The majestic Cantata No. 4, Christ lag in Todesbanden (Christ lay in the bonds of death) by Johann Sebastian Bach, will be presented by The Seminary Choir, soloists, and chamber ensemble on Friday, April 28, at 10:00 a.m., in Caldwell Chapel at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. The cantata will be sung as part of the regular Friday morning service, with the Rev. Dr. David Sawyer preaching and presiding at communion. Sawyer is Director of Lifelong Learning and Advanced Degrees at the Seminary, and is also Associate Professor of Ministry.

"The cantata is being presented as part of the Seminary's regular music and worship program to give us a taste of the rich musical repertoire of the consummate church musician of the eighteenth century, J. S. Bach. Performing the cantata within the context of a Eucharistic service reveals to us the way in which this music was first practiced; music being used in worship to further illuminate scripture and Christian theology." said Dr. Thomas Goetz, who directs The Seminary Choir.

The program also will include a new English translation from the German by Dr. Johanna Van Wijk Bos, Dora Pierce Professor of Bible and Professor of Old Testament. Her translation expresses the profound meaning and depth of the original German, preserving a fervent and powerful text rich in imagery.

Regarding this great Easter Cantata, Albert Schweitzer said, "For Easter Bach wrote the chorale cantata Christ lag in Todesbanden, the consummate expressiveness of which has always been marveled at. Each verse is as if chiseled in music."

The music is under the direction of Goetz, who also serves as Adjunct Professor of Music at Louisville Seminary. Soloists are Adele Crawford, soprano; Richard Blanton, tenor; and Michael Lancaster, bass. The Seminary Choir is comprised of faculty, students, and employees of the Seminary and members of the Louisville community.

The public is cordially invited to attend this musical worship service. Louisville Seminary is located at 1044 Alta Vista Road.