This November, Seraphic Fire presents one of the most revered and demanding works in all of choral music, the complete cycle of Bach’s six motets. Under the direction of Patrick Dupre Quigley, and joined by the Seraphic Fire Period Orchestra, audiences across South Florida will experience a rare musical journey through works that define both the ensemble’s sound and Bach’s enduring legacy.
For Seraphic Fire, these motets are more than masterpieces. They are part of the ensemble’s DNA, shaping its approach to Bach and refining its artistry for more than two decades. This will be only the third time in 23 years that Seraphic Fire has performed the entire set in one concert, making it a landmark event for audiences in Naples, Coral Gables, Ft. Lauderdale, and Boca Raton.
Bach’s Voice, Alive and Personal
The motets are among Bach’s most complex works, filled with emotional contrasts that range from joyful celebration to meditative reflection. They demand extraordinary skill and unity from every performer, yet they offer moments of breathtaking beauty and profound intimacy.
Each time Seraphic Fire returns to these works, fresh artistic choices emerge. The ensemble reimagines which lines belong to solo voices or to the full choir, how strings or keyboard continuo should color the texture, and how singers can best communicate the rich and intricate German texts. This living flexibility ensures that each performance remains fresh, personal, and deeply moving.
Artistic Director Patrick Dupre Quigley described listening to these motets as “a compendium of everything that makes Bach endlessly fascinating.” Their contrapuntal brilliance, rhetorical clarity, and variety of style make them both spiritual offerings and technical showcases, stretching performers while captivating listeners.
A Journey Through Sound and Spirit
Though Bach did not conceive these works as a single set, together they create a compelling emotional and musical arc. Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 225, bursts with jubilant energy, its antiphonal exchanges a thrilling celebration of praise. Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227, the longest and most intricate, unfolds as a profound meditation alternating between scripture and chorales. Komm, Jesu, komm, BWV 229, reflects on mortality not as despair but as hope and peace.
The other motets, Der Geist hilft unsrer Schwachheit auf, BWV 226, Fürchte dich nicht, ich bin bei dir, BWV 228, and Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden, BWV 230, reveal Bach’s mastery in balancing emotional resonance with structural precision. When performed together, they showcase the full breadth of his genius and his ability to unite intellect and heart through sound.
A Tribute and a Tradition
For Seraphic Fire, the motets represent both continuity and renewal. Each performance connects today’s singers and audiences to centuries of musicians who have kept this music alive. Within the ensemble, they serve as a touchstone for collaboration, artistry, and collective purpose.
The opening performance on Thursday, November 13 in Naples will be dedicated to the memory of longtime Seraphic Fire Board Member Mel VanderBrug, who passed away in September. Mel’s generosity, warmth, and steadfast support helped shape the organization’s success and spirit over many years. He was a true champion of Seraphic Fire’s presence in Naples and played a vital role in building the ensemble’s loyal community there.
Experience Bach’s Brilliance Live
Join Seraphic Fire for this unforgettable concert series and experience the music that continues to define the ensemble’s artistry. The performances feature the full Seraphic Fire choir and period orchestra, bringing six of Bach’s most virtuosic and celebrated works to life in South Florida’s most beautiful venues.
Performances:
- Thursday, November 13 at 7:00 PM | Moorings Presbyterian, Naples
- Friday, November 14 at 7:30 PM | St. Philip’s Episcopal, Coral Gables
- Saturday, November 15 at 7:30 PM | All Saints Episcopal, Ft. Lauderdale
- Sunday, November 16 at 4:00 PM | St. Gregory’s Episcopal, Boca Raton
A Pre-Concert Conversation will be presented one hour before each performance by Dr. James K. Bass, Artistic Director Designate and Artist with Seraphic Fire.
Tickets and subscriptions are available now at SeraphicFire.org/tickets or by calling 305.285.9060.
