Bournemouth Bach Choir return to Romsey Abbey for their first performance there since singing resumed.
Bournemouth Bach Choir has a fine reputation and a large following, performing regular concerts with a professional orchestra. It has given highly acclaimed performances of major choral works, from renaissance to 21st Century, and an annual performance of Handel's Messiah at Christmas time.
Under the direction of Tim Hooper, the Bournemouth Bach Choir and Orchestra are joined by soloists Abbi Temple, Frances Bourne, Richard Rowntree and Jonathan Prentice for this performance of Bach’s Mass in B minor.
“The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.” Johannes Sebastian Bach
Conductor Tim Hooper says:
There are few pieces of music that a conductor looks forward to more than Bach’s mighty Mass in B minor. It is, rightly, regarded as one of the greatest works in western music. There are many reasons why it is so special, not least of which is because it is a summation of Bach’s genius, bringing together choral, vocal and orchestral writing at its most brilliant. There is music of utter and all-consuming joy, as well as sadness and deep melancholy. The work is breathtaking in its scale; with a full festive orchestra of trumpets, timpani, flutes, oboes, bassoons and strings, the work ranges from mighty 8-part choral counterpoint, down to arias accompanied by solo instruments and continuo. Bach never heard it in its complete form; indeed it was never intended for a performance. It started life in 1733 when Bach wrote the opening Missa, the Kyrie and Gloria. He didn’t finish it until the year before he died. What Bach left us is beyond compare and we can only marvel at what he created.