Category: Choir Blog

recent events in the Sheffield Bach Society

Brilliant evening of Bach

The “Brilliance of Bach” turned Saturday 18 June 2022 into a suitably brilliant evening. There had been some apprehension, because the choir are still recovering from the long shut down due to the pandemic and we were only able to field about half of our usual complement.

But the evening was a splendid mixture of different Bach delicacies, with variety being the key. Darius Battiwalla’s organ playing, especially in the Toccata and Fugue in D minor was stunning, bringing some of the audience to their feet at the end in appreciation. There was a similar rapturous reception for the excellent rendering of the Concerto in D minor BWV1043 by members of the National Festival Orchestra. The audience watched spellbound as the violins of Sally Robinson and Rachael England seemed to come alive in their hands.

Against this background of brilliance the choir presented several pieces, from simple to highly complex, with variety again being the theme, demonstrating the mastery and talent of this most special of composers.

Stand-in conductor, our President George Nicholson, who has been instrumental in encouraging the choir back from such a long, enforced absence, together with our highly accomplished accompanist Ruth Nicholson on organ and harpsichord completed a splendid evening of music.

We had a capacity audience, and are so grateful to all of you for supporting us. We hope you enjoyed your evening.

Paul Downing

St Matthew Passion a triumph

The choir’s presentation of Bach’s magnificent St Matthew Passion was a triumph, with audience members on their feet at the end of this sumptuous work. The double choir and orchestra sang and played with assurance and accuracy, with venom and accusation, but also sorrow and penitence in all the right places. The soloists excelled, filling the cathedral by turns with beautifully heartfelt arias and reverent narration. A wonderful evening both for classical concert goers and those seeking liturgical inspiration.

Choir back in action!

Sheffield Bach Choir resumed rehearsals in January 2022, and are busy getting ready to present Bach’s fabulous St Matthew Passion in March.

‘We are now rehearsing more or less normally’ explained Chair Chris Walker ‘We are not having a break for refreshments so the rehearsal ends earlier than usual, and we have all the doors open so members have to wrap up a bit! But we are all thrilled to be singing again.’.

The choir is enjoying getting back to what it does best, and is very much looking forward to singing the St Matthew Passion in March. The work, composed in 1727 for soloists double choir and double orchestra, set St Matthew’s Gospel to music, with interspersed chorales and arias. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest masterpieces of Baroque sacred music.

The choir perform the work around the Easter period every three years, rotating Bach’s ‘Big Three’ – the St Matthew Passion, the St John Passion, and the monumental Mass in B minor. The Passion forms an important part of the Easter liturgy for many audience members, not least because of the opportunity to join in with the meditative chorales, which are usefully printed in the programme..

The concert is on Saturday 5 March in Sheffield Cathedral, at the earlier-than-usual time of 6.30pm. Tickets cost just £16, or £13 for concessions, and free for under 12s accompanied by an adult.

Happy Centenary Dr Bullivant!

March 23 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth in Rugby of Dr Roger Bullivant, who was Sheffield Bach Choir’s illustrious conductor for 40 years. Known to a vast number as a lecturer and teacher and to countless more as a conductor and harpsichordist, Roger’s remarkable achievements were no less acclaimed by music makers and concert audiences.

Roger’s passion for J.S. Bach ensured that he was in “on the ground floor” of the endeavours at Sheffield University that led to the foundation of Sheffield Bach Society in 1950. The choir has sung Bach’s trinity of choral masterworks – the St Matthew and St John Passions and the Mass in B minor – in a three-year cycle ever since, a seventy year homage to Bach and to a fitting legacy of this remarkable musician. 

Dr Simon Lindley and the Sheffield Bach Society have compiled a special feature about Dr Bullivant, including a copy of his arrangement of ‘Happy Birthday’ in the style of J. S. Bach. Follow this link for the Bach-style anniversary song and for more about Dr Roger Bullivant.

Dr Roger Bullivant Centenary

Dr Roger Bullivant
MBE, MA, BMus, DPhil [Oxon]; Hon D Mus [Sheffield]

23 March 1921 – 20 November 2004

With the centenary of the birth in Rugby on 23 March 2021 of legendary musician Dr Roger Bullivant fast approaching on Tuesday 23 March 2021 comes the chance of a significant evaluation of his remarkable contribution to music in so many of its manifestations – not least in the county of broad acres where for half a century he laboured so unstintingly and effectually within its musical, cultural and educational vineyards.

Known to a vast number as a lecturer and teacher, as well as to countless more as a conductor and harpsichordist, Roger’s remarkable achievements on the wider musical canvas of musical performance were no less acclaimed by music makers and concert audiences.

His intense, yet comparatively compact, tome on Fugue in Hutchinson’s University Library series was a best seller and is still in heavy demand world-wide today; by dint of clarity of explanation of one of music’s very greatest complexities, he brought ready understanding to many serious students of music in respect of one of the greatest mysteries of the art. His articles on Harmony and Counterpoint in Professor Denis Arnold’s edition of the New Oxford Companion to Music published by Oxford University Press in 1984 are the stuff of legend! A lengthy, yet, straightforward peroration on Harmony deals, exhaustively, yet with remarkable clarity, with Henry Mancini’s “standard” number Moon River…..

The detailed study of Fugue in all its manifestations had been at the heart of his thesis for the Oxford Doctorate of Philosophy and his ready success in leading so many to a greater understanding of a significant musical entity places thousands for ever in his debt.

Roger was in “on the ground floor” of the endeavours at Sheffield University that led to the foundation of Sheffield Bach Society in 1950 and continues today with the ongoing efforts of Sheffield Bach Choir to strive annually to honour the legacy of that great scheme. The frequent presentations of that trinity of choral masterworks the St Matthew and St John Passions and the Mass in B minor has been a hallmark of triennial Bach Choir endeavour for seventy years. This regular canon, alongside a highly enterprising affiliation with contemporary music and a number of significant premieres by works of leading British composers, has not found other traditions neglected and the calendar has involved all the leading composers since the Baroque period (and some from earlier) in tandem with numerous works from creative spirits well- and lesser-known.

Choir sadly abandons season

It is with great sadness that Sheffield Bach Choir announces that it has had to abandon the two remaining concerts in the 71st season, due to the continuing coronavirus pandemic.

‘We were determined to go ahead with the final two concerts, in April and June 2021’ explained Chris Walker, the choir’s Chair, ‘but the logistics have proved impossibly difficult and we’ve had to abandon our plans for the 20-21 season. We are of course upset for our loyal supporters and for choir members, but most especially for the musicians who were going to accompany us or sing the solos. Along with most musicians, and of course many other working people, their livelihoods are really suffering at the moment.’

The choir is now focusing on planning the 2021-22 season – their 72nd.

‘We are hoping that the vaccination programme will be rolled out during 2021 and that it will prove effective in enabling us all to get back to normal next year.’ said choir secretary Liz Buxton, ‘We are all missing making music together and can’t wait for an opportunity to sing again’

A recent survey showed that most choir members would support a return to live singing, and the choir is investigating a get together – without an audience – to do just that.

Survey shows choir wants to sing again

A recent on-line survey of members showed that the majority would like to start singing live again, even those who are at moderate risk in terms of the coronavirus.

‘Obviously since the survey we have gone into another lock-down.’ said Chair Chris Walker ‘However, as soon as current restrictions are lifted we will have a look at re-commencing live rehearsals. We might even think about getting together just to sing rather than rehearse anything in particular’.

A Covid-secure venue would need to be selected – that’s one where the venue itself commits to taking the necessary steps to make the venue Covid-safe. The Committee would need to undertake a very comprehensive risk assessment which covered all the elements required by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

‘Other choirs had started to sing together before the current measures were introduced’ explained Chris, ‘We know of a number of suitable Covid-secure venues in Sheffield, and feel sure we can make the necessary arrangements to enable our members to sing together again. Everyone is really missing it!’

Sadly the choir had to abandon the final concert of last season and the first few of this season. This means it will not be giving it’s annual performance of Messiah at the cathedral – nor the popular ‘Come Sing Messiah with mince pies and mulled wine. The choir hopes to present Messiah in April, if the pandemic situation eases up sufficiently. See Current Season Concerts for more details.

Choir enjoys successful online AGM

Sheffield Bach Society held its AGM last week – on-line via Zoom. The meeting was attended by almost 40 members and was very successful.

Key elements were the presentation and approval of the Annual Report including the accounts, and the lifting of mandatory payment of the subscription fee for 2020-21. However, members were encouraged to consider paying their fees, or a portion of them, given the Society’s decision to continue to pay the Conductor and Accompanist.

The recent survey of members had revealed a willingness to start live rehearsals in a Covid-secure venue as soon as possible, and the Committee undertook to investigate this as soon as the current restrictions were lifted.

AGM goes online

Sheffield Bach Choir is going ahead with its AGM next week – on Zoom.

The choir, like all groups across England, are unable to meet because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Members will join us online using Zoom” said Chair Chris Walker, “The AGM will be the same as in previous years, but on-line rather than live. Unfortunately that means there won’t be any tea and biscuits!”

A key element of the AGM will be the approval of the Sheffield Bach Society financial accounts and annual reports.

“Like many choirs, we subsidise many of our concerts, as ticket sales rarely cover all the costs” explained choir treasurer Kitty Ross, “So funnily enough, having to abandon concerts has meant we have benefitted a bit financially. Though I’m sure choir members would choose singing over funds!”

The AGM is on Monday 16th November at 7.30pm and is likely to last about 40 minutes.