Bach + Music@Malling's Spring series featuring Bach alongside contemporary works

Steven Devine

Music@Malling's Bach + series presents five concerts on 26 and 27 April 2024 in historic venues in and around West Malling, Kent, including St.Mary’s Church, West Malling, Pilsdon Barn (part of the historic Malling Abbey) and All Saints’ Church, Tudeley with its unique set of Marc Chagall windows. The concerts all feature Bach's music with contemporary pieces alongside, some works specifically created as companion works.

Chamber Domaine, conductor Thomas Kemp (artistic director of Music@Malling) perform Bach's Brandenburg Concertos III and VI alongside companion works by Deborah Pritchard and Stevie Wishart originally commissioned by Music@Malling in 2022 as part of Six Brandenburgs: Six Commissions. Richard Harwood, principal cello of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, performs Bach’s Cello Suites I-III alongside contemporary works by Deborah Pritchard, Stevie Wishart, John Woolrich and Judith Weir. Harpsichordist Steven Devine performs Bach's Goldberg Variations in All Saints’ Church, Tudeley.

Running alongside the concerts are a series of workshops in local primary and secondary schools, introducing Bach to young people and creating new works inspired by his music. These new pieces will be performed in a special concert featuring Karen Jones, flute, Thomas Kemp, violin, Richard Harwood, cello and Steven Devine, cello, performing Bach’s chamber music alongside these new works.

This year’s Music@Malling Festival which will run from 20-28 September, include The Seven Deadly Sins, an installation of art by Ana Maria Pacheco and music by John Woolrich, The Marian Consort performing Purcell and new works by Deborah Pritchard and Gavin Bryars, Fretwork performing consorts by Byrd and Tallis with contemporary works by John Woolrich and George Benjamin, Chamber Domaine performing with tenor, Mark Padmore and BCMG performing Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire.

Full details from Music@Malling's website.