BACH CANTATA SERIES
Kairos: A Consort of Singers was formed in 1994 by Brother Randall Horton, a member of the Holy Cross Episcopal Monastery in West Park, New York. In 1996 the group was reorganized under Artistic Director, Dr. Edward Lundergan, who retired in May, 2022.
In the spring of 2006 Kairos began an ambitious Bach Cantata Series at Holy Cross, patterned on the Emmanuel Church (Boston) model of performing a Bach cantata within the context of a service. A decision was made to present the cantatas as the central feature of a choral evensong service, with an opening hymn, a brief prayer (collect), the cantata performance, performance of an instrumental work as a meditation, closing prayer, and final hymn. Kairos believed that the choral evensong service provided the best opportunity for audiences to hear Bach's cantatas in the context in which they were written while being inclusive enough for people of all faiths (and no professed or held faith).
Kairos gathered the finest instrumentalists in the Hudson Valley for its Bach Cantata Series, including Ruthanne Schempf (harpsichord), James Fitzwilliam (organ), Susan Seligman (cello), Marka Young (violin), Rachel Handman (violin), Rachel Evans (violin/viola), Marla Rathbun (violin), Rhonni Hallman (violin), Elizabeth Handman (viola), Joël Evans (oboe), Ann Churukian (oboe), Allison Rubin (oboe), Marcia Gates (flute), Bonnie Ham (flute), Phil Helm (bass), Lou Pappas (bass), and other talented musicians depending on the cantata being performed. The result was a professional, spirited and joyful collaboration which provided audiences with wonderful, moving performances of Bach's most intimate and spiritual music. The series was an integral part of the cultural and musical life of the Hudson Valley for over 15 years.
The Cantata Series was discontinued in May 2022 with the retirement of Kairos' Artistic Director Edward Lundergan.
REPERTOIRE
Kairos' Bach Cantata performances by year
2006 CANTATA PERFORMANCES
April 16, 2006 (Easter) No. 4, Christ lag in Todesbanden
June 11, 2006 No. 150, Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich
October 23, 2006 No. 47, Wer sich selbst erhöhet
December 3, 2006 No. 61, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland
2007 CANTATA PERFORMANCES
February 4, 2007 No. 82, Ich habe genug
- Barbara Hardgrave, mezzo soprano
April 8, 2007 (Easter) No. 4, Christ lag in Todesbanden
June 3, 2007 No. 21, Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis
September 23, 2007 No. 199, Mein Herze schwimmt in Blut
- Carol Lundergan, soprano
October 28, 2007 No. 93, Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten
December 30, 2007 No. 122, Das neugeborne Kindelein
2008 CANTATA PERFORMANCES
January 27, 2008 No. 124, Meinen Jesum lass ich nicht
March 23, 2008 (Easter) No. 4, Christ lag in Todesbanden
June 8, 2008 No. 39, Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot
September 21, 2008 No. 27, Wer weiss, wie nahe mir mein Ende
October 19, 2008 No. 139, Wohl dem, der sich auf seinen Gott
January 25, 2009 No. 140, Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
2009 CANTATA PERFORMANCES
February 22, & 26, 2009 No. 72, Alles nur nach Gottes Willen
April 12, 2009 (Easter) No. 4, Christ lag in Todesbanden
June 7, 2009 No. 37, Wer da gläubet und getauft wird
September 27, 2009 No. 8, Liebster Gott, wann werd ich sterben?
October 25, 2009 No. 77, Du sollst Gott, deinen Herren, lieben
January 9/10, 2010 BWV 243, Magnificat (also Handel's Dixit Dominus)
2010 CANTATA PERFORMANCES
February 7, 2010 No. 131, Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir
April 4, 2010 (Easter) No. 4, Christ lag in Todesbanden
June 6, 2010 No. 186, Ärgre dich, O Seele, nicht
September 26, 2010 No. 78, Jesu, der du meine Seele
October 24, 2010 No. 192, Nun danket alle Gott
BWV 227, Jesu meine Freude
December 19, 2010 BWV 229, Komm, Jesu, komm
2012 CANTATA PERFORMANCES
February 19, 2012 No. 96, Herr Christ, der ein'ge Gottessohn
May 20, 2012 No. 44, Sie werden euch in den Bann tun
September 30, 2012 No. 80, Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott
December 2, 2012 No. 62, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland
2013 CANTATA PERFORMANCES
February 3, 2013 No. 147, Herr und Mund und Tat und Leben
May 19, 2013 No. 184, Erwünschtes Freudenlicht
September 29, 2013 No. 5, Wo soll ich fliehen hin
October 20, 2013 No. 115, Mache dich, mein Geist, bereit
2014 CANTATA PERFORMANCES
February 2, 2014 No. 106, Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit
May 18, 2014 No. 109, Ich glaube, lieber Herr
November 9, 2014 Mass in B Minor, BWV 232
2015 CANTATA PERFORMANCES
February 8, 2015 No. 67, Halt im Gedächtnis Jesum Christ
May 17, 2015 No. 101, Nimm von uns, Herr, du treuer Gott
October 18, 2015 No. 72, Alles nur nach Gottes Willen
December 20, 2015 No. 140, Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
2016 CANTATA PERFORMANCES
February 21, 2016 No. 161, Komm, du süsse Todesstunde
May 15, 2016 No. 9, Es ist das Heil uns kommen her
October 9, 2016 No. 7, Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam
December 18, 2016 BWV 225, Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied
2017 CANTATA PERFORMANCES
February 5, 2017 No. 64, Sehet, welch eine Liebe hat uns der Vater
erzeiget
May 7, 2017 No. 97, In allen meinen Taten
October 1, 2017 No. 95, Christus, der ist mein Leben
2018 CANTATA PERFORMANCES
February 4, 2018 No. 70, Wachet! Betet!
May 20, 2018 No. 127, Herr Jesu Christ, wahr' Mensch und Gott
October 7, 2018 No. 76, Die Himmel Erzählen die Ehre Gottes
2019 CANTATA PERFORMANCES
February 10, 2019 No. 22, Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe
May 12, 2019 No. 138, Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz
June 9, 2019 (H.V. BachFest) BWV 228, Fürchte dich nicht
June 15, 2019 (H.V. BachFest) BWV 1083, Tilge, Höchester, meine Sünden
October 6, 2019 No. 18, Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee vom Himmel fällt
2021 CANTATA PERFORMANCES
October 24, 2021 No. 131, Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir
2022 CANTATA PERFORMANCES
March 6, 2022 No. 187, Es wartet alles auf dich