London Bach Society

The London Bach Society is a society devoted to performing the music of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) with small, professional forces, using period instruments in order to obtain an authentic style of interpretation.

History

The London Bach Society was founded in 1946 by Paul Steinitz who, at that time, was organist of St Peter’s Church, Dulwich Common. Steinitz had been working for some years on ideas about performing Baroque music and it was his long-term intention to 'get back to Bach in its original form'. This was at a time when Romantic notions held sway in Baroque performance. Bach’s music, especially his vocal music, had fallen into decline and virtual oblivion after his death in 1750 except for the attentions of his second son C. P. E. Bach, and some of his pupils. In England, the Bach revival owed much to the organist Samuel Wesley who disseminated some of the composer's music in the early 19th century. Indeed, the first performance in Britain of a Bach's choral work took place on 3 June 1809 in the Hanover Square Rooms, London - a performance of the motet Jesu, meine Freude sung in Latin and directed by Wesley. In Germany it was not until Felix Mendelssohn performed the St Matthew Passion in 1829 that interest was reawakened. Therefore, for over a century, Bach’s vocal music was performed by large choral societies in the romantic style, and using inappropriate editions. It was obvious to Steinitz that such huge choirs could not achieve the clarity required nor balance appropriately with the small orchestras of period instruments the composer would have used.

Taking the first steps towards his aims, Steinitz formed first a choir of 50 members that held their inaugural rehearsal on 7 January 1947. This amateur choir was trained to a high standard, and for the next four decades this was the backbone of the LBS, performing vocal works by Bach as well as his contemporaries including Handel and Telemann, and early Baroque composers such as Heinrich Schütz (1585–1672). Between 1958 and 1987 the LBS choir under Steinitz performed all the extant church and secular cantatas, 208 separate works, cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach in various venues, and mostly in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London. In addition, the London Bach Society presented an annual performance of one of the two passions, usually the St Matthew Passion, in Lent. The Society also broadcast and toured abroad, performing twice in St Thomas Church, Leipzig, where Bach had been Cantor from 1723 until his death in 1750.

Paul Steinitz' work with the London Bach Society in the early years was complemented by the foundation in 1955, with Joan Brocklebank, of the Dorset Bach Cantata Club. By then, Steinitz was already contemplating a more considered presentation of the cantatas in a complete cycle that eventually began in November 1958. In order to allow himself an extra dimension to his study of them, he set up this group of mostly Dorset-based amateur musicians whom he augmented with some semi-professional players. The group met first in Wimborne and later at Sturminster Newton, studying Bach cantatas and related works. The Club celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2005.

In 1968 Steinitz founded Steinitz Bach Players, a professional group, who were able to apply Baroque performance practice to their playing. Having introduced the natural/clarino trumpet, baroque flute, the cornett and sackbut earlier in the 1960s, the foundation of the orchestra was not only a natural progression, but also a development of the London Bach Society as a whole. All this was at a time when great strides were being made in the development of period instruments. At foundation modern instruments were employed, moving later to period ones as expertise grew. By 1985 the development of Baroque instruments and the technique of the players was such that the LBS choir was able to perform the St Matthew Passion with a complete orchestra of period instruments and this they did for the opening concert of the 1985 Bath International Music Festival in Wells Cathedral and later in 1987 at Westminster Abbey, the latter being the last time Steinitz conducted the work.

In 1983 the Steinitz Bach Players, which had been run as a separate organisation, merged with the amateur choir to form a new charity, a major development for the Society moving it on from amateur-based to professional.

In tandem with Bach and having already accumulated a distinguished folio of contemporary works, some written to commission and many others 'first performances', the new constitution did not provide for this focus to continue in the wake of other groups like London Sinfonietta and the Nash Ensemble emerging. However, there was one final commission, funded by the Arts Council, from Christopher Brown, to write a cantata as part of Paul Steinitz’s 75th birthday series in 1984.

The completion of the Bach cantata series in 1987 was an historic milestone in this country, the first cycle to have been given in the UK complete and in public. Paul Steinitz lived just long enough to fulfil his lifelong ambition, for he died in April 1988 aged 78.

In 1989, a year after Steinitz’s death. the decision was taken to disband the amateur choir and to continue in the way that Steinitz had for some time been contemplating: with performances of Bach’s vocal works by very small groups of professional singers, and with boys’ voices where possible. This would provide the appropriate vocal forces to balance with small groups of period instruments and be both a natural progression and an expression of the Society's underlying musical principles. An annual Bach Festival was subsequently founded by Steinitz's widow and the first of these took place in 1990. At that time it was known as the London Bach Festival, but today it continues under the title London Bach Society's Bachfest. Building on Steinitz' musical legacy, the events and programmes attempt to place Bach's works in context with his life and times, complemented by those of his antecedants and contemporaries. There have been some significant Bachfest activities. In 1994, Bach's old choir, the Thomanerchor in Leipzig made its UK debut, Gustav Leonhardt directed at the LBS Golden Jubilee in 1996 and in 2005 the UK 'live' première of a newly discovered Bach Aria was given, to name but a few.

Under the guidance and leadership of Margaret Steinitz, the London Bach Society has continued to entertain, experiment, uplift and inspire all lovers of Bach’s music as well as building up an invaluable database for Bach studies and an imaginative educational programme. In the autumns of 2006 and 2007 the LBS celebrated its Diamond Jubilee at two Bachfests that reflected upon past achievements and pointed the way forward into a new era. In 2009, the centenary of Steinitz' birth will be celebrated in London, Dorset and elsewhere.

LBS membership and support network

LBS is funded privately and supported by members, private patrons, trusts, foundations and corporate donors. The Society welcomes new members and donors in support of its work as a unique Bach Society in the UK.

External links

• http://www.bachlive.co.uk/
• http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/LBS.htm
• http://www.dorsetbach.org.uk