On Sunday, June 23, the weekend of the “Our Creative Spirit” art exhibit, we welcome classical guitarist James (Jim) Baur who will be offering music during the Sunday liturgy.

Jim was born into a musical family in Memphis, TN- his father is a composer and his mother a flutist. He studied with renowned guitarist Lily Afshar in high school and went on to receive both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from Northwestern University. Active as a music teacher, recording artist, luthier, and more, Jim and his family live in Glencoe where they are active members of St. Elisabeth’s Episcopal Church.

Jim’s prelude on June 23 will be a piece by the familiar composer J.S. Bach, but his other musical offerings will be by lesser-known composers. At the offertory, Jim will play Mauro Guiliani’s (1781-1829) La Rosa from his Choix de mes fleurs cherries, a set of pieces, each of which is about a different flower. Guiliani was an Italian composer who was a leading guitar virtuoso of the nineteenth century. Author Philip James Bone said of his guitar playing that “he made the instrument sing.”

During communion we will hear Manuel Ponce’s (1882-1948) Adagio from his Sonata Romantica. Ponce was a Mexican composer active in the 20th century, and his music is a major part of guitar repertoire. He even wrote a concerto for the guitar, which was dedicated to his long-time friend and famous guitar virtuoso Andrés Segovia.