wfn.org | ELCA's J.S. Bach Production To Air March 20 On Hallmark Channel

[<NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

February 17, 2005

ELCA's J.S. Bach Production To Air March 20 On Hallmark Channel
05-026-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- 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 noon Eastern and Pacific Time
and 11 a.m. Central Time.  Viewers in the Mountain Time zone should check
local listings.
     Bach, a well-known German composer regarded by many as one of the
finest classical composers ever, lived from 1685 to 1750.  He composed
vocal, keyboard and orchestral works.
     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.
     In 2004 the ELCA approached Faith and Values Media about airing the
Bach documentary on Hallmark Channel, said Tim Frakes, Mosaic Television
producer, ELCA Department for Communication.  Faith and Values Media was
"excited" about the opportunity and agreed to invest in expanding the
program to fit a 60-minute time slot, he said.
       "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."
     The new broadcast features original scenes from Eisenach, Ohrdruf,
Weimar, Kothen, Muhlhausen 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 is performance of some of Bach's music,
featuring a vocal ensemble and orchestra, recorded at the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of St. Luke, Chicago.
     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," he said.
----
     Specific information about Mosaic Television subscriptions and the
contents of each issue are available on the Web at
http://www.elca.org/mosaic or by contacting the ELCA Department for
Communication by phone at 1-800-638-3522 ext. 6009.

     Information about Faith and Values Media is at
http://www.faithandvaluesmedia.org on the Web.	Information about Hallmark
Channel is at http://www.hallmarkchannel.com on the Web.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news