For a long time now we have been fascinated by JS Bach’s Köthener Trauermusik BWV 244a: Bach’s lost masterpiece.
The music is lost, but the libretto survives and, as it is highly likely Bach used musical material which also appears in two surviving works, one being the Matthäus-Passion, it is possible to reconstruct the work. Several reconstructions exist, but we are not totally convinced by their artistic choices.
So, we’re going to make our own edition. Chad Kelly, the award-winning musicologist and keyboard player who has been core member of Solomon’s Knot for many years, will be commissioned to make a new reconstruction of the Trauermusik, which we shall premiere and record next year.
This will be a major achievement for Solomon’s Knot, both as a charity contributing to musical scholarship and as a collective of committed musicians.
We now need all the help we can get from you, our friends and supporters, to bring it to fruition. If you are able, please click below to support this project with a donation.
Major Gift Opportunities
We would like to thank those who support this appeal with a significant gift. Larger gifts can be made in instalments until June 2025 and all gifts can be Gift Aided.
Please contact us to discuss your gift by emailing support@solomonsknot.co.uk
Donations of £1,000 or more
- Acknowledgement in CD booklet
- Invitation to CD launch party
- Complimentary copy of CD upon release
Donations of £3,000 or more
- Invitation to attend recording sessions in Regensburg, Germany on 6 June 2025 (accommodation and travel at donor’s expense)
- 2 complimentary tickets to our concert on 7 June 2025 in Regensburg, Germany
- All opportunities from the category above
