History
of the Edinburgh Bach Society and Choir
The Edinburgh Bach Society, the Choir's parent body, celebrated its centenary in 1989. The following history of the Society was prepared then, and continued in 2000.
The First Hundred Years
The first meeting of Edinburgh Bach Society on 13th March, 1889, was held in the Balmoral Hotel. Two of Bach's works were performed by members of the Society "Fugue in E major (No.9, Bk.11)" - Mr Peterson, and "Suite in D major" for Orchestra, arranged as pianoforte duet - Messrs. Peterson and Dace.
Franklin Peterson, who became Ormond Professor of Music, Melbourne University, in 1900, was a prime mover in the formation of the Amateur Bach Club in 1888 and subsequently of Edinburgh Bach Society and may be regarded as the Society's founder. The recently re-discovered marvels and riches of Johann Sebastian Bach's music were causing such societies to be formed for the study and performance of his works and for the purpose of making these more widely known. Many men, eminent in the world of music, were invited to become Honorary Members of the Society and on occasion to present a programme of Bach's music or to give lecture-recitals on some aspect of his work.
In 1909 it was thought that a string quartette should be organised for the next session and also a Bach Society Choir of about thirty members. On 1st June 1910, in Edinburgh University's Music Classroom, Edinburgh Bach Society's Choir, conducted by J.Millar Craig, sang "Jesu, meine Freude".
J.Millar Craig resigned the next year and was succeeded by Charles H.F. O'Brien. There followed a most successful period for the Society's Choir of ten years under his conductorship. He built the Choir from a small establishment and in a short time had increased the membership to sixty. During the years of the Great War, he managed to continue the Society's annual Choir recitals, though with diminished numbers, and achieved excellent results. The works performed included all the six great Motets, of which four are written for double choir. The Sacred Cantatas performed included "Ein Feste Burg", "Wachet Auf", and many others, most of which had probably never before been heard in Edinburgh.
An Orchestra having been instituted about the same time, J. Douglas H. Dickson was appointed its conductor in 1911. On the resignation of Charles O'Brien in 1920, Douglas Dickson also became Conductor of the Society's Choir, continuing in this dual capacity until 1928. In addition he was President of the Society, 1914-1942. Douglas Dickson was "steeped in Bach," especially in the Cantatas and, self-taught pianist that he was, his rendering of Bach and Handel "continuo" accompaniment was so sympathetic and impressive that he was often in demand in his later years for performances of Bach Passions or Handel Oratorios. His long association with the Society enriched its existence.
In 1922 it was decided that if works of composers other than Bach were introduced to programmes it would increase the interest of members in their work, having music to contrast with that of the great Master.
In 1925, Miss Mary Grierson was appointed to assist with the conducting, assuming full responsibility for the choir in 1928 and for the Orchestra in 1930. The latter was conducted by W R Lawson 1928-1930.
In 1932 the Society ceased to have its own orchestra and thereafter was associated with different orchestral groups for performances.
The Society's Choir in 1938 under Dr Grierson's direction gave the first performance in Edinburgh of the complete St Matthew Passion, in German, and in the following year, 4th March, 1939, what was then only the third performance in this city of the Mass in B minor, with all the soloists drawn from the Choir. This was considered to be a noteworthy landmark in the history of the Society. 'The Scotsman' recorded that "a specially interesting feature of the performance was the use of Professor Tovey's version of figured bass part, the 'continuo', a very important element of Bach's music. This version was prepared for Dr Fritz Busch two years previously and was now heard in Edinburgh for the first time." Dr Grierson succeeded to the Presidency of the Society in 1942 and played a major part in keeping it going during the War years. After the War she was probably best known for her annual performances of the St Matthew Passion in which a thousand school children formed the chorale choir, thus enabling many children not only to hear but also to take part in this noble work.
Dr Grierson's programmes, as well as including a great wealth of classics, showed a special sympathy for many twentieth-century composers no less than for the great polyphonic masterpieces of the Renaissance.
In 1950 Dr Grierson gave up the Presidency, but remained as conductor until her retirement in 1961, having held this position for thirty-three years. In 1958 a special series of concerts and other tributes had marked her thirtieth year as conductor. She was made an Honorary President, and until her death in 1964 maintained her connection with the Society, both as soloist and by the encouragement she was able to offer, backed by her unrivalled knowledge of the music of J.S. Bach.
James Sloggie was appointed Conductor of Edinburgh Bach Society in May 1961. During the years under his direction an impressive number of works by Bach and other composers was performed to a wide range of audiences. The Mass in B minor and the St John Passion were sung five times, the St Matthew Passion twice, the Magnificat four times and parts I, II and III of the Christmas Oratorio three times. Concerts included more than twenty of Bach's shorter choral works and about a dozen of his orchestral works. The Choir also sang music by some forty other composers, ranging from Byrd, Cavalli, Charpentier through Purcell, Handel, Haydn and Brahms to Stravinsky, Poulenc, Ives, Walton, Berkeley, Joubert, Leighton and David Dorward. First performances in Scotland included "A Song of Good Life", by David Gwilt, which was broadcast, "Five Variants on a Melancholy Theme" for cello and strings by David Barlow and Messiah - Basil Lam edition. Other broadcasts included performances of Haydn Masses with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and BBC Television "Songs of Praise". Additional engagements included concerts out of Edinburgh, carol concerts in various churches, concerts during the Edinburgh Festival and periodic performances by small choral groups such as the Rowallan Singers, formed from within the Choir.
James Sloggie's twenty-first season with the Society was celebrated with special performances and presentations. When he resigned from the Conductorship two years later he was appointed Honorary President.
John Grundy succeeded James Sloggie as Conductor in 1984. He was regarded as one of the finest of contemporary musicians in Scotland, primarily known for his work with choirs, but also as an orchestral and opera conductor, accompanist, instrumentalist, composer and lecturer. During his three years with the Society, the Choir sang the Mass in B minor, the St John Passion, the Magnificat, Mozart's Solemn Vespers, works by Handel, Haydn, Vivaldi and lesser works by a variety of composers. Choir and audiences alike enjoyed his stimulating presentation of original concerts, regretted that his term as the Society's Conductor was so short, but wished him 'God-speed' on his appointment as Musical Director and Conductor of the Sydney Philharmonia - following in the steps of the Society's founder, to Australia.
During this Centenary Season, Philip Rossiter, Director of Music at Merchiston Castle School has become the Society's Conductor and already has given the Choir a taste of his worthiness to follow those who have led the Society through its first century. We look forward with confidence and enthusiasm to the years that lie ahead.
R.F.D. & M.E.B., 1989.
Continuation of the Edinburgh Bach Society history
The programme for the first concert of the Centenary Season on 19th November, 1988 was J. S. Bach: Cantata No. 119 Preise Jerusalem, den Herrn; Suite No. 4 in D; Cantata No. 71 Gott ist mein König. On 11th March, 1989 there was a performance of the Mass in B Minor, at which were present Mr Christopher Millar-Craig, grandson of John Millar-Craig, the Choir's first conductor, and his mother, Mrs. Annelise Millar-Craig; Sir Frederick O'Brien, son of Charles H. F. O'Brien, the Choir's second conductor, and Lady O'Brien; and the Rt. Hon. Eleanor McLaughlin, Lord Provost of Edinburgh and Mr. Hugh McLaughlin. There was a Centenary Dinner on 2nd December, 1988. The City of Edinburgh accorded the Society a Civic Reception on 3rd March, 1989. A floral motif, marking the Centenary, was displayed on the Mound and there was an exhibition of memorabilia in the Central Public Library.
In the following years, concerts included the St. John Passion, the Christmas Oratorio, Cantata No. 82 Ich Habe Genug. The Choir also sang works by Monteverdi, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, Fauré, Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Bairstow, Tippett and Finzi. Philip Rossiter continued as Conductor until 1992, when additional duties as Housemaster at Merchiston Castle School made him tender his resignation from the Society.
Since 1992 Neil Mantle has been the choir’s musical director and conductor, presenting a wide repertoire ranging from Monteverdi to Constance Lambert, whilst returning at least once a year to JS Bach. One of our three concerts each year is accompanied by Neil’s own orchestra, Scottish Sinfonia.