The Learn'd Poet

In the penultimate edition of Bach, the Universe and Everything, guest speaker Sam Illingworth explores the numerous occasions in history where poets and creative minds have somehow been ahead of scientific discovery in their predictions.

Bach’s cantata Ich hab in Gottes Herz und Sinn (BWV 92) implores its listener to put aside doubts and questions ‘to give over to God’s heart and mind’. In it Bach displays his remarkable inventiveness handling chorales (with no less than five different settings!) whilst the tenor, bass and soprano soloists take us on a stormy journey to heaven.

Our guest speaker, Sam Illingworth, is an Associate Professor at Edinburgh Napier University whose research involves using poetry and games to engender meaningful dialogue between scientists and non-scientists.