LBS New Work and Commissions

LBS Commissions & First Performances
- a musical chapter re-opened from 2012
The story so far…
 
LBS Commissions
 Introit for the Feast of St. John Damascene  – John Tavener, first performed on 27 March 1968, QEH
  
“The Chameleon and the Lizard” – Stanley Glasser, first performed on 30 January 1971, revived for LBS USA tour 1973 – a choral entertainment sung in Zulu, LBS commission with Arts Council funds.

Easter Stanzas - David Rowlands, first performed on 25 March 1972, QEH, LBS Commission with Arts Council funds 

Missa Brevis - Christopher Brown first performed on 23 March 1968 as part of the St. Pancras Festival and LBS 21st anniversary of its first concerts, plus his Three Mediaeval Lyrics first performed on 13 October 1973 at QEH. BBC recording.  LBS Commission with Arts Council funds for USA tour and the cantata The Vision of Saul, first performed on 11 February 1984. QEH. BBC Recording. LBS Commission with Arts Council funds for Paul Steinitz 75th Birthday series

UK First & Broadcast Performances plus…   a selection
Canticum Sacrum - Igor Stravinsky, 11 December 1956
Canti di Prigionia – Dallapiccola, 14 May 1963
Tre Liriche Grêche – Maderna, 5 March 1965
Five Epigrams – Nicholas Maw, 14 October 1965
Cain and Abel – John Tavener, 22 October 1966 – BBC Recording
Stars – David Matthews. 22 October 1970, QEH and USA tour 1971
Hymn to the Holy Innocents - Christopher Brown, 13 January 1975 BBC      Little Requiem for Father Malachy Lynch - John Tavener, 22 Nov 1975
Requiem for Father Malachy – John Tavener, London 1 December 1979
Veni Sancte Spiritus – Peter Maxwell Davies, 4 November 1972 QEH. BBC
The performers involved include the London Bach Society Choir (1947-89)and Steinitz Bach Players (1968-) conducted by our founder Paul Steinitz (1909-1988)

LBS Composer Folio re-opening     Our composition folio will be re-opened under the auspices of the Society’s 18-30 Bach Club, as a development of their performing activities and to reflect Bach’s influence among today’s composers. Launched in 2009, the Club is inspired by Bach’s tenure as Director of Music of the Leipzig Collegium Musicum, the students’ musical society founded in 1702 by his contemporary and friend Georg-Philipp Telemann. Here new works were premièred at the weekly meetings held at Zimmermann’s Coffee House in Leipzig’s  fashionable Katharinenstrasse including Bach’s famous and much-loved Coffee Cantata.

The commissioning and first performances of new music is an important chapter in the LBS story. Our folio of new works (see above) contains a wide range of innovatory compositions. These have been delivered by an eclectic group of creators (Gallery below) reflecting the rich and diverse community from which the contemporary composer hails.  Working with today’s composers and listening to their music  provides a stimulating counterpoise to the study and performance of Bach, whose creations are often their inspiration. Through this fusion of interests emerges a greater understanding and appreciation of human creativity and the fertile mind.
We plan to re-open the new music chapter in 2012 ….to turn a page and bring into our circle some creative musical minds of our time. Watch this space… MS