Tag Archives: Bach

Some concerts from the 2009 Bath Festival

I will mention these briefly, as I passed up the opportunity to go because of a residual tickly cough, and let others in the family hear them instead. First up were the Jerusalem Quartet, playing Haydn Op. 77/1, Bartók’s fourth … Continue reading

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a memorial service at Merton

I’ve written before about the new choral foundation at Merton College Oxford, where I was an undergraduate. I was able to hear the choir last Saturday, though at a rather sad occasion: the memorial service for Tom Braun, who taught … Continue reading

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2008 and 2009’s resolutions

Back again in the final hours of 2008 to review the year just past. 2008 would have done well to live up to 2007, and unfortunately it didn’t, although there were quite a few highlights from my point of view. … Continue reading

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two other 2008 Bath Festival concerts

I wasn’t able to attend more than two concerts because of my own singing commitments during the Festival but others in the family got out more. My husband went to the concert of Indian classical music given by Partho Sarothy … Continue reading

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Bach’s B minor Mass

A few weeks ago I was listening to Bach’s B minor mass on the radio and regretting as I always do that I’d never sung soprano in a performance. (I did sing in a performance as a student, with the … Continue reading

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2007’s and 2008’s resolutions

Time for the annual review of the year and some resolutions for 2008. 2007 taught me that you simply cannot guess at New Year what the next twelve months might bring. I couldn’t have imagined that in June I’d be … Continue reading

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In Terra Pax

A quick round-up of some pieces in the Chandos Singers’ latest concert in mid-December. We (in fact mostly the men) sang a mediæval Gloria. (I’ll fill in the composer’s name when I’m in the same place as the programme). I … Continue reading

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the Chorus Angelorum

This was the name of the choir assembled to sing a big performance (really, there is no other kind) of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion in Bath Abbey tonight under the direction of Gavin Carr and accompanied by the English Chamber … Continue reading

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the golden age of compound time

As I was singing the opening chorus of the St. Matthew Passion a thought occurred to me: why did it go wrong for compound time after the baroque period? Why did later composers use it less, apart from niche markets … Continue reading

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Mein Gott, Vorsprung durch Technik

This was the name of an imaginary cantata in Private Eye‘s version of the Radio 3 listings during the Bach Christmas, in which only J.S. Bach was broadcast on Radio 3 for ten days. When there was a similar exercise … Continue reading

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