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Ensemble

 

The American Bach Choir is a renowned classical music ensemble that specializes in the performance of the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and other Baroque composers. Founded in 1977 by conductor and musicologist Thomas Binkley, the choir has become one of the most respected and acclaimed ensembles in the United States. Binkley, who was a professor of music at the University of California, Davis, had a deep passion for the music of Bach and the Baroque period. He founded the American Bach Soloists in 1974, which was a smaller ensemble that focused on the performance of Bach's solo instrumental works. However, Binkley soon realized that there was a need for a larger ensemble that could perform Bach's choral works with the same level of excellence. Thus, the American Bach Choir was born. Binkley assembled a group of talented singers from the San Francisco Bay Area, many of whom were also members of the American Bach Soloists. The choir's first performance was in December 1977, and it was an immediate success. Over the years, the American Bach Choir has grown in size and reputation. Today, it is made up of approximately 40 singers, all of whom are highly trained and experienced in the performance of Baroque music. The choir is known for its precision, clarity, and expressive power, and it has won numerous awards and accolades for its performances. One of the highlights of the American Bach Choir's career was its performance of Bach's Mass in B Minor in 1985. This monumental work is considered one of the greatest choral compositions of all time, and the American Bach Choir's performance was widely praised for its beauty, depth, and technical excellence. The performance was recorded and released on CD, and it remains one of the choir's most popular recordings. Another major highlight of the American Bach Choir's career was its performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion in 1990. This work is another masterpiece of choral music, and the American Bach Choir's performance was hailed as one of the finest ever heard. The performance was also recorded and released on CD, and it has become a classic of the choral music repertoire. In addition to its performances of Bach's choral works, the American Bach Choir has also performed works by other Baroque composers, such as Handel, Vivaldi, and Purcell. The choir has collaborated with many other ensembles and orchestras, including the San Francisco Symphony, the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, and the New York Collegium. The American Bach Choir has won numerous awards and honors over the years. In 1989, the choir was awarded the prestigious Noah Greenberg Award by the American Musicological Society, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the performance of early music. In 1992, the choir was awarded a Grammy Award for its recording of Bach's Mass in B Minor. The choir has also been praised by critics and audiences alike for its performances at major music festivals, such as the Berkeley Early Music Festival and the Carmel Bach Festival. Sadly, Thomas Binkley passed away in 1995, but his legacy lives on through the American Bach Choir and the American Bach Soloists. Today, the choir is led by conductor and music director Jeffrey Thomas, who has continued the choir's tradition of excellence and innovation. Under Thomas's leadership, the choir has continued to explore new repertoire and to push the boundaries of Baroque performance practice.

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