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Oxford Bach Choir

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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.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed] 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][citation needed]

3 March 2018 – 19:30 Rossini: Petite Messe Solonnelle, Bruckner: Four Motets St John the Evangelist Church
2 December 2017 – 17:00 Vaughan Williams: Sea Symphony, Parry: Blest Pair of Sirens Sheldonian Theatre
17 June 2017 – 19:30 Fanshawe: African Sanctus. Chilcott: Little Jazz Mass St John the Evangelist Church
5 March 2017 – 19:30 Bach: Mass in B Minor Sheldonian Theatre
27 November 2016 – 17:00 Walton: Belshazzar's Feast, Vaughan Williams: Five Mystical Songs Sheldonian Theatre
18 June 2016 – 19:30 Schubert: Three Choral Songs, Mendelssohn: 4 Sacred Choruses, Cornelius: Liebe, dir ergeb' ich rich, Brahms: Liebeslieder Waltzes Sheldonian Theatre
12 March 2016 – 19:30 Verdi: Requiem Oxford Town Hall
5 December 2015 – 19:30 Handel: Messiah Sheldonian Theatre
13 June 2015 – 19:30 Haydn: Te Deum, C.P.E.Bach: Magnificat St John the Evangelist Church
14 March 2015 – 19:30 Mozart: Mass in C Minor Sheldonian Theatre
6 December 2014 – 19:30 Elgar: The Spirit of England, Give unto the Lord Sheldonian Theatre
21 June 2014 – 19:30 Rachmaninov: Vespers St John the Evangelist Church
15 March 2014 – 19:30 Bach: St John Passion Sheldonian Theatre
7 December 2013 – 19:30 Handel: Solomon Sheldonian Theatre
15 June 2013 – 19:30 Saint-Saens: Requiem, Gounod: Te Deum,and Faure – Requiem Sheldonian Theatre
9 March 2013 – 19:30 Britten: War Requiem Oxford Town Hall
1 December 2012 – 19:30 Britten: Two Psalms, Ballad of Heroes, The Building of the House Sheldonian Theatre
16 June 2012 – 19:30 Rheinberger – Mass in E flat major and Brahms – German Requiem Sheldonian Theatre
24 March 2012 – 19:00 Bach – St Matthew Passion St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
10 March 2012 – 19:30 Mozart Requiem and Haydn Theresienmesse Sheldonian Theatre
17 December 2011 – 19:30 Carol Concert – 2011 Sheldonian Theatre
3 December 2011 – 19:30 Bach Programme Sheldonian Theatre
25 June 2011 – 19:30 Monteverdi: Vespers Sheldonian Theatre
16 April 2011 – 19:00 Bach – St Matthew Passion Sheldonian Theatre
12 March 2011 – 19:30 Fauré: Requiem and MacMillan: Seven Last Words from the Cross Sheldonian Theatre
4 December 2010 – 19:30 Haydn: The Creation Sheldonian Theatre
19 June 2010 – 19:30 Handel: Dixit Dominus Sheldonian Theatre
16 March 2010 – 19:30 Chilcott, Beethoven: Mass in C Cadogan Hall, London
13 March 2010 – 19:30 Chilcott-world premiere, Beethoven: Mass in C Sheldonian Theatre
19 December 2009 – 19:30 Carols for All – 2009 Sheldonian Theatre
5 December 2009 – 19:30 Mendelssohn: Elijah Sheldonian Theatre
20 June 2009 – 19:30 Showboat (concert performance) by Kern & Hammerstein and a medley of songs by Gershwin Sheldonian Theatre
17 April 2009 – 19:30 Sweet Harmony – Gounod, Vaughan Williams, Fauré Sheldonian Theatre
14 March 2009 – 19:30 Bach: Mass in B Minor Sheldonian Theatre
19 December 2008 – 19:30 Carol Concert Sheldonian Theatre
6 December 2008 – 19:30 Visions of the Beyond – Vaughan Williams, Parry, Holst Sheldonian Theatre
14 June 2008 – 19:30 Bernstein, Chilcott, Lauridsen Sheldonian Theatre
14 March 2008 – 19:30 Handel's Messiah Sheldonian Theatre
15 December 2007 – 19:30 Carols for All Sheldonian Theatre
1 December 2007 – 19:30 Elgar's The Kingdom Sheldonian Theatre
16 June 2007 – 19:30 Sacred and Profane – Vaughan Williams, Ariel Ramirez, Stanford, Constant Lambert Sheldonian Theatre
14 April 2007 (All day) Schubert in Göttingen Göttingen: St.-Paulus-Kirche
10 March 2007 – 19:30 Mozart Concert Sheldonian Theatre
19 December 2006 – 19:30 Carols for all Sheldonian Theatre
2 December 2006 – 19:30 Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem Sheldonian Theatre
23 October 2006 (All day) David Owen Norris: Prayerbook (world premiere) Dorchester Abbey
17 June 2006 – 19:30 Rachmaninov: All-Night Vigil (Vespers) Sheldonian Theatre
11 March 2006 – 19:30 J. S. Bach: St John Passion Sheldonian Theatre
16 December 2005 – 19:30 Carols for choir and audience Sheldonian Theatre
3 December 2005 – 19:30 Puccini and Verdi Sheldonian Theatre
24 September 2005 (All day) Berlioz: L'Enfance du Christ Dorchester Abbey
18 June 2005 – 19:30 Bach, Vaughan-Williams, Maxwell Davies and Elgar Sheldonian Theatre
12 March 2005 – 19:30 Tippett: A Child of Our Time Sheldonian Theatre
17 December 2004 – 19:30 Carols for choir and audience Sheldonian Theatre
4 December 2004 – 19:30 Bach's Magnificat and Haydn's Nelson Mass Sheldonian Theatre
19 June 2004 – 19:30 Janáček and Dvořák Sheldonian Theatre
13 March 2004 – 19:30 Bruckner Mass in E minor Sheldonian 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 13 May 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Concert Programmes


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