Bach for another year at SLU

CANTON — Seven hours ofJohann Sebastian Bach's cantatas and sonatas will be performed Saturday at the second annual Bach Marathon at St. Lawrence University.

Sondra Goldsmith-Proctor, musician-in-residence at SLU, started the festival last year to celebrate the composer's 325th birthday after she was part of more than 30 Bach events in Washington, D.C.

"Bach is the foundation for basically all we do," said Ms. Goldsmith-Proctor. "I thought it was time we brought it to the north country."

And Ms. Goldsmith-Proctor is the foundation of this marathon. While the rest of the musicians sprint for 20-or-so-minute segments, she will play the entire seven hours as organist.

Bach, who lived from 1685 to 1750, was a church organist and wrote many of his scores for the majestic instrument.

Ms. Goldsmith-Proctor said people would walk for miles to hear Bach's cantatas every week while he played in Germany. However, the audience is not expected to walk to this event or even stay for all seven hours. Guests can enter and exit quietly as often as they like, preferably between performances.

Musicians from the north country will be joined by musicians from Syracuse and as far away as Washington, D.C., to participate in the free concert.

Oboist Laurel Kuxhaus, mechanical and aeronautical assistant professor at Clarkson University, is collaborating with soprano Alexandra M. Jacobs, communications associate for SUNY Potsdam, to perform Bach's "Wedding Cantata" at 5:30 p.m.

"In a contrast to Bach's darker works, this is surprisingly light and cheery," said Ms. Kuxhaus. "It's particularly appropriate to perform in the springtime, as we put the darkness of the past winter behind us."

Just as last year, Ms. Goldsmith-Proctor contacted musicians in all 12 of the orchestral and chorale groups participating in the event. Some, like Ms. Jacobs, are in multiple musical groups. In addition to performing the "Wedding Cantata," she will perform as part of the Ad Hoc Singers, directed by Ms. Goldsmith-Proctor.

"The Ad Hoc Singers support Sondra Proctor's work in the area," said Julia R. Pomainville, arts programming coordinator at St. Lawrence University and a mezzo-soprano in Ad Hoc. "It isn't unusual to see us performing when she's involved in the organization of an event."

The Ad Hoc Singers will perform"St. Matthew Passion" and Cantata No. 29 at 2:45 p.m.

Ms. Goldsmith-Proctor said she hopes to have more marathons, which doesn't surprise Ms. Jacobs.

"I just think it is interesting there is enough interest in a Bach Marathon to have it two years in a row," she said. "We have a very sophisticated arts community in the north country."