Great Big Bach Moose Festival 2025

The Big Moose Bach Fest 2025
Labor Day Weekend
August 30 and 31, 2025

On Labor Weekend, the Big Moose Bach Fest begins at the Randolph, NH, Town Hall with
a film which centers on organs Bach played and music he created. Much of his music
began as improvisations and this film demonstrates how that was done, where, and how,
in a magnificent display of sonic beauty. The film, co-sponsored by the Randolph Library
and Music in the Great North Woods will be shown on Saturday, August 30th at 11 am in
Randolph Town Hall. There is no charge for the event.
That afternoon at 4:00 pm, the Big Moose Bach event moves to Gorham's beautiful
Medallion Opera House, with its acoustical setting perfectly suited for a concert entitled,
"Music from Royal Chambers," with music composed by J. S. Bach and his
contemporaries: Breval, LeClair, and Rameau. Violin soloists will be Timothy Bell and Ed
Ryan; with viola da gamba player and guitarist, Carl Ferré-Lang; harpsichordist, Susan
Ferré; and Charles Lang playing violoncello and viola da gamba.
The next day, Sunday, August 31st, also at 4 pm at the Medallion, two of Bach's most
beloved Cantatas: Actus Tragicus ("God's time is best") BWV 106, and "Komm süsser
Todt" ("Come, sweet death") BWV 161, will be featured, along with the Aria from the St.
Matthew Passion "Come, sweet Cross" and a duet from Cantata BWV 66, a dialogue
between "Fear and Hope." Soloists will be Soprano, Meghan Carlin; Tenor, Thomas
Gregg; Counter-tenor, Andrew Hudson-Sabens; and Baritone, Lucas Weiss. A choir of 10
singers under the direction of Susan Ferré will be accompanied by Baroque violinists,
Timothy Bell and Ed Ryan; recorder players, Beth Hilgartner and Christina Rua; viola da
gamba player, Charles Lang; violist, Chris Nourse; and bassist Carl Ferré-Lang.
Concerts at the Medallion for both days are sponsored by Music in the Great North
Woods. Tax deductible donations will be accepted for needy causes, such as the Arts,
Public Media, the Fulbright Program, Immigrant needs, and the ACLU Foundation which
can be specified with the donation.
Addendum: "A Prelude to the Big Moose Bach Fest 2025" will take place on Sunday,
August 24th, at 4 pm at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Berlin, NH, with the family: Susan,
Charley, and Carl (the Ferré-Lang Trio) playing works by Bach, ending together with a
piece by G. P. Telemann. All are welcome!