Friday, August 1, 2025 | 1pmChrist Church Cathedral

Bach & The Heavens

Artists: The Gallo Chamber Players

Runtime: 60 minutes, no intermission

“Bach is an astronomer,” Frédéric Chopin remarked, “discovering the most marvellous stars.” Explore the imaginings of Baroque astronomy with the Gallo Chamber Players through works that echo the cosmic harmony of the spheres.

The programme features stellar works by J.S. Bach as well as by Italian and German forebears such as Biagio Marini and J.C.F. Fischer, alongside the world premiere of a newly commissioned work by emerging Métis (Abenaki) composer Gregory Borton. 

Interspersed in this programme are selections from the Gallo Chamber Players’ forthcoming album, Crossroads & Consolations (2026), particularly Rebecca Nelson’s earthy and ethereal “Consolations” for three baroque violins (2023), whose seamless blend of baroque, folk, and contemporary classical traditions shines new light on snatches of beloved music by Bach, Handel and Vivaldi.

Click here to read the programme notes by Connor Page

Generously sponsored by Bryan & Gail Atkins

PROGRAMME

J.S. Bach (1685–1750)

Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her, BWV 701

Rebecca Nelson (b. 1992)         

Consolation 1                  

Biagio Marini (1594–1663)

Sonata in ecco con tre violini

Domenico Gallo (fl. mid-18^th c.)                        

Trio Sonata no. 5 in C major                             

Allegro

Larghetto

Allegro

J.C.F. Fischer (1656–1746)

Uranie, from Musicalischer Parnassus                 

Rigaudon

Passacaglia

Gregory Borton (b. 2002)

Concerto A5

Nelson

Consolation 3                                      

Bach

Adagio from Violin Sonata no. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001    

Nelson

Consolation 4                                     

H.I.F. von Biber (1644–1704)

Partita 4 from Harmonia Artificiosa                    

Preludio

Francesco Durante (1684–1755)

Violin Concerto in G minor                           

Affetuoso

Presto

Nelson

Consolation 8

The Gallo Chamber Players

The Gallo Chamber Players are an early music ensemble based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The core members are Jiten Beairsto, Rebecca Ruthven and Majka Demcak on baroque violin, Emily Burton on baroque cello, and Connor Page on harpsichord. They specialise in historically informed performances of music from the 16th–18th centuries on period-style instruments, and are the only chamber group of their kind currently active in B.C.

The members of GCP met during their studies in the Baroque Orchestra Mentorship Programme, and are all recipients of the Early Music Vancouver Scholarship award. Violinists Jiten and Majka and harpsichordist Connor were featured as emerging artists in Early Music Vancouver’s Bach Festival in the summer of 2018 and the ensemble was formed soon after, working with cellist Emily to present their debut concert at St. Philip’s Anglican Church in January 2019. Violinist Rebecca Ruthven joined as they resumed regular performances in the fall of 2022. Notable recent performances include the opening concert of the St. Augustine Series in Vancouver, and two consecutive appearances at Summer Baroque in the Trees on Salt Spring Island.

On a mission to bring the beauty of historically informed Baroque and Classical music to their audiences, the GCP include a variety of pieces and styles in each concert and aim to engage their audience with conversation during and after performances. The ensemble also welcomes guest artists who specialise in baroque performance to join them for various project-based concerts.

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