It was back in August that I received a text message from Jeremy Wong, who thought about me as he wrote:

Hi Kathy! Hope you’re well. I’m writing because I have been in touch with a documentarian in Germany named Tilo Krause who is producing and directing a huge 24 hour broadcast of Bach from the Thomaskirche in Leipzig and is looking for short video greetings (and musical offerings) from around the world. He did a short documentary in 2016 when I participated in the Weimar Bach Cantata Academy led by Helmuth Rilling.

I think he’s hoping for a short clip of someone playing or singing (can be informal) Bach on the beach or someone iconic in Hawaii. And then to say a few sentences about Bach.

Here’s some more information about the project:

Experience the timeless genius of Johann Sebastian Bach, one of the most influential figures in the history of music. His unique fusion of contrapuntal precision, harmonic sophistication, and emotional depth has captivated musicians and audiences for over 300 years. From Mozart to Beethoven, from Brahms to Liszt—Bach’s ideas have inspired generations of composers and shaped the course of musical development. Even in the 20th century, visionaries like Stravinsky and Schoenberg embraced his principles, reaffirming his universal significance. Today, Bach’s legacy thrives not only in classical music but also in jazz, pop, and innovative crossover genres. Immerse yourself in the world of a composer who remains an enduring benchmark for creativity and innovation.

On October 31, 2025, our live program GRAVITY BACH will be broadcast worldwide — a 22-hour organ marathon featuring the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach, performed by Leipzig’s Thomas-Organist Johannes Lang at the St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, where Johann Sebastian Bach lived and worked for nearly three decades 300 years ago.

The event will be broadcast live worldwide via ARTE Concert for Europe, SVT Sweden, and TV Cultura Brazil. We are also working to make it available in Argentina, Chile, China, Japan, U.K. and U.S.
The repertoire has been carefully curated by renowned Bach scholar Prof. Dr. Christoph Wolff (Professor Emeritus of Historical Musicology at Harvard University), and is structured into 14 concerts.
Between the concerts, thirteen 15-minute intermissions will feature live studio conversations with leading voices from the arts, sciences, and broader society. These discussions—featuring participants of all ages —will take place in the historic Sommersaal of the Bach Museum, adjacent to St. Thomas Church, which will be transformed into a broadcast studio for the occasion.

GRAVITY BACH will also include live global connections with individuals from a wide range of disciplines and cultural backgrounds.

In the meantime, I have had half a dozen zoom sessions with the producers, and indeed, I will be part of the Gravity Bach livestream, along with countless other people who play the works of Bach throughout the world. I sent them a video from my Bach Clavierübung concert, along with this photo of myself and Carl Crosier with Masaaki Suzuki of the Bach Collegium Japan.

Masaaki Suzuki is apparently one of the people who is also being interviewed on the livestream.

Yesterday we did a video and sound check from Ala Moana Beach park, where I will be filming on Friday afternoon! I’ll be part of this illustrious group of performers and participants:

• Johannes Lang: Organist for the Bach marathon.
• Daniel Hope: Violinist and moderator for the broadcast.
• Julia Sophie Wagner: Moderator for the broadcast.
• Midori: Violinist.
• Johanna Malangré: Conductor.
• Mahani Teave: Pianist.
• Jordan Rudess: Keyboardist, known for his work with the progressive metal band Dream Theater.
• Rutger “Rutus” van der Beek: A musician who publicly announced his participation in the production.
• Cameron Carpenter: Organist.
• Alexander Markov: Violinist featured in a video interview for the Gravity Bach project.
• AMARCORD: A vocal ensemble.
• Take 6: A vocal group.
• Take6: Vocal ensemble.
• Christoph Wolff: A musicologist.
• Masaaki Suzuki: Musician.
• Victoria & Leanne: Vocalists from the Oregon Bach Festival.
• Ivonne Fuchs: Vocalist.
• Alisa Sadikova: Harpist.
• Stephanie Jones: Guitarist.
• Sarah Willis: Horn player.
• Diana Tishchenko: Violinist.
• Stephanie Lake: Choreographer.
• Multiple Ballet Companies: Including Semperoper Ballett, Ballett Akademia Muzyczna (Katowice), New York Chamber Ballet, and The Australian Ballet, are featured.
• Neues Bachisches Collegium Musicum: An instrumental ensemble. 

Event details

• What: The event, organized by the European channel ARTE, is titled Gravity Bach: The Organ Marathon.
• When: The livestream was scheduled to take place from October 31 to November 1, 2025.
• Where: The concert was performed at the St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, where J.S. Bach worked for decades.