The Bach Night Marienmünster

One Night, One Abbey, Bach

In the far east of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Höxter district, lies the small Marienmünster — and there, in the middle of the town, one of the most beautiful Baroque abbeys in Ostwestfalen. Once a year, traditionally at the end of July, the Marienmünster Abbey becomes the stage for a multi-hour Bach Night: a curated journey through the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, performed in various locations within the abbey complex, with breaks under the open sky.

July 25, 2026 — Four Locations, One Bach

The Bach Night 2026 falls on Saturday, July 25. The evening begins at 7:30 PM and is divided into four stations that the audience walks through together:

• 7:30 PM — Abbey Church: Organ Concert. Prof. Frank Löhr performs on the historic organ of the abbey church.
• 9:00 PM — Farmyard: Break. Bread and wine in the abbey's inner courtyard.
• 10:00 PM — Concert Hall: Suites for Solo Cello. Cellist Adriano da Silva Trarbach performs Bach suites, complemented by Jazz Interludes.
• 11:30 PM — Abbey Church: Bach Chorales. The conclusion is a meditative chorale block back in the large monastery church.

Bach Between Tradition and Improvisation

The concept combines strict, faithful interpretation (organ concert, chorales) with the freer cello suites and jazz interludes. It is precisely this duality — devotion and departure, rigor and freedom — that distinguishes the Bach Night from a pure church concert. Those who invest in the admission price receive not a single concert, but a curated musical evening with a change of atmosphere.

The Kulturstiftung Marienmünster

The organizer is the Kulturstiftung Marienmünster, which has been using the former Benedictine abbey as a concert venue and educational center for years. In addition to the Bach Night, chamber concerts, readings, and workshops take place throughout the year. The abbey itself — founded in the 12th century, Baroque renovation in the 17th and 18th centuries — is the cultural heart of the Weserbergland region.

Marienmünster — The Abbey and Its Town

The town of Marienmünster is located in the Weserbergland, in the north of the Höxter district, nestled between the Egge and Vogler hills. With only about 5,000 inhabitants, Marienmünster is one of the smallest towns in North Rhine-Westphalia — yet it houses one of the most significant monastery complexes in the region. Those arriving for the Bach Night should use the day before or after to explore the Weserbergland: Höxter, Corvey Castle (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Bad Driburg.