we will have our performances are the two leading Methodist churches in the region. First United Methodist Church Fort Collins is where I served and attended for the past five years as the Director of Music. Trinity United Methodist Church, built in 1888, is a beautiful historic landmark in Denver.

Ticket sales have begun via online http://www.coloradobachensemble.org/handels-messiah-2/, and they are selling! This is probably the most affordable concert you will ever find for the quality of music and the musicians. One of our soloists will be singing the Messiah with the St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in New York City early December for $95 ticket price! I can’t wait to hear these singers myself and hope to see you in December.

James

We’re readying for our next performances. We’ll be performing the Messiah on December 21 and 22 in Fort Collins and Denver (click here, for tickets), and it seems fitting to say “thank you.”

The CBE and I feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to present our inaugural season concerts about two months ago with the B minor Mass by Bach. I say that with sincere gratitude since the concerts were put together within only 6 months since we started.

As I shared my vision for the organization with other conductors who were also foolish enough to do what I’ve done, I noticed that it usually takes longer than a full year to plan and organize for any kind of inaugural concert, let alone a full-blown concert with a masterwork such as the B minor Mass. We could’ve waited a year; to strategize, apply for a non-profit status, secure enough funding and patrons, etc. I didn’t want to wait. I wanted to put an artistic product out there so people can see/hear what is possible. I’d never worked with many of the chorus members in the B minor – but I was so pleasantly surprised to find the number of strong musicians who can sing and play Bach!

The audience was extremely appreciative, and I’ve received so many compliments and kudos from many, especially from the musicians who participated in the concert. As a conductor, those are the biggest compliments.

If you are interested, please check out the review posted on OpusColorado by Robin McNeil.
http://opuscolorado.com/2012/06/30/an-electrifying-mass-in-b-minor-by-j-s-bach-and-the-new-colorado-bach-ensemble-conducted-by-james-kim/

Thanks to all the patrons for believing in the vision and the passion I shared personally. Thanks to all the friends who worked tirelessly around the clock, especially the Board which functioned as volunteer staff in addition to all the organizational responsibility; as the marketing director, chorus contractor, treasurer to mention few.

We now have a strong foundation to build upon. We’ve established a standard; a bar which will continue to be elevated and surpassed by us. Please check out our website as we update with our upcoming concerts: the Messiah on December 21/22, and our first free, lectured Chamber Concert on January 18. We’re excited to bring the St. Matthew Passion to Colorado in June 2013! It is a full season now!

As we continue to grow in scope and quality, I ask you to continue spreading the word, visit our website/Facebook page, join (if you haven’t already done so), and most important, come to our concerts.

I plan to give more frequent updates as we begin to offer more concerts and events throughout the year.

Until next time,

James Kim, Founding Artistic Director

About a year ago, an extraordinarily generous patron approached me, asking if I’d be willing to take on a project performing a work by one of his favorite composers: The Last Seven Words by Haydn. I suggested that we do it as a professional project as I couldn’t fit any regular rehearsal schedule into the school year. In fact, that remarkable patron underwrote the entire project. From that experience, I learned what is possible.

Not long after, I connected with a like-minded mad man, David Pyle, who was crazy enough to buy into the idea of creating a professional ensemble that would perform the greatest works we knew at the very highest level. We mapped out a strategy and it looked overwhelming. That was little more than 6 months ago and we took it step by step – creating a board, identifying our ‘wish list’ of musicians, and selecting venues. Along the way, Dr. Howard Skinner, Cynthia Vaughn, Lee Cord joined with us in forming a (hard-working!) board of directors.

Creating The Colorado Bach Ensemble has been overwhelming, exhausting, and exhilarating. We are building something special – something that never existed before. It’s like moving a mountain. But it can’t be done alone.

We are deeply grateful for the support we’ve received from all of you. That exceptional patron from last year, Dr. Don Park, has stepped up as our season sponsor. And, more sponsors and donors have added their resources to make this possible. Thank you to all!

It is my great privilege to send this eNewsletter with sky-high excitement and anticipation for our inaugural season performances with one of the greatest masterworks in the history of entire western music: the B minor Mass by Johann Sebastian Bach. Please continue to spread the word to your group of friends and colleagues, encouraging them to “check us out” via our website and Facebook page. Most important, come hear this magnificent work that was given to humankind. Our dream has become a reality!

Warmly,
James Kim

Bach finds resurrection celebratory and composes one of the most exhilarating movements in the B minor. But, it is not the central movement in his Credo. What is? The Crucifixion.

Here is the structure for the Credo in the B minor.

Movement #1; Credo (chorus with cantus firmus)
Movement #2: Patrem omnipotentem (chorus)

Movement #3: et in unum (duet aria)

Movement #4: et incarnatus est (chorus)
Movement #5: Crucifixus (chorus)
Movement #6: et resurrexit (chorus)

Movement #7: et in Spiritum Sanctum (solo aria)

Movement #8: Confiteor (chorus with cantus firmus)
Movement #9: et Expecto (chorus)

As one can see, the entire Credo is framed by two outer choral movements with each starting with cantus firmus(fixed Gregorian Chant melody). Then, he adds an aria on both ends: a duet and a solo. Movements #4-6 are the middle movements with the Crucifixus (#5) as the most central piece in the 9-movement structure. It is also in passacaglia form with repeated pattern in the bass-line.

Crucifixion: Jesus came down from Heaven to become a human being, crucified, and the resurrected. It seems pretty obvious, at least to me, that Bach considers the Crucifixion as the most important event in Christian theology.

What is the message? Christianity.. Is it about the crucifixion? The Suffering? We don’t seem to celebrate(?) that part of Christian calendar as much as we celebrate the Birth and the Ressurection.

Bach delivers the message again through the structure in his Credo. The Cross starts with “et incarnatus est” (God became a human being). In that particular movement, he chooses to put Cross Motiv in the string section with descending vocal lines implying the the incarnation. God came down to take the cross…

Easter is a wonderful holiday. Spring is in the air. A new beginning. People come home to celebrate with the family. My own children look forward to the Easter egg hunt although we missed one this year.

Yet, Bach reminds us: without “Crucifixus”, there would be no “et Resurrexit tertia die”..

God came down in humility, fully aware of the Cross..

Crucifixus.. Et Resurrexit tertia die.

Now, the roster for the choir and the orchestra are complete.  I insisted that we have a preliminary string-principal meeting with Ken Mervine who’s agreed to play the continuo, prior to our first full orchestra rehearsal.  We finally confirmed to meet with 5 principals and Ken on May 9.  Absolutely necessary!   As I’m preparing the scores with my own markings, I realize more and more how massive this is..  I thought I would be able to finish marking the scores by April 1..   How foolish!    My computer says it is now 2:33am, April 3.   Finally done.

Helmuth Rilling emphasizes memorizing the music.  He would say, ‘..it is worthwhile..’   I agree.  My favorite German word; auswendiglernen; to learn by heart!  not just memorizing.   I must learn BY HEART.  So, the music comes from the HEART.   Is there any other way?   I think not.   Yes, it is worthwhile.

Yesterday, I secured two additional donors with some significant amounts.   Still long way to go though, especially with St. Matthew.

The two venues for the Messiah in December are almost confirmed.

This must go on.

Checked-in and waiting to board at the Stuttgart airport on my flight to Denver via Frankfurt.  Sitting here exhausted and spent. Don’t know why. Didn’t sing nor conducted any during the last two weeks.  All that walking, intense German, salty (VERY salty!) food must’ve gotten to me.

Got some wonderful ideas about a summer festival and a Bachakademie in Colorado. A Summer Bach festival in Colorado!: Colorado would be great for that!  with German Lieder,  Chamber music, cantatas, the passions, etc. Wouldn’t that be nice? Stay hungry, stay foolish; A great visionary preached.

Last night was a culminating performance of the B minor Mass at the beautiful Markuskirke. It was overwhelming to see one of our students from CSU participating in this amazing work with a world-renowned conductor in a beautiful church in Stuttgart, Germany. I am so proud of you, Gene Stenger. This was meant to be.

The concert continued without an intermission; only a brief pause and another tuning before Credo. Nobody moved during that short pause. Everyone attending seemed to be meditating. I soon realized that people in the audience were truly appreciating the music, not the performance. The music became real for them; meditating on the text and how Bach proclaims through his music.

Can’t believe how beautiful this music is! Heavenly! It rattled my soul during the entire performance, and I was completely disappointed to learn that I am indeed living on the earth after the performance. Soon after…I realized “I GET TO DO THIS FEW MONTHS LATER”! Lots and lots of preparation, and MORE preparation I must do. But it will be totally worth it, and I can’t wait to experience it with everyone involved in Colorado.

Also very nice to meet and get to know Anne-Kathryn Olsen (one of our soprano soloists) during this time. I had an opportunity to interview this beautiful young lady with a wonderful voice and a very interesting background. We plan to feature her in our first eNewsletter.

I am ready to go back now. A journey to Stuttgart is ending, but another journey awaits me as I return home to face the challenges. Bring it on!

I am hungry, I am foolish…

March 21, 2012: Bach’s 372th birthday. I received a gift from Ingo Goritzki on Bach’s behalf a copy of the B minor Mass full score with Rilling’s markings.

As I compared my own markings with his, I realized how much I’ve changed. Both Katy Olsen and Gene Stenger (they are singing with Rilling and will be performing with me in June) will notice the difference first-hand. Nevertheless, it is wonderful to see what he does, and more importantly, WHY he does what he does. It gives me more clear understanding of what I want to do.

So far, there have been three lecture concerts. Through these lecture concerts and discussions, it has become much more evident and obvious that one must understand Bach as a theologian as much as a counterpoint genius, if not more. The architecture, voicing layers/textures, tonal centers, motives, instrumental/word painting, and melodic contour are based on his personal theological affirmation. It is as if he’s giving a sermon through his music: to be humble, to be joyful, to celebrate life and the resurrection, to make peace: just like Jesus who came to this earth to take up the cross, be crucified and to resurrect. It is for ALL.

One of the goals for CBE should be to offer affordable world-class concerts for everyone. Another mission is to provide performing opportunities for the young-emerging artists in the
country. It was nice to chat with James Taylor from Yale ISM yesterday. We need more programs like that and must provide more performing venues for the young singers and players who are
passionate about the music of Bach.

While I’m here, our team has been working around the clock: to finalize the contract, upload the ticketing links, finalize the roster, gather names of potential donors for direct mailings, create marketing materials, and much more… So much work…

Why? We all believe that we are creating something special, and it is becoming more REAL by each day.

Overwhelmed with the amount of work, I’m questioning EVERYDAY whether this is worth it..

Bach, the theologian, challenges me and DOES make me a better human being. We NEED it. I NEED it.

Founding an organization requires so much energy and efforts by many, needless to say. I had thought that funding was the most difficult part in establishing an organization but am beginning to realize more and more it is the clearly defined vision and continued passion are the most important.

The process for this organization has been organic….My former students graciously participated in NCCO by paying their own airfare to be part of something special.  They are also  literally volunteering  to be part of our inaugural season concert with the B minor, along with many others from within the state.  I do not know how to express my gratitude for those who are out there.  I will make it up to y’all…     A number of  players immediately jumped on board as soon as I mentioned ‘Bach’ in my phone call or email.  It’s like being back at a graduate school again.  ’Hey, you wanna do some Bach? ‘   ‘Sure! I’d love to… Let me check my schedule…what are you doing?’. Didn’t have money to pay them, but took them out to dinner after the concert though. Everyone simply wanted to do good music with good people. Listening to my graduate recital of BWV 147 which was done almost exactly 10 years ago, I still get goosebumps: not because the performance was impeccable although it was dang close!   There was youthful exuberance and sheer joy of making wonderful music.  It is the same emotion I get when listening to the live-recording of Friede auf Erden by CSU Chamber Choir from 2006. Not a perfect performance, but perfect regardless…Everybody who sang in that performance , I’m sure, remembers the moment.  Probably don’t remember what they sang before or after although it was preceded by Debussy’s Trois Chansons and followed by William Walton’s Cantico del Sole.

Part of the Mission of the CBE says. “… Highest artistic standards..”  What does that mean? Precision? perfection? transparency?  Informed-performance practice?  All of the above?

It is important part of what we do.  Far more importantly though, the music has to speak to us. Music has to speak to ME..  personal, subjective…

Music allows us to find that “thin place”, which cannot be found anywhere else: the place where we can be connected with Someone greater, superior, and far beyond our imagination.   Bach does it better than anyone else.   This music lets us experience something that is not part of this world.   When discussing a possibility of establishing a Bachakademie in Colorado, I learned that one integral component would be Theology. Of course, why wouldn’t it be?  It was the most fundamental-underlying  foundation in Bach’s music.  It cannot be separated from Bach as a person and as a musician.

How much subjectivity must we have or can we express when we live in a society where ‘everything for all’ sentiment is so dominant, and when we are being asked to be ‘politically-correct’?

Our Heart should dominate our Brain…Emotion over Logic…..Like Monteverdi making his case 400 years ago.

Helmuth Rilling is one of a kind: whether you are a fan of his Bach or not, he did what HE believed and stuck by it. He made Bach exciting and accessible to many, and no one can take that away.   An amazing era is about  to end soon.
By coming back here, I am now solidifying more and more of my own. Most importantly, it has to be me. I must express what I believe.  It CANNOT be someone else’s. This will continue to evolve, I’m sure…But I feel that concept is getting much clearer and more concrete than ever.

Its truly wondergul to have time: time to walk around, to write, and time to think, think and think…
THIS is a luxury I haven’t had for a long time. Good timing…..