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.

Upcoming Conference:

“Bach and Mozart: Connections, Patterns, Pathways”
Stanford University
February 13–16, 2020

Call for Papers | Program | Abstracts | Program Book

For questions about the upcoming conference, please contact Andrew Talle: andrew.talle (at) northwestern.edu

Call for submissions — Bach Perspectives 14: Bach and Mozart: Connections, Patterns, Pathways

July 26, 2019

The American Bach Society invites submissions for consideration for Bach Perspectives 14, an essay collection on the theme of ‘Bach and Mozart: Connections, Patterns, Pathways.’ Papers on all aspects of the subject are welcome, and will be selected after peer review for publication in 2022. Potential topics include the many fruitful connections between generations of composers in the Bach and Mozart families, the patterns of influence and inspiration that emerged from their works and their artistic milieus, and the pathways opened by their music and musical cultures.

Submissions should be approximately 6000 words and should be sent in electronic form to Paul Corneilson (pcorneilson AT packhum.org) by 15 April 2020. Information the series is available here.

Publication of Bach Notes no. 30 (Spring 2019)

April 17, 2019

We’re pleased to announce the publication of Bach Notes no. 30 (Spring 2019). In this issue, we’re featuring an article on the first American edition of the St. Matthew Passion by David W. Music, the Stanford 2020 Call for Papers, a review of J. S. Bach, The Complete Organ Works, vols. I/9 and II/2 by Matthew Dirst, a report on the Buxtehude Collected Edition, 1978–2018 by Ronald Broude, as well as announcements and member news. Read more…

ABS/MSA in Stanford, February 2020 — Call for Papers published

March 1, 2019

The Call for Papers for our next conference, held jointly with the Mozart Society of America at Stanford University, February 13–16, 2020, is now available. We look forward to seeing you there! Read more…

Bach Perspectives 12: Bach and the Counterpoint of Religion now available

November 15, 2018

Bach Perspectives 12: Bach and the Counterpoint of Religion, published by the University of Illinois Press, is now available. The volume, edited by Robin A. Leaver, features contributions from Rebecca Cypess, Joyce L. Irwin, Robin A. Leaver, Mark Noll, Markus Rathey, Derek Stauff, and Janice B. Stockigt. For more information, please see our page on the series.

Publication of Bach Notes no. 29 (Fall 2018)

October 24, 2018

We’re pleased to announce the publication of Bach Notes no. 29 (Fall 2018). In this issue, we're featuring a report on Bachfest Leipzig, a brief contribution on ABS and Social Media, a review of Leipzig After Bach, a conference report on ABS 2018, and a number of announcements and member news items. Read more…

Bach Notes no. 28 (Spring 2018) just published

May 16, 2018

We’re pleased to announce the publication of Bach Notes no. 28 (Spring 2018). This issue features the announcement of the Ruth and Noel S. Monte Fund, Nicholas Kitchen on arranging Bach for string quartet, a report on the “Bach on Screen” conference at the Riemenschneider Bach Institute, the abstracts for the 2018 biennial meeting of the Society, an announcement of a new edition of Bach’s sacred vocal music from Carus, and member news. Read more…

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AT RIGHT:

  1. Oil painting of J. S. Bach by Elias Gottlob Haussmann, 1748
  2. Engraving of St. Thomas Church, Leipzig
  3. Title page of Bach’s Calov Bible, 1681 (Concordia Seminary Library, St. Louis)
  4. First page of autograph score of Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, 1721