EXETER BACH SOCIETY

Patron: Peter Hurford Esq., OBE. DMus. FRCO
Hon President: Alderman Ramon Yeo

Registered Charity No. 1120011

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Exeter's guildhall is said to be the oldest municipal building in the country, dating back to c 1160.

History of the Society

Founded in Exeter's historic Guildhall

in 1995.

Since its formation in 1995 the Society has given performances of many cantatas, lutheran massesand instrumental works. Recent concerts included the Magnificat, Mass in G major, Mass in G minor, Fifth Brandenburg Concerto, Double Violin Concerto, the St John & Matthew Passions and the B Minor Mass. At Christmas 2005 the choir also sang extracts from the Christmas Oratorio and and in January 2007 sang parts 1, 3, 5 and 6 of this work in Exeter Cathedral.

Since then there has been an increase of charges for Exeter Cathedral which has caused us to look elsewhere for suitable venues. However our then Musical Director suggested that we sing some of Bach's Cantatas with the Cathedral Voluntary Choir in the Cathedral as the major part of the Evening Service on selected Sundays. This has proved very successful and continue today. It has had a major effect on our programming as we have been able to have recitals or talks in the Cathedral Chapter House on these Cantata Sundays. Generally we have one talk and one recital in these slots each year. In recent years we have welcomed Andrew Nethsingha from St John's College Cambridge and Sir David Willcocks, the well known choral conductor. Recitals have included the Schubert song cycle Die Schöne Müllerin sung by Thomas Hobbs, the Exeter born tenor, the Goldberg Variations played by David Wright and we look forward to a piano recital next Spring by the winner of the BBC Young Musician 2010 competition, Lara Melda (née Örmeroglou).

A change of Musical Director in April 2007 energised the Society to different works from time to time, culminating with a programme in April 2010 of works entirely accompanied by brass with hardly a note of Bach! In April 2011 we sang the great Mass in B minor and in December of the same year 5 parts of the Christmas Oratorio. Both these works were performed in St David's Church to great critical acclaim. In March 2012 we will be singing a Haydn Mass, the Harmoniemesse. This is first occasion on which we will have sung Haydn (and have to emloy Clarinets for the first time ever). In April 2012 we will be welcoming David Davies as our new Musical Director.

The Society is proud to have the world famous Bach organist Peter Hurford as its Honorary Patron. Dr Hurford has shown great interest in the Society's work and attends our concerts from time to time.

From its earliest days the Society has set out to cater for enthusiasts for Bach's music in a serious manner but without undue pedantry. For example, the practical problems of using period instruments are too great for their regular use but in particular situations they are employed. Choral works are invariably performed in the original language. Where there are interesting revisions by the composer, as in the St John Passion, the Society would lean heavily in favour of bringing to life the rarely performed version from time to time.

The management of the Society is vested in a Committee which is elected each year at the Annual General Meeting.

The choir and orchestra assembling for a rehearsal at Heavitree Church

EXETER BACH SOCIETY Patron: Peter Hurford Esq., OBE. DMus. FRCO Hon President: Alderman Ramon Yeo Registered Charity No. 1120011

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	Exeter's guildhall is said to be the oldest municipal building in the country, dating back to c 1160. History of the Society Founded in Exeter's historic Guildhall in 1995. Since its formation in 1995 the Society has given performances of many cantatas, lutheran massesand instrumental works. Recent concerts included the Magnificat, Mass in G major, Mass in G minor, Fifth Brandenburg Concerto, Double Violin Concerto, the St John & Matthew Passions and the B Minor Mass. At Christmas 2005 the choir also sang extracts from the Christmas Oratorio and and in January 2007 sang parts 1, 3, 5 and 6 of this work in Exeter Cathedral. Since then there has been an increase of charges for Exeter Cathedral which has caused us to look elsewhere for suitable venues. However our then Musical Director suggested that we sing some of Bach's Cantatas with the Cathedral Voluntary Choir in the Cathedral as the major part of the Evening Service on selected Sundays. This has proved very successful and continue today. It has had a major effect on our programming as we have been able to have recitals or talks in the Cathedral Chapter House on these Cantata Sundays. Generally we have one talk and one recital in these slots each year. In recent years we have welcomed Andrew Nethsingha from St John's College Cambridge and Sir David Willcocks, the well known choral conductor. Recitals have included the Schubert song cycle Die Schöne Müllerin sung by Thomas Hobbs, the Exeter born tenor, the Goldberg Variations played by David Wright and we look forward to a piano recital next Spring by the winner of the BBC Young Musician 2010 competition, Lara Melda (née Örmeroglou). A change of Musical Director in April 2007 energised the Society to different works from time to time, culminating with a programme in April 2010 of works entirely accompanied by brass with hardly a note of Bach! In April 2011 we sang the great Mass in B minor and in December of the same year 5 parts of the Christmas Oratorio. Both these works were performed in St David's Church to great critical acclaim. In March 2012 we will be singing a Haydn Mass, the Harmoniemesse. This is first occasion on which we will have sung Haydn (and have to emloy Clarinets for the first time ever). In April 2012 we will be welcoming David Davies as our new Musical Director. The Society is proud to have the world famous Bach organist Peter Hurford as its Honorary Patron. Dr Hurford has shown great interest in the Society's work and attends our concerts from time to time. From its earliest days the Society has set out to cater for enthusiasts for Bach's music in a serious manner but without undue pedantry. For example, the practical problems of using period instruments are too great for their regular use but in particular situations they are employed. Choral works are invariably performed in the original language. Where there are interesting revisions by the composer, as in the St John Passion, the Society would lean heavily in favour of bringing to life the rarely performed version from time to time. The management of the Society is vested in a Committee which is elected each year at the Annual General Meeting. The choir and orchestra assembling for a rehearsal at Heavitree Church