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Bach Cantatas Website - Newsletters
Year 2009 |
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< Year 2008 |
Year 2010 > |
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The Bach Cantatas Website celebrates its 8th anniversary |
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Aryeh Oron wrote (January 3, 2009):
The Bach Cantatas Website (BCW) was launched in its current form and address on December 30, 2000.
The BCW is located at: http://www.bach-cantatas.com
Description: The Bach Cantatas Website (BCW) is a comprehensive site covering all aspects of J.S. Bach's cantatas and his other vocal works. The BCW contains discussions and detailed discographies of each cantata and other vocal works, performers and general topics. The BCW also contains texts and translations, scores, music examples, articles and interviews, and over 5,500 short biographies of performers of Bach's vocal works and players of his keyboard and lute works, as well as of poets & composers associated with Bach. There are also other relevant resources such as the Lutheran church year, database of chorale texts & melodies and their authors, detailed discographies of many Bach's instrumental works (solo keyboard, lute, Art of Fugue, Musical Offering, etc.) and piano transcriptions and their performers, reviews and discussions of Bach's instrumental works, books and movies on Bach, terms and abbreviations, schedule of concerts of Bach's vocal works, guide to Bach tour, Bach in arts & memorabilia, thousands of links to other relevant resources. The BCW is an international collective project, being compiled from various postings about the subject, most of which have been sent to the Bach Mailing Lists.
The BCW is definitely the most popular site dedicated to J.S. Bach and his music and amongst the most popular sites dedicated to Classical Music in general.
The BCW has about 8,000-12,000 daily visits, from 7,000-9,000 users, who see 35,000-45,000 pages.
The BCW is rated very high in Google and other search engines, and there are thousands of links from other websites to the BCW (over 32,000 according to Yahoo; over 450,000 (!) according to MSN).
I would like to use this opportunity to thank the numerous contributors to the discussions in the Bach Mailing Lists and some other lists, whose messages are compiled into the pages of the BCW. Their names are mentioned accordingly above each quoted message. I would also like to thank the many Bach lovers around the world who have sent me material to be included in the BCW, such as articles, translation of cantata texts, recording details, biographies, photos, music examples, links to other sites, etc. Their names are mentioned accordingly in the relevant pages.
There have been many improvements & additions to the BCW last year.
The major additions were:
A. New look of thousands of pages starting from the Home Page.
B. Revised discography of the Lute Works BWV 995-1000, BWV 1006a.
C. New section - Bach & Other Composers, including comprehensive discographies of works of other composers performed by J.S. Bach.
D. Over 700 new bios of artists & composers
E. New section - Bach in Arts, including the sub-sections Bach Portraits (most of the material has been provided by Thomas Braatz) and Hommage a Bach: Tribute to Bach & Bach-inspired Art Works (most of the material has been provided by Teddy Kaufman)
F. Texts & translations section - hundreds of new translations, including complete new set of French translations in interlinear format by Guy Laffaille and over 170 Russian translations by Peter Meshcherinov. Furthermore, Francis Browne has actually finished his set of English translations in interlinear format.
For more info, please take a look at: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/New/Newsletter-2008.htm
I am encouraged by the positive feedback the BCW is getting from all over the world. Many of the feedback messages from last year can be read at the page: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Topics/About-2008.htm
I continue to look forward to receiving your comments (corrections, suggestions, improvements, etc.) about the BCW. The instructions how to send me comments, appear in the following page: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/How.htm
I wish you all another Great and Happy Bach Year! |
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BGA Scores on the BCW |
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Aryeh Oron wrote (January 4, 2009):
I have good news for you.
After a long delay I have received at last an official permission to present on the BCW the BGA scores, which had been digitalized by the late Fred Steltner.
All the BGA scores of Bach's vocal works are now available on the BCW, linked from the Index to Scores pages and the Cantata main pages. Links to the BGA scores of the other vocal works would be added soon. |
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Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 - Revised & Updated Discography |
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Aryeh Oron wrote (April 17, 2009):
I have been (and still am) busy recently with a major project of revising and updating the discographies of Bach's big vocal works.
For the already existing recordings I have added exact recording date (not only month/year) and link/s to source of info/possible purchase sources.
I have done the deepest possible search over the web and discovered many dozens of unfamiliar recordings.
For each new recording I have built performer page (or update existing performer page) and bio page for each artist who took part in the recording. Many of them have to be translated from German
So far I have added over 300 bios and updated many others.
The material in some of the ensemble/conductor web pages is only partial. However, my goal is that the BCW would be as comprehensive, as updated and as accurate as possible. That means that when I finish this project I shall have to write to each ensemble/conductor, asking to check the details and fill the gaps.
I have given higher priority to the discography of SMP, because this work is currently discussed in the BCML.
The SMP discography pages are linked from the page: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Vocal/BWV244.htm
159 recordings of SMP are now presented (in the previous version there were 143).
The last in the line so far (No. 159) is the a much discussed SMP conducted by Riccardo Chailly performed in both the Barbican in London and the Gewandhaus in Leipzig earlier this month. The Leipzig concerts were recorded by Decca and are planned for release.
I would appreciate any help in making this discography even more comprehensive, updated and accurate by adding recordings, correcting errors and completing missing details. |
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Johannes-Passion BWV 245 - Revised & Updated Discography |
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Aryeh Oron wrote (May 12, 2009):
As informed last month, I am still busy with the major project of revising and updating the discographies of J.S. Bach's big vocal works.
For the already existing recordings I have added exact recording date (not only month/year) and link/s to source of info/possible purchase sources.
I have done the deepest possible search over the web and discovered many dozens of unfamiliar recordings.
For each new recording I have built performer page (or updated existing performer page) and bio page for each artist (conductor, vocal & instrumental ensembles, vocal soloists) who took part in the recording. Many of them had to be translated from German or other languages.
I have added hundreds bios and updated many others. The number of musicians' (& poets') bios on the BCW in now over 6,100, making it one of the biggest collections of (classical) musicians bios over the web.
I have just finished the revised discography of Johannes-Passion BWV 245. The 8 pages (a page for a decade + a page for SJP sung in English) are linked from: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Vocal/BWV245.htm
156 complete recordings are now presented in the discography pages of SJP (in the previous version there were 124).
During the process of revising this discography, I have found 11 more recordings of SMP, which has now the amazing number of 170 complete recordings!
Desmy efforts, the info presented for some of the recordings is only partial. Therefore, I would appreciate any help in making this discography (as well as other discographies on the BCW) even more comprehensive, updated and accurate by adding recordings, correcting errors and completing missing details. |
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Mass in B minor BWV 232 - Revised & Updated Discography |
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Aryeh Oron wrote (June 24, 2009):
Following the revised discographies of SMP & SJP, I am glad to inform you of the revised & updated discography of the Mass in B minor BWV 232 (MBM).
For the already existing recordings I have added exact recording date (not only month/year) and link/s to source of info/possible purchase sources.
I have done the deepest possible search over the web and discovered many dozens of unfamiliar recordings.
For each new recording I have built performer page (or updated existing performer page) and bio page for each artist (conductor, vocal & instrumental ensembles, vocal soloists) who took part in the recording. Many of them had to be translated from German or other languages.
I have added hundreds bios and updated many others. The number of musicians' (& poets') bios on the BCW in now over 6,200.
The 7 pages (a page for a decade) of the MBM discography linked from: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Vocal/BWV232.htm
175 complete (or near complete) recordings are now presented in the discography pages of the MBM (in the previous version there were 142).
That means that the MBM is currently the most recorded vocal work of J.S. Bach with the SMP close second (171 recordings).
Despite my efforts, the info presented for some of the recordings is only partial. Therefore, I would appreciate any help in making this discography (as well as other discographies on the BCW) even more comprehensive, updated and accurate by adding recordings, correcting errors and completing missing details. |
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Markus-Passion BWV 247 - Revised & Updated Discography |
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Aryeh Oron wrote (June 25, 2009):
Following the revised discographies of SMP, SJP & MBM, I am glad to inform you of the revised & updated discography of the Markus-Passion BWV 247.
For the already existing recordings I have added exact recording date (not only month/year) and link/s to source of info/possible purchase sources.
I have done the deepest possible search over the web and discovered some unfamiliar recordings.
The page of Markus-Passion, including the discography: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Vocal/BWV247.htm
18 recordings in various reconstructions are now presented in this page (in the previous version there were 14).
Please notice that for many recordings (I do not have them all at my disposal) scans of both the front and back covers are presented. If you click on the small picture, you get a bigger one, allowing you looking into further details of the recording.
Please also notice that the other Markus-Passion associated with Bach (performed by him several times), by Brauns (Bruhns) / Keiser is presented at: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Other/Brauns-Markus-Passion.htm
Despite my efforts, the info presented for some of the recordings is only partial. Therefore, I would appreciate any help in making this discography (as well as other discographies on the BCW) even more comprehensive, updated and accurate by adding recordings, correcting errors and completing missing details. |
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Weihnachts-Oratorium BWV 248 - Revised & Updated Discography |
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Aryeh Oron wrote (July 28, 2009):
Following the revised discographies of SMP, SJP, MBM & SRP I am glad to inform you of the revised & updated discography of the Weihnachts-Oratorium BWV 248 (XO).
For the already existing recordings I have added exact recording date (not only month/year) and link/s to source of info/possible purchase sources.
I have done the deepest possible search over the web and discovered many dozens of unfamiliar recordings.
For each new recording I have built performer page (or updated existing performer page) and bio page for each artist (conductor, vocal & instrumental ensembles, vocal soloists) who took part in the recording. I have added hundreds bios and updated many others. The number of musicians' (& poets') bios on the BCW in now over 6,300.
The 7 pages (a page for a decade) of the XO discography are linked from:
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Vocal/BWV248.htm
144 complete recordings (all 6 Cantatas) of XO and/or complete Cantatas from XO are now presented in the discography pages (in the previous version there were 99).
Despite my efforts, the info presented for some of the recordings is only partial. Therefore, I would appreciate any help in making this discography (as well as other discographies on the BCW) even more comprehensive, updated and accurate by adding recordings, correcting errors and completing missing details. |
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Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Discography Version 3 |
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Aryeh Oron wrote (September 12, 2009):
I am glad to inform you of the 3rd Version of the Discography of the Goldberg Variations BWV 988 (GV) on the BCW.
In the 1st Version (January 2004) the discography included 261 recordings. In the 2nd Version (May 2006) - 299 recordings.
For the 3rd Version I have done in recent months the deepest possible search over the web (including: recording catalogues and databases, web-stores, artist websites, recording label websites, other discographies, etc.) and discovered many dozens of unfamiliar recordings. Members of the BRML, other Bach fans and artists have supplied me info of unfamiliar recordings. Their names are mentioned as contributors at the bottom of the relevant pages. I am sincerely grateful to them all.
You can find the list of complete recordings of GV, arranged by recording date, split into several pages, a page for a decade, starting at the page: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/NVD/BWV988.htm
In this 3rd version of the GV discography - 416 recordings are presented. This is definitely the most recorded keyboard work of J.S. Bach.
There are, of course, other discographies of the GV over the web (you can find links to them in the main page of GV above). I have used them to check the completeness of the GV discography on the BCW and to fill some gaps. I believe that the discography of GV on the BCW is now the most comprehensive, updated and complete you can over the web or elsewhere.
In this version I have also done some serious revision:
a. Each recording now contains additional info:
- Exact recording date (not only month/year)
- Recording place
- Links link/s to source of info/possible purchase sources
- Option to see larger photos of the album covers
b. I have built performer pages (or update existing performer page) and bio pages for most artists in the discography. The performer page has a link from the recording title.
As a rule of thumb, each recording is listed only once. All the issues of each recording are presented together (including their cover photos). If a performer has recorded the GV more than once, the info includes also the recording number.
I would appreciate any help in making this discography even more comprehensive, updated and accurate by adding recordings, correcting errors and completing missing details. Please write to me, either through the BRML or to my personal e-mail address. |
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Catalan Translations of the Bach Cantatas |
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Aryeh Oron wrote (September 13, 2009):
One of the important sections of the BCW is the collection of about 2.420 translations of Bach's vocal works into various languages. We all know how strong is the connection between Bach's vocal music and the text to which it was set. Understanding the sung text is therefore essential to intensify our enjoyment from the music. That's why I am continuously looking for additional translations.
In February 2009, Antoni Sàbat Aguilera from Tarragona (Catalonia) Spain suggested contributing to the BCW his Catalan tof the Bach Cantatas. Within a short period of 6 months he provided his translations into Catalan of all the Bach Cantatas, both sacred and secular. My humble contribution was some editing and converting them into parallel format.
As with other languages, there are 3 index pages of the Catalan translations.
BWV Number: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/IndexTexts-Cat-BWV.htm
Title: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/IndexTexts-Cat-Title.htm
Event: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/IndexTexts-Cat-Title.htm
According to Wikipedia, about 10,780,000 people understand Catalan, and about 7,670,000 can speak the language. I hope that the availability of Catalan translations of the Bach Cantatas would make these sublime works more accessible to this community.
Current status of translations into other languages on the BCW:
English [Interlinear Format]: Francis Browne - all; in a process of adding also Parallel Format of these translations
Chinese [Parallel Format]: Yang Jingfeng - about 20, in progress
Dutch [Parallel Format]: Various contributors - about 100, in progress
French [Note-to-Note Format]: Jean-Pierre Grivois - all
French [Interlinear Format]: Guy Laffaille - almost all
Hebrew [Parallel Format]: Various contributors (most are mine) - almost all
Indonesian [Word-for-Word Format]: Rianto Pardede - all
Italian: Emanuele Antonacci, Vittorio Marnati & Riccardo Pisano & Alberto Lazzari - almost all (many cantatas have 2 translations)
Portuguese: Rodrigo Maffei Libonati & Leonardo Santos - about 50, slow progress
Russian [Parallel Format]: Peter Meshcherinov - about 190, in progress
Spanish: Various contributors - all
I am still looking for translations into other languages, such as Arabic, Greek, Persian (Farsi), Polish, etc. If you speak one of those languages (or others) and do not find translations into your language anywhere, you can always try your hands in preparing translations by yourself. By doing that, you would definitely help expanding the understanding and appreciation of Bach's vocal music to the people who speak your language. |
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Major Bach Events |
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Aryeh Oron wrote (November 4, 2009):
I have created pages for Major Bach Events, a page for a year.
The pages aim to list chronologically all the major Bach-related events around the world, including: Festivals, Conferences, Competitions, etc. See:
2009: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Concerts/Event-2009.htm
2010: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Concerts/Event-2010.htm
Linked from BCW Home Page: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/
and from other pages.
In case I have missed an event, please do not hesitate to inform me, either through the Bach ML or off-list. |
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BCW: Orchestral Arrangements/Transcriptions of Bach's works - Announcemnent & Background |
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Aryeh Oron wrote (November 24, 2009):
Orchestral Arrangements/Transcriptions - Part 1: Announcement
Over two years ago I informed you of the addition of Piano Transcriptions of Bach's Works and Bach-inspired Piano Works (PT) to the BCW.
I have started building a similar database for orchestral arrangements & transcriptions (According to Wikipedia: Transcription may mean rewriting a piece of music, either solo or ensemble, for another instrument or other instruments than which it was originally intended. Transcription in this sense is sometimes called arrangement, although strictly speaking transcriptions are faithful adaptations and arrangements change significant aspects of the original piece.). My aim is that this database would have even a larger scope, by including also using of Bach's musical material in orchestral works of other composers, such as Alban Berg's Violin Concerto, or Charles Ives' borrowings (the latter was brought to my attention by Yoël L. Arbeitman).
At this stage the database of orchestral arrangements/transcriptions is presented by Composer/Arranger: each entry includes short bio (if found), page of orchestral arrangements/transcriptions (listed by BWV Number).
See: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Arran/L-Orchestra.htm
This page contains also arrangements/transcriptions for other instruments (except PT). In other words, each composer/arranger would now have two pages on the BCW for his/her arrangements/transcriptions of Bach's works:
a. Piano Transcriptions of Bach's Works and Bach-inspired Piano Works (PT)
b. Other arrangements/transcriptions of Bach's works (OT)
Both pages are, of course, inter-linked.
See, for example, William Walton:
PT page: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/NVD/PT-Walton.htm
OT page: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Arran/OT-Walton.htm
At a later stage, I intend building Index by BWV Number and comprehensive discographies. See, for example, again William Walton:
Discography page: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Arran/OT-Walton-Rec.htm
I have used every possible source. Aggelos Tsompanidis has been of great help. However, I am quite certain that we have missed many (or at least some). If you are aware of an orchestral arrangement/transcription not listed in these pages, or if you find an error or missing information, please inform me, either through the Bach Mailing Lists or to my personal e-mail address.
If you are aware of an OT not listed in these pages, or if you find an error or missing information, please inform me, either through the Bach Mailing Lists or to my personal e-mail address.
Orchestral Arrangements/Transcriptions - Part 2: Background
On orchestral arrangements of Bach works, from the article "Arrangements" by Michael Musgrave in OCC:
"It becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between goals of enhanced sonority and individual recomposition in the orchestral arrangements of the 20th century, which use the resources for great dynamic contrast and textural differentiation. Keyboard music provides the prime source, stimulating such individual responses as the arrangements by Leopold Stokowski (1882-1977) of the D minor Toccata BWV 565 and Edward Elgar (1857-1934) of the Fantasia and Fugue in C minor BWV 537, as well as Reger's Suite drawn from the keyboard Partitas and English Suites; but orchestral works are also drawn upon, as in the Suite for String Orchestra by Gustav Mahler (1860-1911), based on four movements from Bach's orchestral suites nos. 2 and 3. Although Schoenberg claimed that the purpose of his arrangements of two chorale preludes, BWV 645 and 667, and the E flat major Prelude and Fugue BWV 552 for organ was to reveal the motivic structure in a way impossible for a single player, the sheer size of his orchestra, which includes, in BWV 552, bass wind, a full percussion section, harp, and celesta, brings the music close to some of the aforementioned arrangements in effect (notably to Elgar's final flourish in the C minor Fugue); the 'motivic' scoring of the prelude Schmucke dich, O liebe Seele BWV 654 is accommodated within a very Romantic sonority.
By contrast, the arrangement by Stravinsky of the Canonic Variations on Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her BWV 769 is much closer to the spirit of the original, through the use of an orchestra comprised chiefly of wind (without clarinets), harp, lower strings, and choir. The work might rather be seen as representing a 'commentary' on the original through the composer's extension of its techniques. As well as providing an opening harmonization of the chorale itself (from the Christmas Oratorio), not present in Bach's version, Stravinsky adds two more voices, thus making it possible to add new canons to the texture, though the total harmonic effect is none the less entirely in accord with style: the arrangement was written as a companion piece to the Canticum sacrum at its first performance in St Mark's, Venice, in September 1956. The most radical treatment of the orchestra is by Anton Webern (1883-1945) in his orchestration of the six-part Ricercar from the Musical Offering (1933-5), in which, like Schoenberg, he sought to reveal the motivic coherence through orchestration. However, by isolating much shorter motifs throughout the entire texture by orchestral means, he created an entirely different effect-one which is intimately related to his own style as it can be observed in the scoring of his Symphony and Orchestral Variations."
As the list of orchestral arrangements/transcriptions shows, this medium was immensely popular in the first half of the 20th century. Numerous orchestrations were played under the world's greatest conductors. Many of them even prepared their own arrangements/transcriptions. Occasionally such arrangements are still revived and now and then new ones appear. But this is the exception rather then the norm. It has been the rise of the authentic performance school that has held sway in recent times, whilst the big symphonic arrangements heard by audiences decades ago are now the exception. They served well the goal of bringing Bach's music into the concert hall, at times when this was the main medium of hearing music. They also exposed Bach's organ works to a wider audience who had not had the option of hearing it played on organ. Many people in the 1930's and 1940's heard Bach's music for the first time in Stokowski's transcription of the Toccata & Fugue in D minor in Disney's movie "Fantasia".
Apparently, orchestral arrangements/transcriptions have lost their appeal and relevance to the contemporary listener, because so many options of hearing "authentic" Bach's music live or recorded are available to us today.
I believe that orchestral arrangements can enrich our listening. Hearing, for example, an organ work in a good transcription might reveal to us certain aspects in the multi-layered music of the master to which we are not always aware when we hear it played on organ. If we hear the work on organ after hearing its orchestration we may discover that we are now equipped with "new ears". |
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BCW: New Section - Bach Festivals & Cantata Series |
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Aryeh Oron wrote (December 5, 2009):
I have launched a new section on the Bach Cantatas Website - Bach Festivals & Cantata Series.
See: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Festival/index.htm
Linked from the Home Page of the BCW and from other pages.
My goal is to present all the Bach Festivals & Cantata Series around the world and to document their history by presenting posters or brochures from all the years of their existence.
The info presented for each festival or cantata series:
- Name
- Location
- Venues
- Years (year of first festival; frequency)
- Months (for festivals: the regular month/s in which the festival takes place every year; for cantata series: from month to month)
- Artistic Director (if there have been several along the years, name and years for each)
- Ensembles (which participate regularly in the festival / cantata series)
- Website
- History & Mission (in English, up to 500 words)
- Logo
- Posters or brochures for every year from the very first to the most recent (PDF or jpg format)
The complete list of Bach Festivals & Cantata Series is presented at:
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Links/Links-Festivals.htm
I have written to most the Bach Festivals & Cantata Series in the list above, and received various responses:
- Some were very enthusiastic and already provided info and material, or promised to provide the info and material after some search and preparation.
- Some messages were rejected (I wonder why a festival publishes its e-mail address and then rejects incoming messages. How do the festival organisers expect to contact with artists, promoters, potential attendants, etc.?).
- Some have not responded (see the remark above).
- One festival refused to be presented on the BCW!
With a deep search over the web and the info and material already received from many festivals/cantata series, I have built the initial version of the new section.
So far over 100 Bach Festivals & Cantata Series are already presented.
With your help this new section can be much more comprehensive. After all the BCW is a collective effort. There are several ways for providing such help:
a. If you have personal contact with the organisers of a Bach festival/cantata series not presented yet in the new section, you can help by contacting them and encourage them to send me info and material.
b. If you have at your disposal brochures/posters/flyers/programmes in a digital format (jpg or PDF) this is fine. Please send it to my personal e-mail address and not to the Bach ML's.
c. If you have brochures/posters/flyers/programmes in printed form, please scan it and send it to me in a digital format.
d. If you are aware of a Bach festival/cantata series missing from the list above, please inform me right away.
And please do not hesitate to flood me with material. I shall handle all of it, sooner or later.
I am looking forward to your contribution. |
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BCW: Annual calendar of Major Bach Events |
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Aryeh Oron wrote (December 7, 2009):
About a month ago I informed you of the addition of Major Bach Events tables to the BCW.
The major Bach events tables includes all the known Bach festivals, competitions, etc. around the world.
You can find there side by side both the major Bach Festivals, such as Leipzig, Thuringia, Oregon, Carmel, etc. and the most esoteric, such as the one-day Bach Marathon in Lexington, KY on the 325th Anniversary of Bach's birthday.
To allow those of you who plan attending as many Bach Festivals as possible, I have recently added Printable Annual Calendar of 2010 Major Bach Events.
See: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Concerts/Annual-2010.pdf
Linked from: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Concerts/Event-2010.htm
In the Annual Calendar I placed those events to which exact dates are already set.
You can see that there is hardly an open slot in the Annual Calendar.
Description of the festivals can be found in their websites and in the newly announced section of Bach Festivals & Cantata Series: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Links/Links-Festivals.htm
The concerts of Bach's vocal works (including concerts not associated with festivals) are listed in the world-wide Schedule of Bach's vocal works: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Concerts/index.htm |
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BCW: Guide to Bach Tour - Revised, updated & expanded version |
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Aryeh Oron wrote (December 31, 2009):
Just before the end of the year, I have finished another big project: revising, updating and expanding the section of Guide to Bach Tour on the BCW. See: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Tour/index.htm
The revision includes mainly converting all the pages in this section from the old format to a new (and nicer, so I hope) format.
The expansion includes mainly adding 5 new places associated with Bach (Collmen, Dörna, Gehren, Heiligengrabe, and Merseburg), resulting in the total number of 50 places!
Collmen, for example, is a small village (about 300 inhabitants) near Colditz, about 52 km south-east of Leipzig. In the late days of November 1735 Magister Abraham Kriegel, a pupil of Bach at the Thomasschule, married in the small village church of Collmen, the local pastor's daughter. Bach and the rector of the Thomasschule, Johann August Ernesti were invited to the wedding. Both came together in a carriage to Collmen, and from there back to Leipzig. The trip offered a lot of time to discuss important and less important matters.
See: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Tour/Collmen.htm
Each Place associated with Bach has at least 3 pages:
Main page:
- Description
- History, including notable people, especially musicians
- Bach Connection
- Events in Life history of J.S. Bach
- Performance Dates of Bach vocal works (if applicable)
- Bach Festival & Cantata Series (if applicable)
- Features of interest (Venues associated with Bach are marked with bold blue)
- Information & links
Maps page, including usually maps of:
- Town Center
- Town
- Area
- Location within the district & the state
- Location in Germany
- Google Maps (interactive)
Photo pages, including some hundreds I took during my 2nd Bach Tour in May 2004, photos scanned from various brochures and publications collected during my two Bach Tours (1999 & 2004), and photos from other sources.
Special pages:
Life History of J.S. Bach: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Tour/Life.htm
Route Suggestions (including the routes of my two Bach Tours): http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Tour/Route.htm
General Maps: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Tour/Maps.htm
including page with small maps which lead you to the Maps page of each place: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Tour/Map-Places.htm
Symbols (Coats of Arms) of all the places: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Tour/Symbol-Place.htm
Now that you have all the needed info for a comprehensive Bach Tour. No excuse would be accepted. Set the dates (June might be a splendid time because you can combine the Bach Tour with the Bachfest Leipzig), do the arrangements and go.
Others can relax on their seats at their computers and experience a virtual Bach Tour. There is a lot to read and see in the new version of the Guide to Bach Tour.
As usual, any correction, addition of info and material, suggestions for improvements, etc. would be most welcome.
A Happy New Bach Year to all of you! |
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< Year 2008 |
Year 2010 > |
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