James Welch Recital

James Welch Recital

On Sunday, May 4, 2025, 7 p.m., at the Oak Hills Stake Center, James Welch will present “Bach’s Joyous Spirit: A Musical Journey,” a program of some of Bach’s most cheerful works for the organ. Bach utilized specific keys and rhythms in his music when he treated subjects of joy, and the program will explore this feature of Bach’s writing. Included will be a cross-section of Bach’s favored organ styles: toccata, concerto, sonata, prelude, fugue, cantata, fantasie, as well as a set of three hymn preludes that use the word “joy” (“Freude”) in their texts.

The Oak Hills Stake Center is located at 925 E. North Temple Drive, Provo. Due to construction of the new temple, there are some cones and barriers on North Temple Drive, but the entrances to the stake center parking lot are still open.

Allegro, from Concerto in A minor, BWV 593

Arranged by Richard Ellsasser

Vivace, from Sonata No. 6 in G major, BWV 530

Prelude and Fugue in D major, BWV 532

Sheep May Safely Graze, from Cantata 208, BWV 208

Arranged by Frank W. Asper

Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 549

Fantasie in G major, BWV 572

Prelude and Fugue in E minor, BWV 555

Three Hymns of Joy

Nun freut euch, lieben Christen gmein, BWV 734

Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich, BWV 605

In dir ist Freude, BWV 615

Toccata in D minor (“Dorian”), BWV 538