KSO on Sunday: Delicious Connections in “Bluegrass and Bach” with Mandolinist Jeff Midkiff

Some of the most enlightening explorations in the arts come when we make connections between works in different genres or find interesting new angles to the usual contrasts. The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra is providing just such an opportunity this Sunday afternoon as it offers “Bluegrass and Bach,” the opening 2026-27 concert in the Roy Cockrum Chamber Series at the Bijou Theatre.

KSO music director Aram Demirjian and the KSO Chamber Orchestra will be joined by mandolinist Jeff Midkiff for an enlightening journey through the juxtaposition of Baroque music of J.S. Bach with Bluegrass and Bluegrass-inspired works. Such a journey will not only highlight the historical contrasts but also the connections between them in their creation and performance.

These connections will start with Bach and several of  his works that are illustrative of his music for strings: the Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 , the Air from his Orchestral Suite No. 3,  selections from the St. Matthew Passion, The Art of the Fugue, and A Musical Offering.

Midkiff, a previous guest soloist with the KSO, will offer his own works, A Visit from the Muse and Run for Your Life!, contrasted with Bill Monroe’s Monroe’s Hornpipe in an arrangement by Midkiff. The inspiration of Bluegrass on contemporary composers will be heard with Mark O’Connor’s Appalachia Waltz and Jennifer Higdon’s Mandolin Concerto with Midkiff as soloist.

In a delightful reverse connection, sincerely anticipated, contemporary composer Caroline Shaw will be represented by Punctum, a work that quotes Bach’s chorale “Erkenne mich” from his St. Matthew Passion.

On the concert…

JEFF MIDKIFF: A Visit from the Muse
BACH: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3
BACH: Air from Orchestral Suite No. 3
MARK O’CONNOR: Appalachia Waltz
JENNIFER HIGDON: Mandolin Concerto (w/ Jeff Midkiff)
BACH: “Erkenne mich” from St. Matthew Passion
CAROLINE SHAW: Punctum
BACH: Contrapunctis XIII a 3, “Rectus” from The Art of the Fugue
MONROE:  Hornpipe
MONROE: Contrapunctis XIII a 3, “Inversus” from The Art of the Fugue
JEFF MIDKIFF: Run for Your Life!
BACH: Ricercar a 6 from A Musical Offering