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Bach in town

Bach in town

Lovers of Johann Sebastian Bach’s music are in for a treat in July, as the Melbourne Bach Forum hits town.

The forum will run from July 25 to July 27.

The highlight for Southbank locals is the “Bach Studies in Australia” lecture on July 26 at St Johns Southgate.

St Johns’ director of music, Graham Lieschke, will run the lecture.

St Johns is the only Lutheran church in Australia with an ongoing Bach cantata program.

The lecture begins at 1pm.

In more good news for St Johns’ music department, it acquired a new harpsichord last month. The harpsichord was built by Alastair McAllister in 2009 and is full concert-sized with two keyboards and three sets of strings.

Mr Lieschke said Bach probably used a harpsichord in his cantatas.

“The main keyboard instrument in the cantatas was undoubtedly the organ. However, there is a lot of evidence that Bach also used a harpsichord as well, often with the organ,” Mr Lieschke explained.

“There is a letter where Bach asks for a church harpsichord to be repaired before an important service.”

For more information on the Melbourne Bach Forum, head to
www.melbournebachforum.com

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