No one is really sure under what circumstances Bach's six motets were performed although we know for certain that one was for a funeral and it's likely the others were also. Regardless of the original occasion, they stand at the very top of Baroque masterpieces.

Between the Houston Chamber Choir's performances of Bach's motets, Singet dem Herrn, Der Geist hilft and Jesu, meine Freude, Paul English and his jazz trio will improvise responses inspired by the motet's music and text. This concert highlights the art of improvisation. While the idiom will be jazz, the spirit will be Baroque.