Study Day: Father, Sons and Holy Ghost

Dr Simon Heighes writer and broadcaster
Dr Warwick Cole harpsichordist and cellist

10.30am-1pm & 2pm-4.30pm

Bach experts Simon Heighes and Warwick Cole will unwrap Bach from both ends: contrasting 18th-century and modern-day perspectives to bring us closer to the composer and his music.

The day starts with a presentation which would have shocked our grandparents – a sequence of rare archival recordings which reveal just how much the performance of Bach’s music has changed over the last 100 years.

Then it’s back to the 18th century as Warwick Cole takes a closer look at how Bach’s keyboard music was performed during the composer’s lifetime – with live illustrations and plenty of tips for today’s performers.

After lunch, we will consider Bach’s creative process in his Passions and ask whether these iconic works really are as ‘holy’ and untouchable as they seem: Simon Heighes has reconstructed Bach’s fragmentary St Mark Passion BWV247 – sacrilege or conservation? – we’ll have a listen.

Finally, Simon and Warwick will champion their favourite Bach sons to see which of the four fulfilled their early promise most convincingly and carried forward their father’s legacy.