Anthony Ray – 10 Hour Bach Marathon at Union Station
ADDRESS
Union Station, North Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA, USAADDRESS DETAILS
Waiting HallTIME
March 24, 20181:10 PM - 1:45 PM
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Bachground: My name is Anthony Ray and I am a tenor with the Los Angeles Master Chorale. My initial background was in orchestral music. I played oboe and clarinet in various orchestras as well as the organ for local churches. However, about five years ago, I slowly started making a drastic shift from orchestral to choral music. Now I primarily focus on choral and organ music.
Thinking Bach: You’d be hard pressed to find someone who’s never heard of Johann Sebastian Bach. And even if they’ve never heard his name, they’ve probably heard the first few measures of the Toccata in D minor. While I was familiar with Bach growing up, I didn’t really become “acquainted” with him until I started studying the organ at age seventeen. It was then that I got a glimpse at the genius of his music – the complexities, the intricacies, the sincerity, and the beauty of it all. My understand of Bach has continued to broaden, particularly this past December when we performed the six motets in the Los Angeles Master Chorale. That concert was one of the most emotionally, musically, and spiritually satisfy concerts I’ve ever performed. As a result, I’ve decided to take this entire year to really study Bach’s life, music, and the environment in which he was composing and performing this music.
I think the reason Bach’s music has lasted for over three hundred years is because of who he was as a person. His musical and spiritual focuses were on creating “well regulated church music to the glory of God.” The breadth of emotions spans the entire human experience: anger, sadness, joy, happiness, anxiety, despair, celebration… It’s all there, and each of us can find something in it to which we can relate.
BitS LA Impact: Bach in the Subway holds a special place in my heart. It is the largest event of its kind, offering free performances throughout the entire day to people who might otherwise have no access to live performances of Bach’s music. People from all backgrounds and walks of life are united for a brief moment to celebrate the human experience as conveyed through the music of Bach. It’s such a privilege and an honor to be able to bring this music to the public and to work alongside many of my wonderful colleagues in the music community. This is truly a special moment for everyone.
Anthony Ray is a 2nd year participant of the 10 Hour Bach Marathon.
We would like to thank Church Keyboard Center for their generous donation of the the use of the Roland C-30 Harpsichord. For more information about the instrument, please visit — https://www.churchkeyboard.com