Oxford Bach Choir

Interior view of the Sheldonian Theatre of Oxford University, where the Oxford Back Choir holds most of its concerts.

The Oxford Bach Choir is an amateur choir based in Oxford, England. Founded by Basil Harwood in 1896 to further the music of J.S. Bach in Oxford, the Choir merged in 1905 with the Oxford Choral & Philharmonic Society, whose origins can be traced back to 1819. Oxford Bach Choir therefore has a choral tradition which extends back almost two centuries. The Choir performs most of its concerts in the Sheldonian Theatre (designed by Sir Christopher Wren) in central Oxford, but also performs in St John the Evangelist Church, Oxford, located on the Iffley Road.

Overview

The Oxford Bach Choir is a large mixed-voice choir, with around 120 members. The range of music covered is diverse, from the works of Bach and the classical repertoire to contemporary works. Oxford Bach Choir has always had a mix of town and gown singers. Rehearsals and concerts are scheduled so that students, academics and professionals are all able to participate in the Choir's programmes. The Choir enjoys good relationships both with Oxford colleges and with businesses in the city. New members, drawn from throughout Oxfordshire and adjacent counties, are encouraged to apply to join the choir at the start of each term.

Oxford Bach Choir gives at least three concerts every season, at the end of each academic term in December, March and June, occasions that attract audiences of up to 800 people. It also gives a carol concert each December in the Sheldonian Theatre, most recently in association with Oxfordshire Young Singers, Oxfordshire County Youth Choir and Oxfordshire Youth Brass Ensemble.

For its main concerts the Choir is regularly accompanied by a top professional orchestras, such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra, the London Mozart Players and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

In 2018 the choir appointed a new conductor, Benjamin Nicholas, who is also Director of Music at Merton College, Oxford. Previous conductors have included Hugh Allen, Thomas Armstrong, Christopher Robinson and Nicholas Cleobury.

Recordings have been made of some of the concerts performed by the choir. [1]

Notable members

Past concerts

The following concerts have been held since 2004. [3]

3 March 2018 – 19:30Rossini: Petite Messe Solonnelle, Bruckner: Four MotetsSt John the Evangelist Church
2 December 2017 – 17:00Vaughan Williams: Sea Symphony, Parry: Blest Pair of SirensSheldonian Theatre
17 June 2017 – 19:30Fanshawe: African Sanctus. Chilcott: Little Jazz MassSt John the Evangelist Church
5 March 2017 – 19:30Bach: Mass in B MinorSheldonian Theatre
27 November 2016 – 17:00Walton: Belshazzar's Feast, Vaughan Williams: Five Mystical SongsSheldonian Theatre
18 June 2016 – 19:30Schubert: Three Choral Songs, Mendelssohn: 4 Sacred Choruses, Cornelius: Liebe, dir ergeb' ich rich, Brahms: Liebeslieder WaltzesSheldonian Theatre
12 March 2016 – 19:30Verdi: RequiemOxford Town Hall
5 December 2015 – 19:30Handel: MessiahSheldonian Theatre
13 June 2015 – 19:30Haydn: Te Deum, C.P.E.Bach: MagnificatSt John the Evangelist Church
14 March 2015 – 19:30Mozart: Mass in C MinorSheldonian Theatre
6 December 2014 – 19:30Elgar: The Spirit of England, Give unto the LordSheldonian Theatre
21 June 2014 – 19:30Rachmaninov: VespersSt John the Evangelist Church
15 March 2014 – 19:30Bach: St John PassionSheldonian Theatre
7 December 2013 – 19:30Handel: SolomonSheldonian Theatre
15 June 2013 – 19:30Saint-Saens: Requiem, Gounod: Te Deum,and Faure – RequiemSheldonian Theatre
9 March 2013 – 19:30Britten: War RequiemOxford Town Hall
1 December 2012 – 19:30Britten: Two Psalms, Ballad of Heroes, The Building of the HouseSheldonian Theatre
16 June 2012 – 19:30Rheinberger – Mass in E flat major and Brahms – German RequiemSheldonian Theatre
24 March 2012 – 19:00Bach – St Matthew PassionSt George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
10 March 2012 – 19:30Mozart Requiem and Haydn TheresienmesseSheldonian Theatre
17 December 2011 – 19:30Carol Concert – 2011Sheldonian Theatre
3 December 2011 – 19:30Bach ProgrammeSheldonian Theatre
25 June 2011 – 19:30Monteverdi: VespersSheldonian Theatre
16 April 2011 – 19:00Bach – St Matthew PassionSheldonian Theatre
12 March 2011 – 19:30Fauré: Requiem and MacMillan: Seven Last Words from the CrossSheldonian Theatre
4 December 2010 – 19:30Haydn: The CreationSheldonian Theatre
19 June 2010 – 19:30Handel: Dixit DominusSheldonian Theatre
16 March 2010 – 19:30Chilcott, Beethoven: Mass in CCadogan Hall, London
13 March 2010 – 19:30Chilcott-world premiere, Beethoven: Mass in CSheldonian Theatre
19 December 2009 – 19:30Carols for All – 2009Sheldonian Theatre
5 December 2009 – 19:30Mendelssohn: ElijahSheldonian Theatre
20 June 2009 – 19:30Showboat (concert performance) by Kern & Hammerstein and a medley of songs by GershwinSheldonian Theatre
17 April 2009 – 19:30Sweet Harmony – Gounod, Vaughan Williams, FauréSheldonian Theatre
14 March 2009 – 19:30Bach: Mass in B MinorSheldonian Theatre
19 December 2008 – 19:30Carol ConcertSheldonian Theatre
6 December 2008 – 19:30Visions of the Beyond – Vaughan Williams, Parry, HolstSheldonian Theatre
14 June 2008 – 19:30Bernstein, Chilcott, LauridsenSheldonian Theatre
14 March 2008 – 19:30Handel's MessiahSheldonian Theatre
15 December 2007 – 19:30Carols for AllSheldonian Theatre
1 December 2007 – 19:30Elgar's The KingdomSheldonian Theatre
16 June 2007 – 19:30Sacred and Profane – Vaughan Williams, Ariel Ramirez, Stanford, Constant LambertSheldonian Theatre
14 April 2007 (All day)Schubert in GöttingenGöttingen: St.-Paulus-Kirche
10 March 2007 – 19:30Mozart ConcertSheldonian Theatre
19 December 2006 – 19:30Carols for allSheldonian Theatre
2 December 2006 – 19:30Brahms: Ein deutsches RequiemSheldonian Theatre
23 October 2006 (All day)David Owen Norris: Prayerbook (world premiere)Dorchester Abbey
17 June 2006 – 19:30Rachmaninov: All-Night Vigil (Vespers)Sheldonian Theatre
11 March 2006 – 19:30J. S. Bach: St John PassionSheldonian Theatre
16 December 2005 – 19:30Carols for choir and audienceSheldonian Theatre
3 December 2005 – 19:30Puccini and VerdiSheldonian Theatre
24 September 2005 (All day)Berlioz: L'Enfance du ChristDorchester Abbey
18 June 2005 – 19:30Bach, Vaughan-Williams, Maxwell Davies and ElgarSheldonian Theatre
12 March 2005 – 19:30Tippett: A Child of Our TimeSheldonian Theatre
17 December 2004 – 19:30Carols for choir and audienceSheldonian Theatre
4 December 2004 – 19:30Bach's Magnificat and Haydn's Nelson MassSheldonian Theatre
19 June 2004 – 19:30Janáček and DvořákSheldonian Theatre
13 March 2004 – 19:30Bruckner Mass in E minorSheldonian Theatre

References

  1. ↑ "Britten 100: Oxford Bach Choir – Poulenc, Britten". BBC Radio 3. BBC. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  2. ↑ Rubin, G. R. (2004). "'Lawrence, Sir (Frederick) Geoffrey (1902–1967)'". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/34436. Retrieved 2008-05-13. (Subscription required (help)).
  3. ↑ Concert Programmes


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