Boulder Bach Festival

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The Boulder Bach Festival is an annual music festival held in Boulder, Colorado, known for its diverse repertoire spanning across the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic eras. Founded in 1981, the festival has evolved significantly over time, expanding its musical offerings and community engagement beyond its initial focus solely on Johann Sebastian Bach's music.

Contents

History and Evolution

Originally conceived as a festival centered around Johann Sebastian Bach's music, the Boulder Bach Festival commenced in 1981, presenting primarily instrumental and choral works of the celebrated composer during weekends near Bach's March 21 birthday. [1] Under the stewardship of Zachary Carrettin, who assumed the role of the festival's music director in 2013-14, the event has significantly expanded its offerings and programming. [1] From its earlier iterations featuring Bach-centric weekends, the festival has now grown into a multifaceted musical celebration, presenting a diverse range of concerts encompassing Baroque, Classical, and Romantic compositions. [1]

Artistic Offerings and Concerts

The festival's concert lineup has broadened to include a variety of musical genres and eras. While Bach's music remains a central focus, the repertoire has expanded to incorporate works by composers such as Brahms, Haydn, Chopin, Mozart, Stravinsky, Part, Schnittke, and Bloch. [1] [2] [3] Performances have showcased a mix of period instruments and modern adaptations, embracing historic practices to evoke the soundscapes of past eras. [1]

Outreach and Educational Initiatives

The Boulder Bach Festival actively engages in community-driven programs, conducting over 40 concerts annually in hospitals, schools, retirement homes, libraries, and museums, offering these events free of charge. [1] The festival's commitment to education extends to its Fellowship Artist Initiative, a two-year program providing mentorship and period instruments to young musicians embarking on their professional careers. [1]

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Johann Sebastian Bach's music has been performed by musicians of his own time, and in the second half of the eighteenth century by his sons and students, and by the next generations of musicians and composers such as the young Beethoven. Felix Mendelssohn renewed the attention for Bach's music by his performances in the 19th century. In the 20th century Bach's music was performed and recorded by artists specializing in the music of the composer, such as Albert Schweitzer, Helmut Walcha and Karl Richter. With the advent of the historically informed performance practice Bach's music was prominently featured by artists such as Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Gustav Leonhardt and Sigiswald Kuijken.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 America, Early Music (2019-05-13). "Boulder Bach Festival Goes Beyond Bach » Early Music America". Early Music America. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  2. "DenverPost.com - Entertainment/The Scene". extras.denverpost.com. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  3. Camera, Kalene McCort | Boulder Daily (2019-04-25). "Boulder Bach Festival finale reinvigorates classics with sounds of Romanticism". Boulder Daily Camera. Retrieved 2023-12-13.