Stations of the Cross – Bach’s ‘The Well Tempered Clavier’

Wednesday, March 29th 
7pm – 8pm
St. Anne Church

Bach, as all Baroque composers, attempted to express a single emotion with each piece. The Well-Tempered Clavier is a collection in two books of 96 different pieces, four in each key. It was frankly revolutionary for its time, and is still revered by pianists, organists, and composers. With so many opportunities to give musical garb to emotion, there is a lot to choose from.

The idea of doing a Stations of the Cross with Bach’s music acting as the commentary came from the famous fugue in C# minor from the first book. Tradition has it that the theme is in the shape of a cross and so it is often played on Good Friday. It is also one of the most emotional pieces of music I know, while simultaneously being one of the most intellectual. It wasn’t hard to go through the books and find other pieces suitable for the other stations.

The result is more of a concert than a traditional stations, but for this pianist it is a work of devotion and prayer. Your listening is your participation in the prayer.

Charles Hiestand