Hallmark Channel will air a 60-minute version of the award-winning program, “Glory to God Alone: The Life of J.S. Bach,” on Palm Sunday, March 20. The program is presented by Faith and Values Media as part of “The World of Faith and Values” series on Hallmark. The documentary will be broadcast at 11:00 a.m. Central Time. The church choir and Bach organ of Christ the King Lutheran Church have a small role to play in the program.
The expanded documentary production — originally produced in 2003 by Mosaic Television, the video magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) — includes additional video such as performances of some of Bach’s music and a new interview with a Bach scholar. “Glory to God Alone” was recognized by the Religion Communicators Council, New York, with its 2003 DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Award as best in class for non-broadcast video and audio productions.
“Many Christians don’t know who Bach was,” Frakes said. “We want to introduce or re-introduce J.S. Bach and his music to entirely new generations in America who may not be aware that this rich musical heritage exists.” said Tim Frakes, Mosaic Television producer for the ELCA Department for Communication.
The new broadcast features original scenes from Eisenach, Ohrdruf, Weimar, Köthen, Mühlhausen and Leipzig, all in Bach’s native Germany, Frakes said. The program includes interviews and commentary from J.S. Bach scholars Christoph Wolff, professor of music, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., and author of the biography “Johann Sebastian Bach: The Learned Musician;” Robin Leaver, former president of the American Bach Society and professor of sacred music, Westminster Choir College, Rider University, Princeton, N.J.; and Mary J. Greer, New York, vice president of the American Bach Society. Also featured is Christopher Parkening, an internationally acclaimed classical guitarist and distinguished faculty member, Pepperdine University, Malibu, Calif. Carl Grapentine, morning show co-host, WFMT-FM, Chicago, is the program’s narrator.
Another new component included in the broadcast is the performance of some of Bach’s music, featuring a vocal ensemble and orchestra, recorded at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Luke, Chicago. Excerpts from Christ the King Church’s CD, “Music of the Lutheran Tradition” are also included. Because of time constraints, the original program did not include significant performances of Bach’s music, Frakes said. “Faith and Values Media and Hallmark gave us a chance to do that.”