Summer Bach (I)

BAROQUE INVENTIONS

These charming pieces were written by J.S. Bach for his son Wilhelm Friedemann. On the autograph copy, dated 1723, Bach titled the collection: “Forthright instruction, wherewith lovers of the clavier, especially those desirous of learning, are shown in a clear way not only to learn to play two voices clearly, but also after further progress to deal correctly and well with three obbligato parts...”. The works are, in essence, Bach’s teaching manuals which have given pleasure for 300 years, and are still very much in use today.

PROGRAMME

J.S. Bach

Fifteen two-part Inventions, BWV 772-786

Fifteen three-part Sinfonias [Inventions], BWV 787-801

MATTHEW OWENS harpsichord

Matthew Owens is Founder and Music Director of the Ulster Consort, Northern Ireland’s newest professional vocal and instrumental ensemble; Conductor of the Belfast City Chorus; Professor of Vocals at the Royal Marines School of Music; and Associate Director of the Grand Rapids Choir of Men and Boys, in Michigan, USA.

Previously, he was the director of music at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh, and Wells Cathedral. Under his leadership, Wells Cathedral Choir was named by an international jury for Gramophone as the best choir in the world with children, and the sixth greatest overall. From 2019-2022, he was Director of Music of Belfast Cathedral, where he re-established the choir as a professional adult ensemble, winning international acclaim for its work: “it could well be the finest all-adult standing choir of its kind anywhere, with near-perfect vowel harmony, blend, enunciation, nuanced awareness of phrase and an exceptional, bright and pure soprano group.” (Gramophone).

He has guest conducted, among others, the London Mozart Players, Ulster Orchestra, English Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Ensemble, Nash Ensemble, and the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra. As a conductor he has made over 30 CDs with major labels, and now records exclusively for the award-winning label, Resonus Classics. He has directed choral workshops and summer schools throughout the UK and abroad – including Australia, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Kenya, Luxembourg, New Zealand, and the USA. As an organist, Matthew has given recitals in Australia, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, the USA, and throughout the UK.

Matthew has championed new music, particularly of British composers, conducting over 200 world premieres, including works by leading composers ranging from Jools Holland to Sir James MacMillan and John Rutter to Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. As a composer himself, he has had recent commissions from NI Opera, The Queen’s College (University of Oxford), Tewkesbury Abbey, the Grand Rapids Choir of Men and Boys (Michigan), and Covenant Presbyterian Church, Nashville (Tennessee) among others. He is published by Oxford University Press, Novello, and the Royal School of Church Music.

matthewowens.org.uk @MatthewOwensUK