Welcome
The Nottingham Bach Choir has been making a major contribution to the musical life of Nottingham since its formation in 1954. We have approximately 110 members who rehearse under our inspirational Director of Music, Paul Hale. We aim to give high quality performances which show sensitive and expressive interpretations of a wide range of choral music.
We are an auditioned choir rehearsing once a week at St John's Church, Carrington, and performing four times a year in various venues including St Mary's Church, The Albert Hall and Southwell Minster.
Although the works of J.S. Bach are central to our repertoire, we regularly perform choral music ranging from the late Renaissance era to the modern day. Outstanding reviews are regularly received for our performances and Britten's War Requiem in the Albert Hall was a particular highlight of 2013.
If you are interested in joining us or coming to our concerts, then explore our website for details of concerts, membership and workshops.
STOP PRESS: We are currently seeking Soprano I voices to join us, for further details click on the Join the Choir page.
Nottingham Bach Choir is a registered charity number 508139
Our next concert is:
JS Bach Christmas Oratorio BWV 248 Parts I, II, V & VI
Saturday 29th November 2016 7.30 pm St Mary's Church, Lace Market
In late 1734, and in his eleventh year as Thomaskantor in Leipzig, Bach composed a major new cycle of six cantatas. The cantatas were to be performed at the Thomaskirche and the Nikolaikirche on six feast days from Christmas Day to Epiphany.
The Christmas Oratorio is closer to Bach’s Passions in form, using a tenor Evangelist as narrator, with arias, choruses and chorales illustrating and reflecting on the Gospel texts. Much of the Christmas Oratorio is founded on music composed for earlier cantatas, both sacred and secular. The celebratory cantatas composed for the royal family of Dresden in 1733 are reworked to great effect. In the opening chorus, the bright orchestration of these earlier works is heard accompanied by voices heralding the birth of Christ with the words “Jauchzet! frohlocket (“Shout for joy! Exult!”) with timpani and trumpets echoing the statement. From its exultant opening to the exquisite Pastoral Sinfonia, the spectacular and colourful orchestration ensures Christmas Oratorio remains an audience favourite.
Saturday 29th November 2016
J S BACH
CHRISTMAS ORATORIO
Saturday 1st April 2017
MENDELSSOHN
ST PAUL
Saturday 17th June 2017
PARRY
SONGS OF FAREWELL
DURUFLÉ
REQUIEM