VOX Philia

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VOX Philia Vox Philia - loving and caring for one another through singing. VOX is Latin for "voice;" PHILIA is Greek for "the love between friends."

09/17/2026

Are you a student serious about singing? 🎵 Join us next Saturday, September 19th for a Master Class with professional tenor and BYC alum, Brian Giebler!

This event is open to any student in grades 8+ that wants to improve their vocal technique by working with a professional performing vocalist. Registration link in the comments!

EXCITING BONUS OPPORTUNITY: A limited number of spots are available for students to perform a piece and receive coaching from Mr. Giebler as a part of the master class. Students interested in performing during the master class should send an email to [email protected]

✨Music Spotlight✨Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild (BWV 79) is a cantata for Reformation Day. Bach composed it in 1725, ...
09/17/2026

✨Music Spotlight✨

Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild (BWV 79) is a cantata for Reformation Day. Bach composed it in 1725, his third year as Thomaskantor in Leipzig, and led its first performance on 31 October that year.

The author of the text is unknown, and does not make reference to the scripture readings of the day, but it does make use of two hymns that were associated with this feast day. Rinckart's "Nun danket alle Gott" (third movement) and the final stanza of Ludwig Helmbold's "Nun laßt uns Gott dem Herren" (final movement).

The cantata is in six movements, with an aria following the opening chorus, and a recitative and duet following the first chorale. Scored for three vocal soloists, a four-part choir, and a large orchestra, Bach achieves a unique unity between movements by using brass not only in the opening but also as obbligato instruments in the two chorales - in the third movement, they even play the same motifs heard in the opening movement.

Get your tickets now! https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/bachs-leipzig-reformation-celebrationBach's Leipzig Reformat...
09/10/2026

Get your tickets now!
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/bachs-leipzig-reformation-celebration

Bach's Leipzig Reformation Celebration
📅Saturday, October 24, 2026
📍Atonement Lutheran Church
⏰7:30 pm

Johann Sebastian Bach wrote “Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild” (God the Lord is sun and shield) for Reformation Day 1725, his third year as Thomaskantor in Leipzig. The text begins with a quotation from Psalm 84 and includes two hymn stanzas, the first from Martin Rinckart's "Nun danket alle Gott" (a hymn always used on Reformation Day in Leipzig) as the third movement, and a stanza of Ludwig Helmbold's "Nun laßt uns Gott dem Herren" as the final movement. The cantata is scored for three vocal soloists, a four-part choir, and an orchestra consisting of two horns, timpani, and pairs of flutes and oboes, strings and continuo.

We pair this with Bach’s "Missa Brevis in G Major," a large portion of which is parodied (reworked music) from the cantata. (For example, the “Gloria in excelsis” uses music from the opening chorus of the cantata, while the “Domine Deus” adapts the cantata’s fifth movement. In this way the audience gets to learn and hear Bach’s parody techniques.

You don't want to miss this!

✨Johann Sebastian Bach✨1685-1750Was a German composer and musician of the Baroque era, renowned for his contributions to...
09/08/2026

✨Johann Sebastian Bach✨

1685-1750

Was a German composer and musician of the Baroque era, renowned for his contributions to sacred and instrumental music. He first gained fame as an organist at the age of 18, later moving on to become music director at four different Lutheran churches, as well as teaching music. Now he is known as one of the most prolific composers of all time!

Reserve your seat now for Vox Philia's performance of Bach's works 🎶
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/bachs-leipzig-reformation-celebration

🎶Song Spotlight🎶✨Mother's Song✨This piece features an SATB chorus and a full orchestra and is written on a lovely poem f...
09/03/2026

🎶Song Spotlight🎶

✨Mother's Song✨

This piece features an SATB chorus and a full orchestra and is written on a lovely poem from a Japanese anthology. The poem is short and beautiful: "If snow falls on the far field, where travelers spend the night, I ask you cranes, to warm my child in your wings." This piece is the first in a group of three movements in a larger piece entitled "Winter's Passing" about the beginning on winter, the harsh middle and finally the spring.

Listen on Spotify now! https://open.spotify.com/track/4qrYAhoxcaAV76H3SpFEVy

✨Song Spotlight✨"There's a Certain Slant of Light"This piece features an SATB chorus and full orchestra, with music writ...
08/27/2026

✨Song Spotlight✨

"There's a Certain Slant of Light"
This piece features an SATB chorus and full orchestra, with music written alongside lyrics from a poem by Emily Dickenson. It is a very oppressive poem about the harsh light and feelings that one can experience in the dead of winter. This piece is the second in a group of three movements in a larger piece entitled "Winter's Passing" about the beginning of winter, the harsh middle of winter, and finally the spring renewal.

Listen here https://open.spotify.com/track/1FkZVtk0FFPCBkHraLrb2l

08/27/2026

As our music teachers are gearing up for back-to-school, we thought we'd take a moment to celebrate them! 🍎🎶

Is there a Berks County music teacher that you want to celebrate and thank? Nominate them in the comments!
🎵 Tell us your music teacher's name and what school they're from.
🗣️ Let us know why you are nominating them.
📚 They will then be entered into a drawing to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card!

One lucky winner will be randomly selected and announced on Monday, August 24th–so be sure to get your submissions in before the deadline!

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Reading, PA
19601

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