Welcome
Founded in 1972 as a chapter of the Neue Bachgesellschaft, the American Bach Society supports the study, performance, and appreciation of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach in the United States and Canada.
The ABS produces Bach Notes and Bach Perspectives, sponsors a biennial meeting and conference, and offers grants and prizes for research on Bach.
Information on membership is available here, along with a short history of the Society and information on its administration.
On this site you can also find links to other Bach organizations and to Bach festivals, as well as a small selection of interesting Bach illustrations.
Publication of Exploring the World of J. S. Bach
June 29, 2016
The American Bach Society is pleased to announce the publication of Exploring the World of J. S. Bach, a singular resource that puts Bach aficionados and classical music lovers in the shoes of the master composer. Bach scholar Robert L. Marshall and veteran writer-translator Traute M. Marshall lead readers on a Baroque Era odyssey through more than fifty towns where Bach resided, visited, and of course created his works. Read more…
Call for Bach Perspectives 12
April 12, 2016
The American Bach Society invites submissions for consideration for Bach Perspectives 12, an essay collection on the theme of Bach and religion. Papers on all aspects of the subject are welcome, and will be selected after peer review for publication in 2018. Submissions should be approximately 6000 words and be sent in electronic form to Robin Leaver (leaverra [at] comcast.net) by 1 June 2016. Information on past volumes in the series is available here.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AT RIGHT:
- Oil painting of J. S. Bach by Elias Gottlob Haussmann, 1748
- Engraving of St. Thomas Church, Leipzig
- Title page of Bach’s Calov Bible, 1681 (Concordia Seminary Library, St. Louis)
- First page of autograph score of Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, 1721