Buxtehude's Membra Jesu Nostri: A Choral Meditation for Holy Week

for 1 hour, 15 mins
Christ Church Cathedral
St Aldate's Oxford, OX1 1DP, United Kingdom

Join us in the beautiful setting of Christ Church Cathedral on Tuesday 15th April at 7.30 pm for a free performance of Dietrich Buxtehude’s Passiontide masterpiece, Membra Jesu Nostri.

First published in 1680, this cycle of seven cantatas explores the individual believer’s response to the suffering body of Christ on the cross as they gradually raise their gaze upwards: beginning at His feet, then His knees, hands, side, breast, and heart, before finally meeting His face. Buxtehude sets texts chosen from the bible and the medieval Salve mundi salutare hymn with a mixture of Italian and German styles, combining intense expression with contemplative clarity. The resulting music is one of the masterpieces of the German baroque.

Interspersed between the cantatas are three meditations from our Priest Vicar, The Reverend Dr Zachary Guiliano, guiding us in accessing the ideas, theology and emotions that surrounds Membra Jesu Nostri.

This performance is offered as an act of worship, and admission is therefore free and no booking is required. Whoever you are and whatever you believe, you are warmly welcome to come along and experience Holy Week and the Passion story through Buxtehude's beautiful music.

More info

Christ Church Cathedral

As Oxford's Cathedral, Christ Church is an ancient place of living faith and welcome in the heart of our city, which also hosts a wide range of concerts and events. From our roots as the Saxon religious community of St Frideswide established 1300 years ago, to the unique single foundation of Anglican cathedral and Oxford University College we are today, our story has been centuries in the making. Come and be a part of it!
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Buxtehude's Membra Jesu Nostri: A Choral Meditation for Holy Week

for 1 hour, 15 mins
Christ Church Cathedral
St Aldate's Oxford, OX1 1DP, United Kingdom

Join us in the beautiful setting of Christ Church Cathedral on Tuesday 15th April at 7.30 pm for a free performance of Dietrich Buxtehude’s Passiontide masterpiece, Membra Jesu Nostri.

First published in 1680, this cycle of seven cantatas explores the individual believer’s response to the suffering body of Christ on the cross as they gradually raise their gaze upwards: beginning at His feet, then His knees, hands, side, breast, and heart, before finally meeting His face. Buxtehude sets texts chosen from the bible and the medieval Salve mundi salutare hymn with a mixture of Italian and German styles, combining intense expression with contemplative clarity. The resulting music is one of the masterpieces of the German baroque.

Interspersed between the cantatas are three meditations from our Priest Vicar, The Reverend Dr Zachary Guiliano, guiding us in accessing the ideas, theology and emotions that surrounds Membra Jesu Nostri.

This performance is offered as an act of worship, and admission is therefore free and no booking is required. Whoever you are and whatever you believe, you are warmly welcome to come along and experience Holy Week and the Passion story through Buxtehude's beautiful music.

More info

Safeguarding

Christ Church is a place of worship, pilgrimage, sanctuary, and activity, and it should be a safe place for all. Safeguarding forms part of our everyday working practice and is the responsibility of everyone at Christ Church Cathedral. We follow the House of Bishops guidance and policies and have our own Chapter Safeguarding Officer, The Revd Dr Zachary Guiliano (Priest Vicar), and a Cathedral Safeguarding Lead, Matthew Dickins (Cathedral Administrator). Our Diocese of Oxford’s safeguarding pages contain vital links and information including contacts for the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor who advises our Safeguarding team. If you are concerned that a child or adult has been harmed or may be at risk of harm please contact our Safeguarding team through the link below or the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor. If you have immediate concerns about the safety of someone, please contact the police and your local authority’s children or adult social care services.

Safeguarding at Christ Church Cathedral