The Bach Society of Queensland Inc.
History of the Society
The first concert of the Society was held at
the conservatorium and featured Joseph Aronoff, Nancy Weir, Janet Delpratt and
Max Olding, Bruce Brazier and Rhonda Vickers.
A public concert of Bach’s music in the same year, held at the Brisbane
Arts Theatre, was well received.
Our aim has been the promotion and
performance of the works of J.S.Bach, his family, contemporaries and
precursors. The Society has contributed
to the musical life of
The Bach Choir
In 1972 the Bach Choir was established
with John Thomson as conductor.
Subsequent music directors include David Barcla, Kim Kirkman, Ian
McKinley and
The Choir continues to perform at least
three major concerts each year, including an annual presentation of Handel’s Messiah.
Occasional weekend trips to perform in out-of-Brisbane venues such as
the
The Choir has also participated in major
concerts with other choirs, such as Mahler’s Eighth Symphony for the inaugural
concert at the Brisbane Convention Centre.
Educational Role
Over the years the Society has advanced
the careers of many gifted performers as soloists at our concerts. For rising stars, the Society has given them
their first opportunity to feature as soloists in such works as Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Handel’s Messiah.
For many years, an annual Bach Prize
competition was held as further encouragement to both singers and
instrumentalists.
The choir receives instruction in the
reading and interpretation of music and also in vocal production from its
conductor and occasionally from visiting tutors at special workshops.
Point of Interest: The Society logo
is the Bach Family crest. It contains
the initials “JSB” twice (once in mirror image).
Memorable Performances
Inspiring; thrilling; enjoyable; deeply satisfying;
well worth the effort of learning the music;……………
Singers who have
participated in performances of the great choral works describe their
experience in these terms. As listeners,
they find that having performed the music adds a dimension to their
appreciation. In recent years the Bach
Choir has sung Bach’s St Matthew Passion,
Christmas Oratorio, and several cantatas and motets.
In addition to the
Messiah, we have sung Handel’s Chandos Anthems and his oratorio Jephtha, Haydn’s Creation and works by Monteverdi, Gabriele, Palestrina, Schutz,
Vivaldi and Mozart have also formed part of the choir’s programme. We sing
carols both in December and at our popular Christmas
in July concerts.
Besides Baroque
music, we have sung works by Mendelssohn, Brahms, Elgar, Brumby, and McKinley.
The Musical
Director and committee are always open to suggestions from members in choosing
music, venues and occasions to perform.