LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Bach: Bach Choir
built 816 days ago
The Bach Choir of Bethlehem is the oldest Bach choir in America. Founded in 1898, The Bach Choir gave the first complete performances in the United States of The Mass in B Minor and The Christmas Oratorio. Under Greg Funfgeld’s passionate and experienced direction, The Choir now fulfills the promise of its early years. The 95 volunteer members sing with the dedication and enthusiasm of The Bach Choir of a century ago, but today’s performances, featuring the finely-honed vocal ensemble, a fully professional orchestra, and world-renowned soloists, reveal a new level of musicianship and understanding of Bach’s choral universe. Learn more about the choir.
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The Bach Festival is opening select rehearsals to the public for an interesting and informative look “behind the scenes” at what it takes to bring together this extraordinary group of musicians led by John V. Sinclair. Please note these are not concerts. They are working rehearsals designed to prepare the Choir and Orchestra for their performance. Only the rehearsals listed at left are open to the public.
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Bach, a dazzling organist and church musician, had to compose all kinds of original pieces for every church service including pieces for choir, organ, harpsichord and orchestra. Since most of his music was written to be performed in a church service only once and then thrown out, very little of his music was published during his lifetime. It was for this reason that Bach composed more music than almost any other composer. However, his musical genius was not recognized until about 100 years after his death.
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Bach drew the soprano and alto choristers from the School, and the tenors and basses from the School and elsewhere in Leipzig. Performing at weddings and funerals provided extra income for these groups; it was probably for this purpose, and for in-school training, that he wrote at least six motets, mostly for double-choir. As part of his regular church work, he performed motets of the Venetian school and Germans such as Heinrich Schütz, which would have served as formal models for his own motets. The audio excerpt is from the opening of Singet dem Herrn (Sing to the Lord), showing the rich, energetic textures that Bach could produce with two choirs, each in four parts.
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Bach Choir