The Lord bless you
and keep you
by John Rutter
Quirentine Lockdown Recording ProjectVirtual Bath Bach Choir | April 2021
Emerging step-by-step from the barren desert of no live singing, we offer our last lockdown recording as a gift and perhaps a comfort to all those who have struggled with loneliness or bereavement over the past 13 months, as a result of the covid-19 pandemic. The beautifully crafted choral music of John Rutter is always uplifting, and we hope our words and voices speak for themselves.
The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make his face to shine upon you
And be gracious unto you.
The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you
And give you peace.
Amen.
Midsummer Vespers
Saturday 3 July 20217.30pm | Bath Abbey
For our long-awaited return to live singing, Bath Bach Choir presented Midsummer Vespers, a sacred programme with a light touch and a contemplative mood. Fanning out around the vibrant new space of Bath Abbey, we created an atmospheric theatre of sound, with a mix of music early and modern by Tallis, Morales, Guerrero, Buxtehude, Rossini, Fauré, Gjeilo and Rachmaninov.
Young soloists Katie Bunney (saxophone) and Cassandra Dalby (mezzo-soprano) joined us on our journey back into the light, with Huw Williams accompanying and Nigel Perrin sculpting the sounds in this, his 31st year as music director of Bath Bach Choir.
Bath Bach Choir had been rehearsing – and performed – under carefully controlled, Covid-safe conditions.
Katie Bunney saxophone
Cassandra Dalby mezzo-soprano
Huw Williams organ & piano
Nigel Perrin conductor
Choral Workshop 2021
Brahms
A German Requiem
Saturday 25 September 20219.30am–5.00pm
St Mary’s Church, Bathwick
Our 2021 choral workshop was a day of soul-stirring live music as we shone a spotlight on Brahms’ A German Requiem to study and sing together under the masterful direction of Nigel Perrin, accompanied by piano (Marcus Sealy) and soloists (Alice Leebetter soprano & James Berry baritone).
The work, which takes the German lyrics from Martin Luther’s bible rather than the Latin text of the Roman Catholic mass, was described by Clara Schumann as “an immense piece that takes hold of one’s whole being like very little else. The profound seriousness, combined with all the magic and poetry, has a wonderful, deeply moving and soothing effect.” Brahms himself called it “a human requiem”, weaving together themes of consolation for the living as well as ideas on the life to come.
The workshop took place at St Mary’s Church, Bathwick, with reduced numbers in order to keep everyone safe. It was great to see many of our regular guests, a number of whom had not had the chance to sing with their regular choirs since early last year.
Brahms
Ein deutsches Requiem
Saturday 30 October 20217.30pm
Bath Abbey
Described by Clara Schumann as “An immense piece that takes hold of one’s whole being like very little else”, Brahms’s German Requiem combines profound seriousness with magic, poetry, drama and romanticism, to deeply moving effect. As a Lutheran rather than a Roman Catholic, Brahms wrote the oratorio in German and called it “a human requiem”, weaving together themes of consolation for the living, as well as hope for the life to come. In 1871, two years after completing the orchestral version, Brahms produced an intimate chamber version for piano and four hands as a work in its own right. It is this exquisite so-called ‘London version’ that Bath Bach Choir will perform at its autumn concert, bringing the music’s eternal message of love and joy to inspire us all with hope for the future.
Verity Wingate soprano
Paul Grant baritone
Marcus Sealy piano
Nigel Perrin conductor
Carols by Candlelight 2021
16 & 17 December 20217.30pm | The Pump Room, Bath
Welcome back to the true start of Christmas in Bath. Join Bath Bach Choir in the atmospheric Regency Pump Room for this heartwarming annual tradition of Christmas music, virtuoso soloists and a touch of safety-conscious audience participation.
Nigel Perrin conductor
Marcus Sealy accompanist
Nurry Lee guest soloist – piano