Displaying the most recent of 17 posts written by

Margaret

2013 Bachfest Outline Plans

London Bach Society’s Bachfest 2013 – Outline Plans                  When: In the period 31 October – 10 November 2013 Where: London – various venues Events: Concerts to be announced Education Programme:                                   [...]

The first days in May for the Bach Family

  The first days in May for the Bach Family The first few days in May had a  significance one for the Bach family. On 3 May 1694 Bach’s mother Maria Elisabeth ( née Lämmerhirt) was buried at Eisenach at the age of 50, her son Sebastian only nine years old. In happier times nearly [...]

Royal Philharmonic Society Hon. Memberships

RPS Bicentenary continues with some inspired choices for Hon. Memberships The RPS is marking its bicentenary year by awarding Honorary Memberships to five extraordinary music makers on four continents. The recipients are: ►  Armand Diangienda, a former airline pilot who founded a symphony orchestra in one of the poorest cities on earth, Kinshasa, DR of the [...]

Bach’s election as Cantor

22 April 1723 – Leipzig Bach was elected Cantor by the Leipzig Town Council at the age of 38. There were several more apparent ‘hoops’ for him to go through before he finally took office the following month.  This was the beginning of the most wondrous period of music composition to flow from his pen [...]

Remembering our founder – Paul Steinitz 1909-1988

  In remembrance of the founder of the London Bach Society, Steinitz Bach Players, Bach scholar and conductor, writer and teacher Dr. Paul Steinitz who died 25 years ago on 21 April 1988.     Share this:

Peter Schreier awarded 2013 Leipzig Bach Medal

The Mayor of Leipzig to present the medal at June Bachfest The Leipzig Bach Medal was established in 2003 and many distinguished interpreters of Bach’s music from around the globe have enjoyed the simple, dignified ceremony carried out during the annual Bachfest in the composer’s city.  The award itself celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and [...]

The early St.Matthew in retrospect

A brief reflection on 12-15 March, Rehearsals and Performance It was the UK ‘live’ première of this early version, something we were able to establish finally just before the performance, and what a week it turned out to be! A wonderful opportunity to think afresh about a work we think we know well. So first [...]

The Art of Fugue BWV 1080 or “The Art of Bach”

Bach’s  Art of Fugue One of the regretably few performances of Bach’s music to be featured in the BBC Proms this year is one of his most fascinating – his Art of Fugue BWV 1080. Perhaps a better and more appealing title for this collection of fugues (each called Contrapunctus) and  canons could be The [...]

Lina Lalandi OBE Founder English Bach Festival

Lina Lalandi OBE (d. 8 June 2012) Lina Lalandi, the founder of the English Bach Festival, died last month. She was in her early nineties and one of the most colourful figures on the  Festival scene during her lifetime.  Her vision and flair, backed up by sheer nerve,  made her a formidable character to deal [...]

2012 Leipzig Bach Medal

Masaaki Suzuki awarded the Leipzig Bach Medal 2012 The 2012 Leipzig Bach Medal was awarded to the Japanese conductor and harpsichordist Masaaki Suzuki on 8 June at a concert given by the Bach Collegium Japan as part of the 2012 Leipzig Bachfest.  BCJ’s founder-conductor, Professor Suzuki is a major contributor to Bach scholarship and performance and another whose [...]