Widely regarded as the pinnacle of Bach’s choral compositions, the Mass in B Minor stands as a testament

to his lifelong mastery.

Maestro Robert Geary leads the San Francisco Choral Society and the Orchestra of Cantata Collective in a powerful and moving performance of this transcendent work. Completed just a year before Bach’s passing, the Mass in B Minor weaves together a lifetime of musical innovation, grandeur, and spiritual depth—offering an experience that is both profound and unforgettable.

Saturday, May 3, 7pm

Sunday, May 4, 4pm

The program will last approximately 2 hours & 20 minutes including one intermission.

The historic

Calvary Presbyterian Church

2515 Fillmore Street at Jackson

San Francisco, CA 94115

Public Transportation: bus routes 3, 10, 22, 24.

PARKING: Street Parking; California Pacific Medical Center Garage on Clay at Webster

"As I've been reviewing the B minor Mass of J S Bach, my jaw has once again been dropping. This music is like no other. The astonishing and I mean ASTONISHING craft of this composer is just breathtaking.  It is not easy but there is a lifetime reward for mastering a score like this."

—Maestro Bob Geary

Here are some fun facts about Johann Sebastian Bach's Mass in B minor:



Composition

Bach composed the Mass in B minor between 1748 and 1749, a year before his death in 1750. 

Structure

The Mass in B minor is structured into four parts: Missa, Symbolum Nicenum, Sanctus, and Osanna, Benedictus, Agnus Dei et Dona nobis pacem. 

Sources

Much of the Mass in B minor is made up of existing music, including the Kyrie and Gloria, which were written in 1733, and the Sanctus, which dates back to 1724. 

Purpose

Bach composed the Mass in B minor as a legacy to show his talents and experience in choral writing and counterpoint. 

Scale

The Mass in B minor is a complex work with 26 sections, written in a variety of styles and based on different melodic material. 

Difficulty

The Mass in B minor is considered one of the most difficult choir works ever written, with a high range and fast notes. 

Performance

The Mass in B minor is too long to be performed in its entirety in a church service, but it was performed in parts over the years.