Oxford Bach Choir

Interior view of the Sheldonian Theatre of Oxford University, where the Oxford Back Choir rehearses and holds 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 in the Sheldonian Theatre (designed by Sir Christopher Wren) in central Oxford.

Overview

The Oxford Bach Choir is a large mixed-voice choir, with around 160 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, are encouraged at the start of every season.

Oxford Bach Choir gives at least four concerts every season at the end of each academic term, in December, March and June, occasions that attract audiences of around 800 people. For the main programmes in December and March the Choir is accompanied by top professional orchestras, such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Mozart Players and the Britten Sinfonia, and sings under the conductorship of Nicholas Cleobury, who is a champion of new musichaving given over a hundred premieres. In June and at Christmas, the Choir performs under the baton of its Associate Conductor, Timothy Byram-Wigfield, who is Director of Music at St George's Chapel, Windsor, with a career as an organist, pianist and singer.

Concerts by the Oxford Bach Choir are sometimes recorded.[1]

Notable members

Past concerts

The following concerts have been held:

Date Title Venue
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
0 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 (London) Cadogan Hall, London
13 March 2010 – 19:30 Chilcott-world premiere, Beethoven 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 2008-05-13. (subscription required (help)).


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