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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 18h

We're delighted to be presenting a concert jam-packed with beautiful English choral music at St Francis' church, Bourneville, at 6pm on Sunday 21 November, featuring works by Parry, Vaughan Williams and Holst. For more info and to book, see: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-very-eng...

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Next week rehearsals begin for our next concert, inc. Vaugh Williams' beautiful Mass in G minor. Would you like to join us?! We're an amateur choir which aspires to professional standards, so if you're in Birmingham/West Mids, come & try us for size! For info see: birmingham.bachchoir.com/join.html

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Well, what can we say! Saturday's concert at Bridgnorth was a joyful affair & a musical triumph, with the unexpected highlight of our conductor Paul Spicer being knighted by Queen Elizabeth I. Thanks to members & friends supporters for these photos. As the bard observed, 'this life is most jolly'!

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

As well as great music & skilled performers, the best thing about our concert on Sat 4 July, 3pm, St Mary Magdalene, Bridgnorth, is Shakespeare's writing, so we're celebrating the Bard, starting with this passage set by Vaughan Williams. For info & to book: birmingham.bachchoir.com/concerts---t...

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

We're thrilled to be collaborating with historian & novelist Lesley Smith, who will be featuring in our concert of Shakespeare-themed music as Queen Elizabeth I. Book early to avoid disappointment! St Mary Magdalen, Bridgnorth Saturday 4 July 2026, 3.30pm birmingham.bachchoir.com/concerts---t...

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Reposted by Birmingham Bach Choir

Paul Carr @organistpaul.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

This Saturday, 23 May 2026 at 3:00pm I shall be playing an organ recital in the historic Holdich organ in Hinckley United Reformed Church, Leicestershire. Admission £5 Programme details below:

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Three Choirs Festival @threechoirs.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Tickets now on sale for this year's thrilling Three Choirs Festival. Experience the power of live choral music from 25 July – 1 August in Gloucester. 📱01452 768 928 💻 3choirs.org #ThreeChoirs #Gloucester #Gloucester2026 #Choral #Classical

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

In July we'll be singing the Shakespearean 'Fancies' by Swede Sven-Eric Johanson. These short, playful pieces display quirky & humorous writing, & Johanson had a similarly colourful personality, as you can see by this photo of him! Find out more and book at birmingham.bachchoir.com/concerts---t...

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Our next concert features George Shearing's Shakespeare-inspired 'Songs & Sonnets'. Born blind, Shearing learned to read music by Braille & became an internationally famous Jazz pianist. The work is scored for choir, piano & bass. Find out more and book at birmingham.bachchoir.com/concerts---t...

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Our 4 July concert features Ralph Vaughan Williams' 'Three Shakespeare Songs'. Words for 'Full Fathom Five' & 'The Cloud-Capp'd Towers' come from The Tempest, & 'Over Hill, Over Dale' sets text from A Midsummer Night's Dream. Find out more and book now at birmingham.bachchoir.com/concerts---t...

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Does everybody else find themselves humming this today, or is it just us...? #barleybreake

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

New term, new programme! We're looking forward to a summer concert of Shakespeare-themed words & music by composers inc. Ralph Vaughan Williams, George Shearing, Sven-Eric Johanson & Ward Swingle! Join us Sat. 4 July, 3.30pm, St Mary Magdalene, Bridgnorth. birmingham.bachchoir.com/concerts---t...

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Wishing all our members, friends & followers a very happy & restful Easter weekend, wherever you are & whatever you're doing! Just over two years ago we performed Bach's St Matthew Passion at Lichfield cathedral: good luck to everybody singing wonderful music of any kind around this time of year!

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Less than a week to go until our concert on 14 March @stchadsbirm.bsky.social featuring music by Gesualdo, Byrd, Tallis, Phinot, Lotti & Victoria! Have you booked your ticket(s) yet? For more details, see: birmingham.bachchoir.com/concerts---t...

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Very proud of our Music Director Paul Spicer, who was awarded the RCO Medal by @rcorganists.bsky.social at a ceremony at Southwark Cathedral yesterday. Congratulations Paul!

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Thursday LIVE Organ Recitals @thursdaylive.org · 03/03/2026

🔸This Thursday, 5 March 2026🔸Professor David Saint, Director of Music at @stchadsbirm.bsky.social St Chad’s Cathedral Birmingham, plays the 1:15pm Thursday LIVE Organ Recital. Admission is free with a retiring collection. 🆓 ⬇️ Programme ⬇️

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

In our concert on 14 March also we're singing the first of Tallis' exquisite Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet. Tallis lived from 1505 to 1585 & composed music under Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I & Elizabeth I, adapting his musical style to suit the twists and turns of Tudor religious policy.

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Read more about our upcoming concert @stchadsbirm.bsky.social, with readings by Archbishop of Birmingham Bernard Longley, here: www.whatsonlive.co.uk/birmingham/n...

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Big congratulations to our MD Paul Spicer whose new book was published this week. In it he talks about the choral instrument, scores, interpretation, gesture, rehearsals, recordings, & more. But he begins with the ears... For details (& to order): www.crowood.com/book/choral-... #choralmusic

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Congratulations to the BBC singers on their recent performance of Howells's sublime 'Hymnus Paradisi' with Ian Farrington's arrangement for small orchestra. We're performing the same work in spring 2028, conducted by Paul Spicer, Howells' biographer & former pupil! www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

Radio 3 in Concert - Howells' Hymnus Paradisi - BBC Sounds

The BBC Singers and BBC Concert Orchestra live from Milton Court.

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

One of the challenges of singing this beautiful Renaissance polyphony is preserving a sense of phrasing and direction in long lines while maintaining quality of tone. In this clip from our recent vocal workshop Ghislaine Morgan talks about staggered breathing, based on her professional experience.

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Something a little different from last Saturday morning! Here's Ghislaine Morgan leading us in a semi-occluded vocal tract exercise, which involved the choir 'singing' through a straw into a cup with a few centimetres of water. Definitely one for the rehearsal room, as opposed to the concert hall...

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

We had a brilliant coaching session/vocal workshop with the wonderful Ghislaine Morgan over the weekend. Some video clips to follow, but here are a few pictures: Ghislaine in action; chatting with Paul Spicer and Paul Carr at the piano; talking to choir members; and members enjoying a coffee break.

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Paul Carr @organistpaul.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

A very interesting day: Firstly accompanying @birminghambach.bsky.social’s vocal workshop with Paul Spicer and Ghislaine Morgan, then on to St Bart’s Penn for BACH @ BART’S rehearsal and play for the Saturday Communion Service.

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Bury Bach Choir @burybachchoir.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Hurry, Hurry! Three weeks to go until this concert at The Apex and only 60 tickets available! Grab them now ➡️ shorturl.at/YdOaK #themajestyofhandel #burybachchoir #bookticketsnow #burystedmunds #TooHotToHandel

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

We're really looking forward to a vocal workshop tomorrow with the exceptionally talented Ghislaine Morgan, who'll be working with us on our current programme of renaissance choral music (Gesualdo, Byrd, Tallis, Victoria, Phinot, etc.). For Ghislaine's info see: www2.verrocchio.co.uk/cirps/index....

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Tom Newall @tomnewallconductor.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

Really loving this programme with @officialuom.bsky.social Chorus! Ešenvalds, Dove, Lili Boulanger, Borodin, Tchaikovsky & Sibelius - there really is something for everyone! Tickets are flying!! 👇 www.rncm.ac.uk/performance/...

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

Gesualdo's personal life remained as colourful and complex as his music. Having murdered his wife & her lover in 1590, he married Leonora d'Este in 1594, & subsequently took a mistress of his own. In 1603 Leonora accused her husband's mistress of witchcraft and she was convicted and imprisoned.

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

Gesualdo's uncle, Carlo Borromeo, had called for the enrichment of sacred music through chromaticism, & Gesualdo also owned an 'arcicembalo', a keyboard instrument invented by Nicola Vicentino c.1555, with a second manual designed to provide extra pitches to create a system of 31 equal temperament.

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Paul Carr @organistpaul.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

🔸BACH @ BART’S 🔸 starts this Sunday. Every Sunday in Lent at 6:30pm in St Bartholomew’s Church Penn, Wolverhampton. Organ works by J.S. Bach including all six Trio Sonatas. Admission free with a retiring collection towards the St Bart’s Choir Summer Tour. Details ⬇️

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Packing your bag for the weekly choir rehearsal: music, pencil, glasses, apple, mug for interval coffee. What do you consider essential that I've left out?!

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

One of our first basses, James Langstaff, was on BBC West Midlands a few weeks ago speaking to Donna Alos about our upcoming concert of sacred music by Byrd, Gesualdo, Lotti, Tallis, Victoria & others - have a listen, it's 5 minutes well spent! on.soundcloud.com/MAtnfZO1jj3w...

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

Later in his life Gesualdo turned from writing secular madrigals to penning sacred works. Deeply melancholic, he venerated his sainted uncle Carlo Borromeo, and an anonymous observer recorded that 'he is opposed to innovation, attends to money-making and does not delight in anything but music'.

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

This term one of the works we're performing is Gesualdo's spellbinding 'Tenebrae Responsories for Holy Saturday'. Gesualdo is equally notorious for the pervasive chromaticism of his music and his murder of his wife and her lover, caught ‘in flagrante delicto di fragrante peccato’, in October 1590.

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Having already written biographies of Herbert Howells, Sir George Dyson, and Sir Arthur Bliss, Paul's latest book, on choral conducting, is published later this month: www.crowood.com/book/choral-...

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Our Music Director since 1992 has been the inspirational Paul Spicer, who next month will be awarded the RCO medal for distinguished achievement in choral conducting and pedagogy, and scholarship.

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

Richard Butt was conductor of the then-named Birmingham Bach Society from 1966-1992, during which time the choir gave a performance of Bach's Mass in B Minor with the Leipzig Radio Orchestra (1 June 1989) at J.S. Bach's own church of St Thomas, Leipzig.

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

We might be new to Bluesky, but we were founded over 100 years ago by Bernard Jackson in October 1919. This picture is us rehearsing a mere 58 years ago in St Paul's Church, Birmingham, with Richard Butt.

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Birmingham Bach Choir @birminghambach.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

We're excited to be making our debut Bluesky post, and it's a good one! Join us for a stunning programme of sacred choral music on 14 March at St Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham...

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