Director: Ellen Frye

We are an informal group of musicians which meets weekly at the Howe Library in Hanover to study the vocal music of J.S. Bach. We immerse ourselves in each work for 4 to 8 weeks, rehearsing movements, discussing musical and textual details, and performing a final run-through at the end of the study period. Founded in 1983, the group currently numbers around 50 and includes singers (SATB) and instrumentalists (flutes, recorders, oboes, oboe d’amour, English horn, bassoon, strings, and piano). We read from scores borrowed from the Drinker collection of the Philadelphia Free Library.

No auditions. Interested musicians are invited to call Ellen Frye or simply come to any meeting.

Rehearsal Schedule: Fridays, 10:00-11:45 AM, September through June, excluding holidays, in the Mayer Room of the Howe Library in Hanover, N.H. The next meeting will be Friday September 10, 2010 when we will begin Cantata 33.

Repertoire: Bach cantatas, oratorios, and passions

Contact Information: Ellen Frye, 802-295-9587 or ellen.frye@dartmouth.edu

Fall, 2010 cantatas

BWV 33 Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ

BWV 99 Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan (2)

BWV 105 Herr, gehe nicht ins gericht mit deinem Knecht

2009-2010 cantatas

June 2010: BWV 151 Susser Trost, mein Jesus Kommt, composed for the third day of Christmas. Professional recordings of this cantata can be heard here.

April 2010: BWV 65 Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen, composed for the Feast of Epiphany.

September 2009-April 2010: BWV 248 Christmas Oratorio. Download a copy of Ellen Frye’s Conductor’s Notes for the Christmas Oratorio.

For information about all of Bach’s vocal works, visit the Bach Cantatas website.

Ellen Frye conducting with soprano Joan Snell in background.

Pamela Whitfield, who plays oboe, English horn and flute, with the late Dorothea Stibitz, BSG’s oldest member in 2005.