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Venues: |
St. Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church - 330 Hinckley Ridge Road, Blue Hill
1st Congregational Church of Blue Hill - 22 Tenney Hill, Blue Hill
Peninsula Metamorphic Arts & Learning - 139 Mines Road, Blue Hill
Kalmia Knoll, Blue Hill |
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Mission: |
The mission of Blue Hill Bach is to present historically informed performances, recordings, and educational programs that explore vocal and instrumental music of the Baroque, as well as repertoire that demonstrates the place of Baroque music within the continuum of music history. Their vision is to bring together the finest early music specialists - from near and far - and an actively engaged community, to create exciting and uplifting musical experiences for audiences in Downeast Maine. |
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History: |
Blue Hill Bach presented its first concert on August 17, 2011, at St. Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church. Brought together by mezzo-soprano and arts administrator Marcia Gronewold Sly, an ensemble of early music specialists - one to a part - performed an all-J.S. Bach program to a standing-room-only audience.
The program’s repertoire included the Prelude and Fugue in E-flat, Cantatas BWV 169 and BWV 170 for solo alto, and the Double Concerto in c minor for violin and oboe. The ensemble included musicians who represent the finest in early music: organist Jonathan Dimmock of San Francisco; Brooklin’s Marcia Gronewold Sly, mezzo-soprano; Heidi Powell, violin soloist/first violin, of Ellsworth; violinist Richard Hsu of Ellsworth; Rachel Evans, viola, from New York City; cellist Lisa Nielson of Cleveland, Ohio; oboe soloist Stephen Hammer, of Tivoli, New York; Joyce Alper, oboe, of Boston; Owen Watkins, English horn, of Portsmouth, N.H.; and Deer Isle resident Gerald Wheeler, harpsichord. A fifteen-voice choir of mostly local singers sang the closing chorale, which was then repeated by the entire audience.
After two highly successful summer concerts, Blue Hill Bach has begun to expand its activities - beginning with a concert of baroque chamber music in November 2012 that featured the premiere early music ensemble Ensalada.
2013 included a festival of performances July 25-27, with a concert featuring J.S. Bach’s music for organ, a performance of some of J.S. Bach’s secular music in what may have been a surprising venue, and more, culminating in a Saturday evening cantata concert. The festival’s major work was Cantata BWV 78, Jesu, der du meine Seele. |
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Recent Festivals: |
1st Festival: Aug 17, 2011
2nd Festival: Jul 21, 2012 (Bach Vespers)
3rd Festival: Jul 25-27, 2013
4th Festival: Jul 24-26, 2014
5th Festival: Jul 30-Aug 1, 2015
6h Festival: Jul 21-26, 2016 |
Bach's Birthday Celebration: Mar 20, 2015
Bach's Birthday Celebration: Mar 18, 2016 |
