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

     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