| The Bach Choir of Bethlehem | |
|---|---|
| Choir | |
.jpg) The choir at the Bethlehem Bach Festival, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 1917 | |
| Origin | First organized to study Bach's Mass in B Minor |
| Founded | 1898 |
| Founder | John Frederick Wolle, an organist at Central Moravian Church, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania |
| Genre | Baroque and classical music |
| President | Harold G. Black |
| Music director | Dr. Christopher Jackson |
| Choir admission | By audition |
| Headquarters | 440 Heckewelder Place Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S., 18018 (610) 866-4382 |
| Influences | Johann Sebastian Bach and the composers who influenced him and were influenced by him |
The Bach Choir of Bethlehem is the oldest Bach choir in the United States. Dating back to 1712, according to the choir's archives, it was formally founded in 1898 by Central Moravian Church organist John Frederick Wolle,[1] and was established at roughly the same time as Bethlehem Steel, which first began operations in 1899.[2]
Based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the choir has toured internationally, performing at the Royal Albert Hall, the Thomaskirche in Leipzig (where Johann Sebastian Bach was a cantor), and the Herkulessaal in the Munich Residenz (Munich's Royal Residence). It has also performed at such American venues as Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center, has recorded with the BBC Proms and on the Dorian and Analekta labels,[3] and hosts the world's longest-running Bach festival.[4]
- ^ "Choir History and Archives," in "About the Choir." Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: The Bach Choir of Bethlehem (website), retrieved online February 15, 2019.
- ^ James, Renee A. "Ars longa, vita brevis in Bethlehem." Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: PennLive, April 29, 2019.
- ^ "Choir Leadership", in "About the Choir." Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, retrieved online February 15, 2019.
- ^ James, "Ars longa, vita brevis in Bethlehem," PennLive.