Bach for a Hundred Years: A Social History of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem

by Paul S. Larson

Overview

This is an account of the actions taken by the residents of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to create a local amateur society singing the music of J. S.Bach and to develop it into a choir of international importance. Singers, instrumentalists, industrialists, academicians, bankers, and churches acted in community to found and perpetuate a group devoted to sharing the music of Bach locally, nationally, and internationally. While The Bach Choir of Bethlehem performs frequently elsewhere, the annual Bethlehem Bach Festival became and remains a magnet for those who love Bach and want to experience his music excellently performed in historic and sacred surroundings.
In order to reach and maintain its premier status, the choir, its conductor, its board, and staff had to be experts in music performance and shifts in audience tastes. They had to be responsive to research in performance practice, and skilled in strategic planning, promotion and fundraising. In recent years they had to become competent in sound recording technology and use of the internet. These attributes are described and analyzed with frequent use of documents and personal anecdotes.
Successfully balancing the human actions and desires involved in such a complex enterprise has earned The Bach Choir of Bethlehem the title “A National Treasure” in music and the recognition that it is at the same time a national model for excellence as a cultural non-profit organization.
This is a story of how and why - for over a century - inspiring performances of Bach’s music came about and were brought to many thousands of listeners.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781611460957
Publisher:	University Press Copublishing Division
Publication date:	11/01/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	266
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Paul S. Larson is professor emeritus at Moravian College in Bethlehem Pennsylvania, where he taught music education, non-Western music, and music history. He is presently Archivist and Curator of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations

Acknowledgments

Dedication

Author’s Note

Introduction

Chapter 1. Bach, Bethlehem, and Wolle: 1733-1897

Chapter 2. Creating An American Bach Choir: 1898

Chapter 3. A National Success: 1899-1900

Chapter 4. Becoming International: 1901

Chapter 5. The Bach Festivals Questioned: 1902

Chapter 6. Bach Festivals As An Idea: 1903

Chapter 7. A Bach Cycle: 1904-1905

Chapter 8. The Wolles In California: 1905-1911

Chapter 9. Renewing The Bach Choir in Bethlehem: 1912-1913

Chapter 10. An American Center for Bach: 1914

Chapter 11. "My Bach Choir": 1915-1933

Chapter 12. Years Of Transition: 1934-1938

Chapter 13. A More Comprehensive Scope: The Third Conductor

Chapter 14. A Distinguished Career: 1951-1969

Chapter 15. Connecting With Bach: 1969-1976

Chapter 16. Mann's Last Years With The Choir: 1976-1980

Chapter 17. In Mann's Footsteps: 1981-1983

Chapter 18. A Renewed Choir: 1982-1990

Chapter 19. "A More Sophisticated Organization": 1991-1996

Chapter 20. "A National Treasure": 1996-2000

Chapter 21. A Second Centennial: 2000-2007

Appendix A. Bach Festival Distinguished Scholar Lecture Series

Appendix B. Bach Choir Discography

Bibliography

Index

About the Author