Basking in Bach
Louisville Bach Society has brought beautiful music to Kentucky

From Pikeville to Evansville and Lebanon to Frankfort, the Louisville Bach Society has been bringing a rich musical tradition to Kentuckians for 37 seasons by presenting the works of Mozart, Handel, Brahms, Haydn and Bruckner as well as, of course, Bach. The Society is known for precision and finesse as well as beautiful music.

Founded in 1964 by Melvin and Margaret Dickinson, the Louisville Bach Society has always taken its commitment to music, both performing for and educating the public, very seriously. That commitment has included presenting many Louisville premieres including such notable pieces as Bach’s Mass in B Minor and St. Matthew Passion; the Mass in C Minor and Litanae de Venerabilit Altaris by Mozart; Bruckner’s Mass in F Minor and the mighty Missa Solemnis by Beethoven.

This season, the Louisville Bach Society intends to perform Bach’s Mass in B Minor, Brahms’ German Requiem, Rossini’s Stabat Mater, Haydn’s Harmonie Messe, Mozart’s Vespers of the Confessor and Handel’s Messiah.

In the beginning
Melvin and Margaret Dickinson were inspired to found the Louisville Bach Society in 1964 after studying the organ in Germany with world-renowned Bach expert Helmut Walcha. After exposure to the world of Bach cantatas, the Dickinson’s were determined to bring such music to the people of Kentucky. They felt the need to give back something after both were awarded Fulbright Scholarships.

They started the group with only 16 singers, but for the last 10 years have averaged about 60 with a waiting list for every section. So far the group has performed 136 of the 200 works by Bach.

“Our goal is to do them all and repeat the favorites,” Dickinson says. “Although we haven’t got through everything, we have covered the Bach literature pretty thoroughly.”

However, with such a large body of work it is a nearly impossible task to balance performing new pieces with repeating favorites. “There are so many fabulous pieces that are rarely done, we simply can’t do them all. There are some great pieces that we haven’t done for 20 years,” he says.

The parts
The volunteer singers that make up the group come from many walks of life and include students, doctors, teachers, attorneys, and homemakers as well as many music teachers and vocal soloists. The singers donate generously of their time to make the Society’s rigorous schedule, which can include a dozen concerts each season as well as rehearsals.

“The chorus is handpicked through auditions,” Dickinson says. “We have a group of really well-trained people, all doing it because they love to sing.”

The Society’s performances are accompanied by members of the Louisville Orchestra as well as other local musicians.

The work
The Bach Society’s mission includes performing the works of Bach, but also such major choral-orchestral works by composers such as Brahms, Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart, Rheinberger, Vaughn Williams, and others. The Society performs works written during the Renaissance through modern times

A 10-year grant by the late Barry and Mary Bingham ensures that the Messiah by Handel will be performed each Christmas.

Building music appreciation among the young is also an important part of the Society’s plan. Bach Society’s Children’s Concerts have appeared on national television including such programming as the Glory of Christmas, the Life of Bach, the Life of Handel, the Young Mozart, the Adult Mozart and the Life of Haydn.

Future plans include joint ventures with other artistic groups such as the Louisville Orchestra and Louisville Youth Choir. In addition, the Society has been invited by the International Bach Society to perform in Leipzig, Germany.

Dickinson says that for many years the Bach Society’s concerts have attracted between 900-1000 people and every seat is filled. Tickets are usually available at the door, but you must come early to claim one. “That is one advantage to joining,” he says. “Being assured a seat.”

In addition to the music, the Louisville Bach Society also offers preconcert lectures by John Hale. “He is a wonderfully entertaining and informative speaker,” Dickinson says. “Some people come just to hear John.”

Deanna Mascle is a staff writer for The Lane Report.
deannamascle@lanereport.com

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