Bach will come to life

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Despite the fact that Bach’s music was written centuries ago, performances of his music bring the musician to life in a way that mesmerizes all who listen. Two hundred and seventy-four years after his death, Bach’s masterpieces are so beloved that entire festivals are devoted to honoring his musical legacy.

The highly anticipated and annual Island Symphony Bach Festival is returning to Bay Shore’s beautiful St. Peter’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church on Sunday, Jan. 28, at 2 p.m. The festival will feature guest soloists Tianyou Ma, violinist and joint grand-prize winner of the 2021 Lillian and Maurice Barbash J.S. Bach Competition, and Stephan Garamy, organist.

First established in 1971, the Island Symphony Orchestra is one of Long Island’s pre-eminent community orchestras. The orchestra initially brought their talents to St. Peter’s By-the-Sea in 2020, marking this year the fourth annual festival played in the resonant church.

The Island Symphony Bach Festival showcases the winner of the Lillian and Maurice Barbash J.S. Bach Competition. The prestigious competition was started by vice president of the orchestra, Susan Barbash, for classical musicians who play string instruments.

“It is an annual competition, which now has international recognition,” explained Island Symphony Orchestra’s music director, Eric Stewart. “The winner this year is from France, and we have had people come from all over the world to compete in it.”

The renowned 2021 winner of the Lillian and Maurice Barbash J.S. Bach Competition, Tianyou Ma, will be a featured guest soloist at the Bach Festival, performing J.S. Bach’s Violin Sonata No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005. Described by competition juror Colin Carr as “a masterful performer with vision, virtuosity, and exquisite taste,” Tianyou Ma’s reputation precedes him. The violinist has been a prizewinner in numerous prestigious international competitions, including the Singapore International Violin Competition (Bach Prize), the Sendai International Music Competition, the Menuhin International Violin Competition (Bach Prize) and the Postacchini Competition. Tianyou Ma has performed as a soloist and a chamber musician in many countries in Europe, Asia, the United States, and Oceania.

“This performer in particular we are presenting, there is no way to overstate what he offers musically. He is one of the most talented violinists I have ever heard in my life,” confessed Stewart. “It is rare that I am affected the way I was affected when I first heard him play.”

The talent of featured guest organist Stephan Garamy is far-reaching and all encompassing. The organist, pianist, vocalist, and violist, will perform J.S. Bach’s magisterial Passacaglia in C minor, BWV 582 at the festival. Garamy’s notable experience includes two summers of international concert tours as principal violist with the Long Island Youth Orchestra. Upon learning the organ, he joined the American Guild of Organists (AGO), and has since been awarded five AGO Achievement Awards. Garamy is currently music director and organist at St. Anne’s Church in Brentwood.

The second half of the program will be devoted to a performance of Johannes Brahms’s Symphony No. 4 in E minor Op. 98 by the Island Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Eric Stewart.

The enthusiastic music director explained how Bach’s musical genius still captures audiences centuries later.

“There are not a lot of indications in the music of how it is supposed to be played, so there is so much open to interpretation, which really shows you who the musician is,” shared Stewart. “When you hear somebody play this music, you will know so much about how they interpret classical music in general.”

Come see the dazzling performance for yourself at the Island Symphony Bach Festival. Tickets at the door cost $15 per adult and $10 per student, but hearing the magic of Bach coming to life will be priceless.
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Photos courtesy of Island Unleashed Productions