Concert of Cantatas & Bach Festivals

Concerts of Cantatas & Bach Festivals

Concerts in England

Tony Collingwood wrote (June 17, 2001):
Can anyone tell me where I can get details of upcoming performances of any of the Bach cantatas (and other Bach choral works, especially the Matthew Passion) in England.

Peter Petzling wrote (June 18, 2001):
(To Tony Collingwood) Why don't you start your search with a look at the website
of the London Bach Society: www.bachlive.co.uk.

They offer a free mailing list. There are some concert schedules as well -- and they are no more than an e-mail away from your keyboard.

Peter Petzling wrote (June 18, 2001):
(To Tony Collingwood) Here are a few more references that you might find useful.

1. There is a Bach Choir in Sheffield - they seem to offer several venues at the Cathedral - but they might sing Händel or Byrd in a given year. (www.sheffieldbachchoir.org.uk )

2. The Sheffield Bach Players, however, perform in Doncaster at Priory Methodist Church - twice a year.

3. The Yorkshire Bach Choir is quite active and worth a search. They have made bold to sing the Lutheran Masses in F and A major.

4. St. Albans' Bach Choir is particularly proud to refer to its committment to perform the St. Matthew Passion (BWV 244) - but clearly not every year.

5. Jesus College Chapel in Cambridge offers a lot of singing during the academic year. For the feast days of the church you will find very fine offerings. I recall a noteworthy amount of Bach -- some cantatas and mottets. If East Anglia is within reach Jesus College Chapel would be a prime location for you.

That is all I have to offer.

Cantata Cycle in Basel, Switzerland

Charles Francis wrote:
List members from North Switzerland, South Germany or the Alsace, may be interested in the Bach cantata cycle taking place at the Predigerkirche in Basel, Switzerland. The Cantata performances take place every second sunday, with solo singers and instrumentalists, and are free. http://www.bachkantaten.ch/index.htm

This weeks concert is the last for 2004 and features Kantate BWV 61 "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland" and Kantate BWV 147 "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben"

The performers this week are:

Sopran: Maria Cristina Kiehr
Alt: Alex Potter
Tenor: Hansjörg Mammel
Bass: Marcus Niedermayr

Trompete: Simon Lilly
Oboe,Oboe d'amore: Katharina Arfken
Oboe, Ob. da caccia: Sarah Humphrys
Fagott: Donna Agrell
Violine: Regula Keller
Violine: Basma Abdel-Rahim
Viola: Katharina Bopp
Viola: Elisabeth Stähelin
Violoncello: Reto Cuonz
Violone: Matthias Müller-Mohr
Cembalo: Marc Meisel
Orgel: Jörg-Andreas Bötticher

Charles Francis wrote (December 14, 2004):
Taking advantage of the recent $5 billion investment in the Swiss railways, my wife and self attended last Sunday's concert in the current Basel cantata cycle. As in Bach's day, entry to the church was free (the cycle being performed by a pool of 80 volunteers with an option for the satisfied consumer to make a donation for costs at the end of each concert). Sixteen musicians took part in Sunday's performance, which included BWV 61 and BWV 147 (four singers, and twelve instrumentalists). As might be expected at this epicentre of HIP, all cantatas were performed according to the most modern scholarly conventions (One Voice Per Part, etc.).

The popularity of Maria Cristina Kiehr ensured that the church was filled to capacity. Some 500 people lined the seats, stood in the isles and at the back of the church, while others sat on the floor. Fraü Kiehr sang without vibrato, giving a good approximation of a mature boy's voice, but one that to my ears was lacking the purity of an Emma Kirkby. The alto part was sung by a countertenor, Alex Potter, who to his credit avoided sounding like one. The bass, in customary One Voice Per Part manner, was inaudible at the back of the church.

Various thoughts came to my mind during the concert. Scheibe's remark concerning Bach measuring the capability of his singers by the dexterity of his own fingers seemed apt. Was it the chosen tempo on this occasion or Bach's inability to respond to the limitations of the human voice? Then there was the issue of the inaudibility of
the words - yes an artefact of One Voice Per Part, but there again Bach did run a thriving business producing booklets for his congregation. But still, I did feel the balance would have been improved in the choruses and chorales by a few extra singers. However, I'm willing to consider as an alternative that the orchestra was playing too loud. In particular the continuo section struck me as somewhat top-heavy (strictly speaking, bottom heavy). A suitably historic (and rare) Chest organ had been obtained for the occasion, but its powerful timbre simultaneously combined with harpsichord and violoncello, left me reaching for the bass attenuator.

Overall, an interesting and enjoyable event, which I'm glad I attended. Further info on the new enabling Swiss train timetable at: http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=111&sid=5401407

Gabriel Jackson wrote (December 14, 2004):
Charles Francis writes:
"Overall, an interesting and enjoyable event, which I'm glad I
attended."
What did you enjoy, exactly?

Continue of this discussion, see: OVPP - Part 14 [General Topics]

Bach Vespers in London

Douglas Cowling wrote (February 20, 2006):
Visitors to London might be interested in visiting St. Anne's Lutheran Church, where reportedly Bach cantatas are sung monthly in the original liturgical context of Vespers: http://www.stanneslutheranchurch.org/bach_vespers.htm

If this is the case, it would be one of the few places in the world where Bach's music could be experienced as part of a liturgical sequence. Most churches which offer "Bach Vespers" are in reality a loosely-structured sacred concert with a reading and a couple of prayers thrown in.

Ludwig wrote (February 20, 2006):
[To Douglas Cowling] Do they do this all year around?

Douglas Cowling wrote (February 20, 2006):
[To Ludwig] I can't tell from the website. Do we have a spy in London?

Ludwig wrote (February 20, 2006):
[To Douglas Cowling] The reason I ask is that you have not felt cold until you have been to London on a cold bone chilling day with fog and high humidity there. It seems to take forever and a day to get warm again even when properly dressed for the whether.

Chris Rowson wrote (February 21, 2006):
[To Ludwig] It looks to me like the Bach services are probably about once a month. But the website does give an email address for the Cantor: cantor@stanneslutheranchurch.org

Chris Stanley wrote (February 21, 2006):
[To Ludwig] The last time there was fog in Central London was in the 1950s. I walk for half an hour to work and back and just wear a suit . I don't own an overcoat. What is the question about Bach Vespers in London?

Thomas Jaenicke wrote (February 22, 2006):
[To Douglas Cowling] to contiue the topic of Bach cantata performances in liturgical context, St Anne & St Agnes perform a Bach vespers once a month (3rd sunday). There is a breack during the summer month.

When I lived in London (until 1999) there were a charismatic pastor, a dedicated cantor and enthusiastic musicians, both professionals and amateurs. The ensemble (Lecosaldi) have already performed all the extant cantatas and were in their second cycle.

Sadly both the pastor and the cantor have left the church but obviously the music is still going on as we could witness during the BBC's Bach Christmas, where a Bach vespers was recorded at St Anne & St Agnes.

Every time I have to visit London I try to include in my diary a 3^rd sunday of the month!

Bach Cantata Cycle on BBC Rad3

John Garside wrote (January 23, 2009):
How strange that I should find two reasons to post in the same day!

The BBC Radio 3 web site sends out a "Music Matters" post every so often. I include a fragment with today's date on it as follows:

"Some complete musical cycles are programmed over a season, or even a whole year - a Ring cycle, a set of complete Beethoven symphonies - but the Royal Academy of Music has taken the idea of musical completeness and long-termism a stage further. Within the next decade, they're putting on Bach's complete sacred cantatas, all 200 of them, one Sunday a month. The idea is to showcase Bach's music - most of it originally written for the liturgy of St Thomas' in Leipzig where Bach was Kantor - in a secular context, to reveal the richness of music that only rarely makes it into concert programmes. John Eliot Gardiner performed the whole lot in a year in churches all over the world, but students, singers, and scholars tell us how the Academy's cycle will put the cantatas at the centre of London's musical life."

I shall perform further research to discover exactly when they may be listened to. They may even have them as podcasts later, who knows.

John Garside wrote (January 23, 2009):
Further to my previous post, it is unclear whether the BBC will be broadcasting these concerts, however they will be discussing them during the Music Matters broadcast on Saturday the 24th of January at 12.15 UK time on BBC radio 3. You should be able to listen to that via the web via: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/programmes/schedules/2009/01/24

I shall seek further enlightenment.

Aryeh Oron wrote (January 23, 2009):
[To John Garside] Thanks for your contribution and welcome aboard.
This new series is already listed in the Schedule.
See: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Concerts/Concert-2009-UK.htm
More info on this series at RAM website:
http://www.ram.ac.uk/events/Bach+cantatas.htm

Julian Mincham wrote (January 23, 2009):
[To John Garside] Further to this the Academy are also giving a series of monthly concerts of the cantatas on one Sunday every month staring this Sunday with BWV 30 and 128. Orchestra to be led by either Rachel Podger or Madeleine Easton. next concert is 194 and 124 on Feb 22.

Teri Noel Towe wrote (January 23, 2009):
The Bach Cantata Series at the RAM

John Garside writes:
< the Royal Academy of Music has taken the idea of musical completeness and long-termism a stage further. Within the next decade, they're putting on Bach's complete sacred cantatas, all 200 of them, one Sunday a month. The idea is to showcase Bach's music - most of it originally written for the liturgy of St Thomas' in Leipzig where Bach was Kantor - in a secular context, to reveal the richness of music that only rarely makes it into concert programmes. >
Information on the series can be found on this page: http://www.ram.ac.uk/events/

The first concert in the series takes place this Sunday, 25 January.

Teri Noel Towe wrote (January 23, 2009):
Additional information on the Bach Cantatas series at the RAM can be found on this page, and a downloadable brochure, in pdf format, also is available from this page: http://www.ram.ac.uk/events/Bach+cantatas.htm

John Garside wrote (January 24, 2009):
[To Aryeh Oron] Thank you Aryeh,

For once, and the rest of the series, I'm sorry that I made the move to Germany. Otherwise ... :-)

Thank you so much for BCML and the link.

John Garside wrote (January 24, 2009):
Teri Noel Towe wrote:
< Additional information on the Bach Cantatas series at the RAM can be found on this page, and a downloadable brochure, in pdf format, also is available from this page: http://www.ram.ac.uk/events/Bach+cantatas.htm >
Perhaps someone can explain why the picture at the top of the page on the link provided shows a picture of someone and his son now "proven" not to be Bach. No underbite therefore not JSB.

Or am I wrong?

Continue of this part of the discussion, see: Face of Bach [General Topics]

Aryeh Oron wrote (January 24, 2009):
John Garside wrote:
"For once, and the rest of the series, I'm sorry that I made the move to Germany. Otherwise ... :-)"
There are so many Bach Festivals and several cantata series in Germany (although not as many as in Holland), that give you enough opportunities to attend live Bach performances all over the year. The BCW contains a list of all known Bach Festival and cantatas series around the world.
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Links/Links-Festivals.htm

If any member is aware of Bach Festival / Cantata Series missing from this page, please inform me OFF-LIST.

John Garside wrote (January 25, 2009):
[To Aryeh Oron] Oh Aryeh! Did you not notice the smiley at the end? I certainly wasn't complaining, far from it, but the grass is always greener ... ;-)

Thank you for drawing my attention to the list. Sadly few in the vicinity of Bonn. Aachen, I think, is the closest. I must examine Holland and Belgium to see whether there are any there close by.

Being able to make the pilgrimage each year to Weimar and Leipzig etc. makes up for it. No it doesn't, boo hoo! ;-)

Major Bach Events

Aryeh Oron wrote (November 4, 2009):
I have created pages for Major Bach Events, a page for a year.
The pages aim to list chronologically all the major Bach-related events around the world, including: Festivals, Conferences, Competitions, etc. See:
2009: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Concerts/Event-2009.htm
2010: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Concerts/Event-2010.htm
Linked from BCW Home Page: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/
and from other pages.

In case I have missed an event, please do not hesitate to inform me, either through the Bach ML or off-list.

Russell Telfer wrote (November 7, 2009):
[To Aryeh Oron] Responding to Aryeh's post, I would like to draw attention to an event - it won't be a major event to others, but it certainly is to me: a performance of BWV 107, BWV 117 and BWV 177 at Wilton Parish Church by David Stancliffe of Salisbury on 15^th November, in a week's time. With a scratch (top class) orchestra and choir, and soloists out of this world. Fortunately it is relatively easy to attract top class pros to events like these, and I won't make a dig about the trumpets.

In May last year he performed three other cantatas, BWV 31, BWV 132 and BWV 2,1 all beautiful works (which aren't?). The soprano soloist was out of this world, though not literally. Shortly afterwards David Stancliffe became seriously ill, but he is definitely the kind of chap who should be last out of the balloon, so it was wonderful that he was restored to full health and is going to give us another event.

If anyone is interested, I can give more details. Strongly recommended.

Russell Telfer wrote (November 7, 2009):
Re my recent post, I don't know how I missed it out, but one of the salient points about this concert is that the conductor for this performance is a senior churchman, ie the Bishop of Salisbury.

There aren't many of that exalted rank who press the right button, or baton, when in front of a crack Bach orchestra.

Apologies for the extra post.

Ed Myskowski wrote (November 8, 2009):
Russell Telfer :
< it won't be a major >
More cole Porter:
How strange the change from major to minor

RT:
< event to others, but it certainly is to me: a performance of BWV 107, BWV 117 and BWV 177 at Wilton Parish Church by David Stancliffe of Salisbury on 15^th November, in a week's time. [...] I won't make a dig about the trumpets. >
EM:
At every opportunity, I advocate the report of concert performances (major or otherwise), if only to emphasize that the primary experience of music is through live performance. To be absolutely authentic, this was the only experience for Bach and his listeners.

One could argue (although I will not, at the moment) that listening to a largish choir in concert is more authentic to the original Bach experience than the HIPpest of HIP recordings.

OK, what is the dig about the trumpets? Come on, we can dig it.

Russell Telfer wrote (November 8, 2009):
Ed Myskowski wrote:
< OK, what is the dig about the trumpets? Come on, we can dig it. >
I hope no real musicians will be offended by this, but in more than one amateur orchestra I've been associated with, getting trumpet players was the hardest task for an amateur Bach orchestra. Because. They. Have. To. Be.
Paid.

I'm not saying that they're all "difficult" but to a varying extent many pros in the other sections will come and perform at these events for the love of it.

The reasons: the relative scarcity of Bach cantata events, the sheer joy of being invited to take part. But the trumpet budget on occasion outreaches the fee for the conductor. It must be all that blowing.

Maybe this was a selective experience. Other members may like to comment.

(But you HAVE to have good trumpeters, don't you!)

Ed Myskowski wrote (November 9, 2009):
Russell Telfer wrote:
< But the trumpet budget on occasion outreaches the fee for the conductor. It must be all that blowing. >
First off, thanks for responding to my inquiry. In that instance (re the trumpets), I really did not have a clue what you meant.

In fact, there has been some previous discussion implying that the circumstances may have been exactly the same for Bach. I have no experience or expertise on the topic, hence my opinions are all the more fixed! Did not Bachs favorite trumpet virtuoso die more or less in performance, reportedly from over-exertion? Perhaps it is hazardous duty pay.

This strikes me as a topic on which Doug, with his vast (or certainly, at the very least, half-vast) experience may have some wisdom and/or wit to share.

It is encouraging to see a few extra folks (albeit, all regulars) joining the discussions. It really only takes an additional voice or two to liven things up. Thanks to all.

Kim Patrick Clow wrote (November 9, 2009):
Ed Myskowski wrote:
< Did not Bachs favorite trumpet virtuoso die more or less in performance, reportedly from over-exertion? > Perhaps it is hazardous duty pay.

You're talking about Gottfried Reiche: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gottfried_Reiche

Reiche wrote 122 fanfares to announce the hours of the day, of which only one survives in the famous oil painting. That fanfare served as the opening theme for CBS Sunday Morning News for many years.

You can hear that music here: http://abel.hive.no/trumpet/bach/reiche/abblasen.html

Kim Patrick Clow wrote (November 9, 2009):
Ed Myskowski wrote:
< Did not Bach's favorite trumpet virtuoso die more or less in performance, reportedly from over-exertion? Perhaps it is hazardous duty pay. >
No, he died the next day, the idea he died during a performance is false. The cause of death was linked to smoke from the torches from the previous night's performance. That seems unlikely, but then during the 18^th century, there were all sorts of myths still present about "bad air" causing sicknesses and death.

Ed Myskowski wrote (November 9, 2009):
Kim Patrick Clow wrote:
< No, he [Gottfried Reiche; thanks to Kimfor identity] died the next day, the idea he died during >a performance is false. The cause of death was linked to smoke from the torches from the >previous night's performance. That seems unlikely [...] >
Well, I wrote quickly from memory, hoping for some clarification. Fortunately (actually carefully), I wrote more or less during performance. Perhaps it is worth pursuing further?

In particular, why is smoke from the previous nights performance unlikely? Was there any smoke from the actual performance? Why the smoke: tobacco or spectacle? Or these days, anything goes?

Not questions directed to Kim, specifically. In fact, thanks to Kim for stirring them. Reiches death is one of the many little interesting details surrounding Bach, fun to investigate further.

Kim Patrick Clow wrote (November 9, 2009):
< Well, I wrote quickly from memory, hoping for some clarification. Fortunately (actually carefully), I wrote more or less during performance. Perhaps it is worth pursuing further? >
Well that means you thought he died during the performance of the music itself, which is a common myth, and its cited in the Wikipedia article. Honestly, the more tragic thing is that the man died, and I'm sure Bach must have been saddened and affected by the loss.

< In particular, why is smoke from the previous nights performance unlikely? Was there any smoke from the actual performance? Why the smoke: tobacco or spectacle? Or these days, anything goes? >
It was an evening / outdoor performance of a serenata for the Elector of Saxony, hence the torches. Unlikely because during the 18th century, they had silly ideas about "bad air" causing illnesses. He died the next day anyway, so the cause-effect relationship seems highly unlikely. But again, the bottom line is the man died. Medical science of the period ruined Bach and Handel's eyesight and was a contributing factor in one of their deaths. And Mozart had some of the best doctors of his day, but they contributed to his death as well.

William Hoffman wrote (November 9, 2009):
As I wrote last year in BCW discussion of BWV 215: Gottfried Reiche probably died of natural causes. He was 64. As the leader of the stadtpfeifer he was responsible for directing all manner of civic celebrations outdoors, especially traditional evening serenades with illumination by torches, and often with fireworks. Further, the first trumpet part in BWV 215 wasn't as challenging as the solo in BWV 213, parodied as the aria "Grosse Herr" in the XO, or the first trumpet in the opening and closing movements of BWV 248a(IV), just discussed.

Ed Myskowski wrote (November 9, 2009):
William Hoffman wrote:
< As I wrote last year in BCW discussion of BWV 215: Gottfried Reiche probably died of natural causes. He was 64. >
Thanks for the reminder. So much for the hypothesis of hazardous duty pay. Leaving open, then, the original question of why trumpeters are so pricey, as raised by Russell.

If a trumpet player over-exerts himself, collapses, and dies, is that not a natural cause?

Ed Myskowski wrote (November 9, 2009):
Gottfried Reiche, trumpet [was: Major Bach events]

The entry in Boyd, OCC, for Reiche includes:

<he died age 67 [b. feb. 5, 1667, d. Oct. 6, 1734] after being overcome by torch smoke during a performance of the cantata [BWV 215]> (end quote)
Reference: biograhy (1987) by D. L. Smithers.

OTOH, a Grove entry by Christoph Wolff is cited on BCW: <he died the following morning [after the BWV 215 performance] from the exertions of his office>.

Sounds like the same old, same old, to me. If he died at the age of 67 from the exertions of his office, that would be natural causes, no? If, OTOH, he died as the result of smoke inhalation, some entity might in fact have been deemed liable. You get the picture.

Continue of this part of the discussion, see: Gottfried Reiche & Bach [Bach & Other Composers]

BCW: New Section - Bach Festivals & Cantata Series

Aryeh Oron wrote (December 5, 2009):
I have launched a new section on the Bach Cantatas Website - Bach Festivals & Cantata Series.
See: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Festival/Festival.htm
Linked from the Home Page of the BCW and from other pages.
My goal is to present all the Bach Festivals & Cantata Series around the world and to document their history by presenting posters or brochures from all the years of their existence.

The info presented for each festival or cantata series:

- Name
- Location
- Venues
- Years (year of first festival; frequency)
- Months (for festivals: the regular month/s in which the festival takes place every year; for cantata series: from month to month)
- Artistic Director (if there have been several along the years, name and years for each)
- Ensembles (which participate regularly in the festival / cantata series)
- Website
- History & Mission (in English, up to 500 words)
- Logo
- Posters or brochures for every year from the very first to the most recent (PDF or jpg format)

The complete list of Bach Festivals & Cantata Series is presented at:
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Links/Links-Festivals.htm
I have written to most the Bach Festivals & Cantata Series in the list above, and received various responses:
- Some were very enthusiastic and already provided info and material, or promised to provide the info and material after some search and preparation.
- Some messages were rejected (I wonder why a festival publishes its e-mail address and then rejects incoming messages. How do the festival organisers expect to contact with artists, promoters, potential attendants, etc.?).
- Some have not responded (see the remark above).
- One festival refused to be presented on the BCW!

With a deep search over the web and the info and material already received from many festivals/cantata series, I have built the initial version of the new section.
So far over 100 Bach Festivals & Cantata Series are already presented.

With your help this new section can be much more comprehensive. After all the BCW is a collective effort. There are several ways for providing such help:
a. If you have personal contact with the organisers of a Bach festival/cantata series not presented yet in the new section, you can help by contacting them and encourage them to send me info and material.
b. If you have at your disposal brochures/posters/flyers/programmes in a digital format (jpg or PDF) this is fine. Please send it to my personal e-mail address and not to the Bach ML's.
c. If you have brochures/posters/flyers/programmes in printed form, please scan it and send it to me in a digital format.
d. If you are aware of a Bach festival/cantata series missing from the list above, please inform me right away.

And please do not hesitate to flood me with material. I shall handle all of it, sooner or later.

I am looking forward to your contribution.

Kim Patrick Clow wrote (December 5, 2009):
Aryeh Oron wrote:
< I have launched a new section on the Bach Cantatas Website - Bach Festivals & Cantata Series.
See: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Festival/Festival.htm
Linked from the Home Page of the BCW and from other pages.
My goal is to present all the Bach Festivals & Cantata Series around the world and to document their history by presenting posters or brochures from all the years of their existence.
The info presented for each festival or cantata series: >
Aryeh, you NEVER cease to amaze me with the information you provide on the BCW. Thank you so much for this.

Ed Myskowski wrote (December 5, 2009):
>One festival refused to be presented on the BCW! <
<If you cannot take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.> H[S]Truman, Pres. USA, 1945-52.

BCW: Annual calendar of Major Bach Events

Aryeh Oron wrote (December 7, 2009):
About a month ago I informed you of the addition of Major Bach Events tables to the BCW.
The major Bach events tables includes all the known Bach festivals, competitions, etc. around the world.
You can find there side by side both the major Bach Festivals, such as Leipzig, Thuringia, Oregon, Carmel, etc. and the most esoteric, such as the one-day Bach Marathon in Lexington, KY on the 325th Anniversary of Bach's birthday.

To allow those of you who plan attending as many Bach Festivals as possible, I have recently added Printable Annual Calendar of 2010 Major Bach Events.
See: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Concerts/Annual-2010.pdf
Linked from: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Concerts/Event-2010.htm
In the Annual Calendar I placed those events to which exact dates are already set.
You can see that there is hardly an open slot in the Annual Calendar.

Description of the festivals can be found in their websites and in the newly announced section of Bach Festivals & Cantata Series: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Links/Links-Festivals.htm
The concerts of Bach's vocal works (including concerts not associated with festivals) are listed in the world-wide Schedule of Bach's vocal works: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Concert.htm

Ed Myskowski wrote (December 7, 2009):
< the most esoteric, such as the one-day Bach Marathon in Lexington, KY on the 325th Anniversary of Bach's birthday. >
Those of you traveling over Boston MA to reach this Marathon, might consider the alternative of stopping and traveling through Boston. You can participate in an ongoing series of weekly cantata performances by Emmanuel Music, and with a bit of creative planning, stay near Boston in the original USA Lexington (MA). I believe this is carried over from a UK Lexington, although I did not confirm that at the moment.

Lexington MA is generally accepted as the birthplace of the American Revolution (April 1775 CE), although the actual first armed resistance was a few months earlier, right here in Salem, Feb 1775, where some fisherfolk with guns refused to let General Leslie cross the river. It is celebrated by a brass plaque on a chunk of granite, and more enjoyably, by a very decent breakfast spot, creatively named Leslies Retreat.

Breakfast for two (or full crew) on me, for the first team to undertake the two Lexingtons for Bach, with a side trip to Salem. No cheating by locals, this only applies to those heading on to Kentucky (although if you are exceedingly clever, you could start from home in Lexington MA and qualify).

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Last update: ‎December 23, 2009 ‎00:15:22