The London Bach Society

Dr. William H  Scheide (1914-2014)

The death has been announced today of the philanthropist and Bach devotee Dr. William  Scheide.  Paul and I met Dr. Scheide at a performance of Bach’s Johannes-Passion my husband was directing in Princeton. Scheide then invited us to his home to talk ‘Bach’ and he later showed us the original Haussmann portrait (1748) and some manuscripts in the Scheide Library.  We were honoured.  Dr. Scheide was not only a generous philanthropist, but also an active performer, directing the Bach Aria Group across America for 34 years and bringing Bach’s music into the lives of many who would otherwise not have had the chance to hear the music ‘live’. The Bach world has lost a real friend. www.bach-archiv.de

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Sir David Tang wins Asian Arts Award

Sir David Tang, LBS President

Watch this clip and see our President receive his richly deserved award

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4pxkVUvfFA

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Judith Weir is appointed Master of the Queen’s Music

Judith Weir, the new Master of the Queen’s Music

The appointment of the composer Judith Weir CBE as Master of the Queen’s Music in succession to Sir Peter Maxwell Davies is announced today. She is the first female to hold this historic position. Many congratulations and good wishes. For more information visit www.musicsalesclassical.com.

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Sir John Tavener’s Service of Thanksgiving

A Service of Thanksgiving for the Life and Work of the composer Sir John Tavener took place on 11 June in the splendour and spiritual atmosphere of Westminster Abbey.  The congregation was a mix of specially invited guests,  musical colleagues and audience followers.

HRH The Prince of Wales, a personal friend of the composer, attended in a private capacity.

The Address was given by Sir Nicholas Kenyon, Bible Readings were delivered by Simon Russell Beale and Sir Magdi Yacoub, and Tavener’s eldest daughter Theodora read a moving piece her father wrote specially for his three children. The music was provided by the Choir of Westminster Abbey directed by James O’Donnell, the Britten Sinfonia conducted by Stephen Layton, soloists Nicholas Daniel, Stephen Isserlis, Thomas Gould and the soprano Patricia Rozario.

Among the invited guests was Mrs Margaret Steinitz who also represented the London Bach Society. The late Dr. Paul Steinitz with the London Bach Society choir (1947-1989) gave the first professional public performance of a Tavener work, his Three Holy Sonnets of John Donne, on 20 July 1964 in the Priory Church of St. Bartholomew-the-Great, West Smithfield fifty years ago. The composer was just 20. There followed a lifelong friendship and musical association with the significant musical figure that is the late John Tavener.

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Trusteeship of the London Bach Society

One of the objectives of the London Bach Society’s Strategic Plan for the development of the Society in the run-up to the 70th anniversary in November 2016 is the appointment of four new Trustees to complement the team, bringing the total serving to nine.

Full details are published in a pdf that can be downloaded from the “About Us” pages.  Scroll down to  Governance & Contact  (See Navigation). 

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