It was the autumn of 1705. A young 20 year old Bach began a journey on foot of almost 400 kilometres from Arnstadt in the heart of Germany, to Lübeck near the Baltic coast. Who would undertake such a gruelling expedition?

Only one such as J.S. Bach, whose desire to study the art and craft of the famous organist Dietrich Buxtehude, drove him to complete a journey most would baulk at – such was his desire to learn from his idol and better himself as a musician. Buxtehude’s music proved to be a beacon of inspiration for Bach, changing the course of music forever.

Featuring three of Australia’s finest musicians – organist Marko Sever, Baritone Andrew O’Connor and Countertenor Russell Harcourt, we chart the journey to Lübeck through music of the great masters Bach took with him, ending with Bach’s Cantata BWV 170 which so perfectly encapsulates the results of such inspiration on the mind of a genius.