The Genius of the Bach Family directed by Peter Leech
A Workshop for Voices and Instruments

Saturday 28 February 2004


It is well known that Johann Sebastian Bach came from a highly musical family. The revised New Grove lists no fewer than 85 Bachs who flourished as composers, performers and teachers during the period 1550-1850. Perhaps less well known is the prodigious talent of those Bachs from the seventeenth century whose abilities were greatly admired by the great J.S., including Johann Bach (1604-73), Johann Christoph Bach (1642-1703), Johann Michael Bach (1648-94) and Johann Ludwig Bach (1677-1731).This worshop will explore music composed by these giants of early German Baroque Music, ranging from grand motets for two choirs conceived in the spirit of Venetian polychoralism to more intimate settings for five and six parts. A truly 'Bachanalian' feast.

Currently Musical Director of the Bristol Bach Choir and City of Oxford Choir, Peter Leech has received wide critical acclaim for his musical direction and scholarship. Recent performances have included world premieres of neglected masterworks by Samuel Wesley, Thomas Linley, Innocenzo Fede and early members of the Bach family. He has published articles in the Revised New Grove and Early Music (2001). in October 2003 he won First Prize in the Mariele Ventre International Competition for Choral conductors.

Pitch: A=440 Instruments called for - strings (violins, violas, cellos and/or treble, tenor viols and viola da gambas), recorders, cornets, sackbuts, oboes, curtals and/or bassoons.
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