Drawing inspiration New York City’s underbelly and the musical heritage of Baroque Germany, BART is celebrating “Bach in the Subways” from Tuesday, March 21 to Friday, March 31 by inviting local musicians to “celebrate Bach and his music” by performing his compositions in subways, public spaces and concerts that are open to everyone.
Bach in the Subways, which launches on Johann Sebastian Bach’s 338th birthday, is a worldwide celebration of the German composer and his enduring music, according to BART. The musical effort is free and aims to “celebrate his work and to sow the seeds for future generations of classical music lovers” by performing his 18th century works—such as the Brandenburg Concertos—in public spaces.
“Come listen to the music in our free areas or help participate and play music” during the scheduled timeframe, said BART.
Those wishing to participate should register here; email your selected station/time to FreeSpeech@bart.gov to apply for an Expressive Activity Permit; and show up with your permit and play Bach, according to BART.
“Bach in the Subways requires that participating musicians not solicit tips or accept any money as it is meant to be a shared gift of musical joy,” said BART. See the website for more details.
The musical effort began in New York City subways in 2010 and has blossomed into an international event since that time, said BART. After taking a four-year pandemic pause, BART is welcoming musicans to join in Bach in the Subways again.
For more information on Bach in the Subways on BART, click here. Learn more about the worldwide effort here.
Photo of BART Station at San Francisco International Airport courtesy of BART.
