The Bach Choir of Bethlehem
Encyclopedia
The Bach Choir of Bethlehem is the oldest Bach choir in America. They have been a choir for over 110 years and are based in Bethlehem
, Pennsylvania
, USA.
They have toured internationally, where they have performed at the Royal Albert Hall, the Thomaskirche in Leipzig
(where Bach was a cantor
), and the Herkulessaal in the Munich Residenz (Munich’s Royal Residence). Domestically they have performed at Carnegie Hall
and The Kennedy Center. They have recorded with the BBC Proms and on the Dorian
and Analekta labels.
as early as 1870. Bruce Carey
was the chorus's director from 1933-1938.
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem is a city in Lehigh and Northampton Counties in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 74,982, making it the seventh largest city in Pennsylvania, after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie,...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, USA.
They have toured internationally, where they have performed at the Royal Albert Hall, the Thomaskirche in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
(where Bach was a cantor
Cantor (church)
A cantor is the chief singer employed in a church with responsibilities for the ecclesiastical choir; also called the precentor....
), and the Herkulessaal in the Munich Residenz (Munich’s Royal Residence). Domestically they have performed at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
and The Kennedy Center. They have recorded with the BBC Proms and on the Dorian
Dorian
The Dorians were one of the four major ethnē into which the Ancient Greeks, or Hellenes, of the Classical period considered themselves divided. Ethnos has the sense of ethnic group. Herodotus uses the word with regard to them...
and Analekta labels.
History
The Bach Choir of Bethlehem was organized in 1898 to study Bach's Mass in B Minor. The choir performed the American premiere of the complete Mass on March 27, 1900 in Bethlehem, though there is evidence that parts of the Mass had been performed in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as early as 1870. Bruce Carey
Bruce Carey
Bruce Anderson Carey was a Canadian choir conductor, baritone, and music educator. He began his career in Hamilton, Ontario where he notably founded the Bach-Elgar Choir in 1905...
was the chorus's director from 1933-1938.