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Bach, the Universe & Everything: Astronomical Instruments

London, King's Place

Sunday 4 October 2026, 11:30

Book now

Music

DERING Factum est silentium
JS BACH Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein
(Ah God, look down from heaven), BWV 2
Performers

Steven Devine series music director/organ

with
Laura Joy Pieters guest speaker

Duration

75 minutes

Price

£22 + fees

Wonder meets reason in our season opener. A Bach cantata that bridges worlds, alongside scientific artefacts that reveal how looking beyond our home planet has helped humanity to find its place in the Universe.

In Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein Bach draws together old and new styles. For the words of Martin Luther, he builds on the Renaissance motet tradition, with its intricate weaving vocal lines. For the more contemporary poetry he adopts the modern ‘concerto’ style, infusing colour, drama and remarkable musical invention.

Our guest speaker, Laura Joy Pieters introduces us to the astronomical instruments from the 17th and 18th centuries. Through them, she reveals how astronomy shaped the worldview of their age—and how it continues to shape our understanding of ourselves and the universe today. Laura Joy Pieters is Curator of Mathematical Sciences at the Science Museum in London, an actress and visual artist.

Richard Dering

This season features motets by the English composer Richard Dering (c.1580–1630). A Catholic convert, he spent much of his career working in continental Europe before returning to England in 1625 to serve in the court of Queen Henrietta Maria. Dering’s music bridged the Renaissance and Baroque styles.

Expect awe, beauty and big ideas

Bach, the Universe and Everything returns with a new season of adventures.

Inspired by the music of JS Bach, composer and intergalactic genius, this is a concert season with a difference.

This season, Bach, the Universe and Everything chronicles humanity’s quest to understand the cosmos. From the revolutionary instruments that opened our ancestors’ eyes to the night sky to the giant telescopes now peering deeper into space than ever before, we chart the breakthroughs that changed everything. We’ll unravel the force that binds the universe together, witness humanity’s determination to explore further from our planet than we’ve gone before, and discover how the atmosphere that sustains life on Earth is created.

Across six concerts, music and science combine to tell the story of humanity’s enduring search to understand the universe and our place within it.

Violinist Julia Kuhn and bass player Cecelia Bryggemyer playing in the playground at Acland burghley School

Japanese conductor Masaaki Suzuki conducts the OAE with singer Florian Stortz

OAE musicians run a workshop in a school classroom

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We are redefining what it means to be an orchestra in the 2020s. Support the OAE today.

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Bach, the Universe & Everything: Astronomical Instruments

London, King's Place

Sunday 4 October 2026, 11:30

Event detail

Wonder meets reason in our season opener. A Bach cantata that bridges worlds, alongside scientific artefacts that reveal how looking beyond our home planet has helped humanity to find its place in the Universe.

Richard Dering

Expect awe, beauty and big ideas

Did you know you can support the OAE?

Hear it first

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