Although Bach's music is more than 250 years old, it continues to appeal to listeners today, bridging the usual barriers of age, race, religion, economic status, culture, education, et al.. There are numerous reasons for that appreciation, and that manifests itself on many levels and in varying degrees. We have found, however, that no matter what the differences, everyone will be inspired and uplifted. No one leaves a Bach performance unmoved or without benefit.
Bach´s Passion is a musical dramatization of the same events depicted in Mel Gibson´s The Passion of Christ, although Bach does not dwell on the gruesome details. Instead, Bach concentrates on the salvific results: salvation and healing for the whole world. In contrast also, the chorale texts in Bach´s St. Matthew…make it unmistakably clear that the Passion is not anti-Semitic. Of special musical interest is Bach´s scoring for double choir, double orchestra, and a children´s choir, all of which he employs for purposes of dialogue, contrast, and impact. Because the forces are doubled, it is a very expensive performance.
The Bach Collegium is new to Fort Wayne – a three-year old, ecumenical, inter-faith, not-for-profit [501(c)(3) status], choral-instrumental ensemble. It is comprised of 34 disciplined and experienced singers (many of whom are professionals or advanced students), 18 instrumentalists (all of whom are professional musicians), and a 20 member Board of Directors. As Fort Wayne´s premier Bach choir, it has a unique place in our community, providing what in larger cities like Chicago and Indianapolis is expected and treasured. That unique place is the presentation of Bach (1685-1750) and Baroque period (17th & 18th century) music, in the manner much like Bach and his contemporaries would have heard it and performed it. Thus, the Collegium utilizes Baroque period instruments, which produce warm, “airy’ sounds that blend harmoniously with unforced voices, instruments whose volume does not overpower small groups. This integration of sound is invitingly transparent, articulate, and lively. Although at times very delicate, it is always energetic, and often vigorous and electrifying. Significantly, this lighter, buoyant texture assists the listener to more easily discern any musical complexities and to understand words. Understanding is important, because Bach´s texts still speak directly to listeners and musicians today, dealing so realistically and sensitively with universal human aspirations and with the cares and needs we all share and experience. Most importantly, however, they have the same calming and uplifting effects, providing for us too a healing balm for the wounds of soul, mind, emotions, and body. Thus, Bach, even in our own time, is so very appealing, inviting, inspiring, and edifying.
Because few local musicians play period instruments, the Collegium must import most of its instrumental participants. This expense constitutes a major portion of its $31,000 annual budget. Please visit our Support Us page and consider aiding this effort.
The purpose of the Bach Collegium--Fort Wayne is to enrich the community culturally, emotionally, and spiritually through performances and lectures presented by trained musicians and scholars focusing primarily on the music of J. S. Bach and the Baroque Era.
The organization's unique contribution to the Fort Wayne community is this: that the Collegium is the only local choral-instrumental group whose goal it is to perform with a full ensemble of period instruments and make extensive use of Baroque performance practices. As such, the ensemble creates a most harmonious blend of musical forces, including a warmth with Baroque A-415 (not modern A-440) pitch and historically-tempered tuning, and an expressiveness, enhanced by the gentle sonorities and articulation of Baroque reeds, winds, brass, and strings (with the delicate yet invigorating style of Baroque bowing). Collegium presentations will bring together internationally acclaimed Bach artists and scholars, and its venues will inform our community of current Bach research, projects, and discoveries.