Paul Larson - Bach for a Hundred Years: A Social History of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem

Paul S. Larson is professor emeritus at Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he taught music education, non-Western music, and music history. A longtime resident of Bethlehem and archivist of The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, he has known and worked with many of the people he writes about in this book. He was fortunate to have an academic office in the building where T. T. Wolle, The Bach Choirs first conductor, received his early musical education and where The Bach Choir rehearsed for many years. Active as an author and lecturer in local history, Larson is involved with area cultural and historical societies.

I am indebted to many people who shared their stories with me. They are Barbara Stout, Susan Sommers, Dorothy Ferguson, Mary Meilinger, Tom Church, Kathy Link, Greg Funfgeld, Jan Bonge, Bridget George, Jack Jordan, Howard Cox, Ellis Finger, Ed Young, Charles Holdeman, and Martha Luckenbach, now deceased. Linda Lipkis prepared the discography. As archivist and curator of The Bach Choir, I have attended meetings of the Board of Managers and have been influenced by the skill and understanding of the present president, Dr. David Beckwith. Watching the Board process has been an inspiration to me. Edith Laver and Jack Jordan critiqued numerous versions of the manuscript. Evelyn Miller offered me unexpected riches about J. Fred. Wolles time in California. John Roach did a total editing out of goodwill. I was most fortunate in his interest in The Bach Choir and in his desire to make my telling clear to readers regardless of their musical backgrounds. Christy Roysdon found whatever I needed in the Lehigh University libraries and on the World Wide Web and critiqued the manuscript, as did Annette Benert. Many, many thanks to them both. Also, my thanks Mr. George Myers for technical assistance. Many thanks to Mrs. Judith Mayer of Lehigh University Press for her patience, understanding, and expert exactness and guidance. John Spadaccias friendly assistance in photography is much appreciated. Finally, untold thanks to Scott Paul Gordon. Without his commitment to academic scholarship and to the Lehigh University Press and without his interest in this story, this book would not have been possible.

12 and 19 May 2000. Dr. Robin A. Leaver. No title given.

11 and 18 May 2001. Dr. Joshua Rifkin. No title given.

10 and 17 May 2002. Dr. Johannes Richter. No title given.

9 and 16 May 2003. Dr. Michael Marissen. No title given.

7 and 14 May 2004. Dr. Michael Marissen. No title given.

6 and 13 May 2005. Dr. Michael Marissen. No title given.

5 and 12 May 2006. Dr. Michael Marissen. No title given.

4 and 11 May 2007. Dr. Michael Marissen. New Perspectives on The Saint Matthew Passion .

2 and 9 May 2008. Dr. Christoph Wolff. Are Bach Oratorios Sacred Operas?

1 and 8 May 2009. Dr. Michael Marissen. Hope in Bachs Music.

7 and 14 May 2010. Dr. Michael Marissen. Bach and Mary.

Cantata, BWV 78: Jesus, thou wearied spirit (Jesu, der du meine Seele) / Johann Sebastian Bach. [Soprano and alto soloists not listed]; Mack Harrel, bass; Lucius Metz, tenor; Bach Choir of Bethlehem and Orchestra; Ifor Jones, conductor. RCA Victor Red Seal [19--]. 4 sound discs : analog, 78 rpm; 12 in.

Chorale: World, farewell! from Cantata, BWV 27: Wer weiss, wie nahe mir mein Ende!; Motet: Sing ye to the Lord a new-made song (Singet dem Herr ein neues Lied): motet for two choruses; Concerto no. 1 in D minor / Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach Choir of Bethlehem (1st-2nd works); Agi Jambor, piano, Bach Festival Orchestra (3rd work); Ifor Jones, conductor. Recorded in Bethlehem [19--), by Peter Bartok. 1 sound disc : analog, 33 1/3 rpm; 12 in.

Fugue in E-flat major, BWV 552; Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582; Pastorale in F major BWV 590; Toccata in F major, BWV 540/Johann Sebastian Bach. [A reproduction of Mendelssohns Bach Recital, Leipzig, 6 August 1840; jacket notes by Alfred Mann.] William Whitehead, organist. Recorded at First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem [19--], by Helffrich Recording Labs. 1 sound disc : analog, 33 1/3 rpm, stereo.; 12 in.

Cantata, BWV 71: God is my king (Gott ist mein Knig)/Johann Sebastian Bach. Phyllis Curtin, soprano; Lillian Knowles, alto; David Lloyd, tenor; Mack Harrel, bass; Bach Choir of Bethlehem; Bach Festival Orchestra; Ifor Jones, conductor. Recorded at the Bach Choir Festival, Bethlehem, Pa., 25 May 1951, by the Audio Laboratory, Bethlehem, Pa. 1 sound disc : analog, 33 1/3 rpm, stereo.; 12 in.

Mass in B minor, BWV 232 / Johann Sebastian Bach. Lois Marshall, soprano; Eunice Alberts, contralto; John McCollum, tenor; Kenneth Smith, bass; Bach Choir of Bethlehem; Bach Festival Orchestra; Ifor Jones, conductor. Recorded at Lehigh University Chapel, Bethlehem, Pa., [1962], by Peter Bartok, assisted by William Hamilton. The Classics Record Library [1962]. 3 sound discs: analog, 33 1/3 rpm, stereo.; 12 in.

Christmas in Leipzig: Choral music for the Nativity by Bach. / Cantata, BWV 63: Christen tzet diesen Tag; Cantata, BWV 65: Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen; Chorus: Sanctus, from Mass in B Minor, BWV 232 / Johann Sebastian Bach. Sylvia McNair, soprano; Janice Taylor, contralto; David Gordon, tenor; Daniel Lichti, bass; Bach Choir of Bethlehem; Bach Festival Orchestra; Greg Funfgeld, conductor. Recorded at First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 27 February 1988. Dorian Recordings, 1988. 1 sound disc : digital ; 4 in.

Wachet auf!: Cantatas, BWV 56 and 140; Motet, BWV Anh. 159. / Cantata, BWV 56: Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen; Cantata, BWV 140: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme; Motet BWV Anh. 159: Ich lasse dich nicht / Johann Sebastian Bach. Henriette Schellenberg, soprano; David Gordon, tenor; Daniel Lichti, bass; Bach Choir of Bethlehem; Bach Festival Orchestra; Greg Funfgeld, conductor. Recorded at First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 27 and 28 January 1989. Dorian Recordings, 1989. 1 sound disc : digital ; 4 in.

Christmas in Bethlehem: Traditional carols sung by the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, vol. 1. / O come, all ye faithful; Break forth, o beauteous morning light, from Christmas oratorio, BWV 248; Joy to the world; Tomorrow shall be my dancing day; Away in a manger; God to Adam came in Eden; Angels from the realms of glory; O little town of Bethlehem; Behold! In gloomy stable stall, from Christmas oratorio, BWV 248; Lo! How a rose eer blooming; Wohl mir, das ich Jesum habe, from Cantata, BWV 147; Silent night! Holy night!; What sweeter music; Hark, the herald angels sing; Infant holy, infant lowly; Angels we have heard on high; Jesus Christ the apple tree; Once in royal Davids city. Karen Cocca, soprano; Thomas Goeman, organ; Bach Choir of Bethlehem; Fairmount Brass Quartet; Greg Funfgeld, conductor. Recorded at First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, October 1994, by Peter Helffrich. 1 sound disc : digital ; 4 in.

Christmas in Bethlehem: Traditional carols sung by the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, vol. 2. / God rest you merry, gentlemen; Two chorales from Christmas oratorio, BWV 248 (Wie soll ich dich empfangen; Ach mein herzliebes Jesulein); Once he came in blessing; Gloria sei dir gesungen, from Cantata, BWV 140; Il est ne le divin enfant; Ding dong! Merrily on high; Jesus, call thou me; The little road to Bethlehem; Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen, from Christmas Oratorio BWV 248; Brightest and best of the sons of the morning; Marys lullaby; Ave Maria; What child is this?; Dem wir das heilig itzt, from Cantata, BWV 129; Good Christians all, rejoice!; Infant holy, infant lowly; See amid the winters snow. Karen Cocca, soprano; Dennis Bushkofsky, baritone; Donald DeBoer, tenor; Greg Oaten, tenor; Thomas Goeman, organ; Bach Choir of Bethlehem; trumpets and timpani of Bach Festival Orchestra; Philadelphia Brass; Greg Funfgeld, conductor. Recorded at First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, February 1997. Dorian Recordings, 1997. 1 sound disc : digital ; 4 in.