How would you spend a 30-minute lunch break? One Arkansas man is using his time off to play music. Not just any music. Colin MacKnight plays the music Johann Sebastian Bach wrote for organists. He started in January. It will take him about 18 hours (or 36 lunch breaks) to get through the composer’s entire body of organ work. 

Johann Sebastian Bach was a German musician and composer. He wrote over 1,000 pieces of music. To play through Bach’s organ music, Mr. Macknight hosts mini concerts at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is the music ministry director there. Around noon on Wednesdays, dozens of people come to listen. 

The shiny pipes fill the sanctuary with music. Mr. MacKnight’s hands move between four keyboards. Underneath, his feet press on pedalboards. There are many knobs and buttons on this instrument. It looks a bit like an airplane console. 

Playing the organ may seem complicated. But Mr. MacKnight began learning when he was 16 years old. He remembers hearing Bach at a relative’s funeral when he was 12. He wanted to learn to make that music himself.

Not many people want to perform Bach’s organ music. Bach was a master composer. His work is difficult for many to perform well.

Mr. MacKnight is up to the challenge. In addition to the lunchtime performances, he will give a one-song concert. Over about 100 minutes, Mr. MacKnight will perform Bach’s complete Clavier-Ubung III. That is also known as the German Organ Mass. The concert will take place on July 28. It marks the 275th anniversary of Bach’s death. 

Why? It may be wise to take small chunks of time to work toward completing big goals well.