Birgit Matzerath: J.S. Bach, "The Well-Tempered Clavier": A Listening Journey

Experience the joy of listening to music together, discover balance in your life through music and share your experience with others. Join Birgit Matzerath on a listening journey through The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 by Johann Sebastian Bach.

The struggle for justice, human rights and preservation of the environment has become more urgent than ever. As we near the elections, it requires even more of our energy. In this situation, the journey through Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier 1 is meant to create a space where people can come together, listen to the music, take a break, refuel and be inspired. The Preludes and Fugues are particularly appropriate, because the contrapuntal style of Bach’s compositions represents in music what we encounter in life: a network where everything hangs together. What happens in one voice has an impact on the entire system of independent, but not self-sufficient voices that share responsibilities in a common task.

Birgit Matzerath holds a degree in piano and a teaching degree in Music and English from Hochschule für Musik, Cologne, and the University of Cologne in Germany. Additionally, she pursued piano studies with Oxana Yablonskaya and Seymour Bernstein, whom she considers her most important teacher. Before relocating to the United States in 2002, she taught at community music schools in the Cologne area and appeared frequently as a collaborative pianist. From 2002-2009 she taught at the Concord Community Music School in Concord, NH. In 2009 she moved to Maplewood, NJ, where she maintains a private studio. In addition to teaching, she is a performer, lecturer and writer. Her blog “Music, Life and other Challenges” can be found on blogspot. Her recently published memoir, More than the World in Black and White, is available on Amazon.

This Sunday’s Introductory Presentation will be followed by monthly sessions, Fridays at 7–8 pm (see p.3 calendar for schedule). The series culminates with a complete performance on Friday 9/11/20 at 7:30 pm.

Suggested donations: $10 per session; final concert $25. Admission for students is free. Proceeds to benefit Ethical Culture Society of Essex County and Interfaith Hospitality Network of Essex County.

The Interfaith Hospitality Network’s vision is a community in which every family has a home, a livelihood, and the chance to build a better future. It’s mission is to help homeless and at-risk families achieve self-sufficiency by providing shelter, social services and housing assistance through a community-based approach. [ihnessexnj.org]