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St Albans Bach Choir

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St Albans Bach Choir
OriginSt Albans, Hertfordshire, U.K.
GenresChoral
Instrumentchoral
Years active1924 - present
Websitehttps://www.stalbansbachchoir.org.uk

St Albans Bach Choir is an amateur choir based in the English cathedral city of St Albans. Since its founding in 1924 it has performed a wide range of choral music including but by no means limited to the great Bach masterpieces.[1] It strives for the highest possible standards of music making, employing soloists of the highest calibre and professional orchestras. Performances are normally held in St Albans Cathedral. Currently, the Musical Director is William Fox, Director of Music at the Cathedral.

The choir has been conducted by distinguished guest conductors Sir David Willcox, John Rutter CBE, Sir Richard Armstrong and Laurence Cummings.

In October 2018 the choir was recognised as being amongst "9 of The Best UK Choirs".[2]

The choir celebrated its centenary in 2024 with a season of outstanding concerts and the publication of a high quality book about the choir, its history, music and people.[3]

The choir is Registered Charity no. 285602[4]

History and Organisation

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Concert programme for the inaugural concert of the St Albans Bach Choir, 1924
Concert programme for the inaugural concert of the St Albans Bach Choir, 1924

Formed in 1924, the choir's first concert in April of that year consisted of a performance of Bach's St Matthew Passion under Mr Luttman. No concerts were given during the Second World War, but it has performed every year since 1947[5] up until interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The concert scheduled for March 2020 was cancelled, with no rehearsals or concerts until the Autumn of 2021.

According to the choir's Constitution,[6] its objectives include the "presentation of public choral concerts to the highest possible standards". In pursuance of this, membership is by audition with periodic re-auditions. In addition, members are required to take periodic individual singing lessons.

The Musical Director is normally the Master of the Music at St Albans Cathedral (Andrew Lucas since 1998[7] and William Fox from Autumn 2024). The choir's President and Vice-President are the Bishop and Dean of St Albans respectively. However, there are no formal links with the Cathedral.

Concerts and other appearances

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Regular concerts

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The choir normally gives three main concerts a year in St Albans Cathedral, with professional soloist and orchestra. In alternate years the Summer concert is normally one of the major events in the biennial St Albans International Organ Festival.

For many years, the choir has also presented charity carol concerts in December,[8] which have proven very popular. Two local charities are chosen each year, one supported by an afternoon concert aimed especially at children, and the other at an evening concert.

Guest conductors

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In July 2017, Laurence Cummings, Musical Director of the London Handel Festival conducted the choir in a performance of Handel's Messiah.[9]

In July 2013 Sir Richard Armstrong conducted the choir in a performance of Britten War Requiem.[10]

In November 2011 and again in April 2019 and November 2023 the choir performed John Rutter's Requiem, conducted on both occasions by the composer.[11]

In 1987, Sir David Willcocks conducted the choir in the world premier of the final revised version of Howard Blake Benedictus.[12][5]

In 2019, Howard Blake himself conducted his Benedictus.[12]

Other appearances

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In 2013, 2015 and again in 2019, the choir was invited by John Rutter CBE to take part in his hugely popular Royal Albert Hall Christmas Concerts.[13][14]

Also at the Royal Albert Hall, the choir has twice been invited by the BBC to take part in the Songs of Praise Big Sing, broadcast nationally.[15]

In July 2017 the choir performed the Verdi Requiem in the Cadogan Hall, London, conducted by Peter Ash. A review described the choir as "marvellous – vibrant, committed, sensitive, dynamic and securely balanced and blended."[16]

In 2012 the choir performed the Rachmaninov Vespers in Lille Cathedral, and in 2008, Mozart's Requiem in the Rudolfinum, Prague.

In May 1978 the choir performed the Schubert Mass in E flat in the Royal Festival Hall, conducted by Denys Darlow, founder of the Tilford Bach Festival.

Recordings

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Christmas at St Albans (with the Cathedral Choir). Lammas Records LAMM081 1992.

Elgar Dream of Gerontius (also with St Albans Chamber Choir and St Albans Choral Society) St Cecilia Festival Society concert May 1988, with Catherine Wyn Rogers, Michael Goldthorpe, Michael George, conducted by Richard Stangroom. Lance Andrews Sound Services 1988.

Repertoire

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Whilst a core component of the choir's repertoire includes J. S. Bach's three major choral works (St Matthew Passion, St John Passion and Mass in B minor), one of which is traditionally performed roughly every 2 years, it also extends from Monteverdi (Vespers of 1610, last performed in 1974) to the late 20th Century.

Notable concerts from recent years[5] have included:

Commissioned works

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In 2006 the choir gave the first performance of Tenebrae by Joseph Phibbs, which was commissioned by the choir.[18]

Other First Performances

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In 1987, the choir gave the first performance of the final revised version of Howard Blake Benedictus, conducted by Sir David Willcocks.[12][5]

In 2019 the choir gave the first performance of Walking in the Air by Howard Blake in a new arrangement with choral backing. The soloist was Peter Auty, the treble soloist in the film version, now a tenor.[19]

Music Directors

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The following is a list of music directors since the choir's founding:[5]

St Albans Celebration Choir

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Choir funds are supplemented by a small group drawing its members exclusively from the St Albans Bach Choir, but managed separately from the main choir. It advertises its services for events such as weddings and funerals, under the name "St Albans Celebration Choir".

References

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  1. ^ "St Matthew Passion at St Albans Abbey". St Albans and Harpenden Review 1 April 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  2. ^ "9 of The Best UK Choirs". Stage Systems. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  3. ^ St Albans Bach Choir (2024). St Albans Bach Choir 100 Years. St Albans, UK. ISBN 978-1-3999-8239-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ "Charity Commission". Charity Commission for England and Wales. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e Archives of the St Albans Bach Choir.
  6. ^ Constitution of the St Albans Bach Choir.
  7. ^ "City's musical standing can only be heightened by Master". St Albans and Harpenden Review 31 July 1998. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  8. ^ "St Albans Bach raises more than £5,000 at Christmas charity concerts". St Albans and Harpenden Review 22 January 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  9. ^ "Internationally renowned stars' gather for organ festival". St Albans and Harpenden Review 11 July 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  10. ^ a b "War Requiem". Herts Advertiser. Herts Advertiser 21 June 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Rutter conducts his Requiem at the Abbey". St Albans and Harpenden Review 11 November 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  12. ^ a b c "Howard Blake Benedictus". Howard Blake official website. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  13. ^ "St Albans musicians wow sell-out audiences at the Royal Albert Hall concert". St Albans and Harpenden Review 20 December 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  14. ^ "From the Royal Albert Hall to St Albans Abbey". St Albans and Harpenden Review 9 December 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  15. ^ "David Grant previews this week's Songs of Praise". BBC. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  16. ^ Anderson, Colin. "Verdi's Requiem at Cadogan Hall – St Albans Bach Choir & Kensington Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Peter Ash". Classical Source. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  17. ^ "St Albans Bach Choir to perform rare masterpiece Stabat Mater by Antonín Dvořák at cathedral". St Albans and Harpenden Review 27 March 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  18. ^ Barlow, Jill (October 2006). "St Albans Abbey: Joseph Phibb's 'Tenebrae'". Tempo. 60 (238): 67–68. doi:10.1017/S0040298206260339. JSTOR 3878663.
  19. ^ "Walking in the Air a cappella". Howard Blake official website. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  20. ^ "Organist's Death". Daily Herald. 3 February 1930. p. 5. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  21. ^ "Obituaries: Meredith Davies". The Telegraph. April 2005. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
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