Boulder Bach Festival History

In the summer of 1981 a group of Boulder music lovers decided they would celebrate the life and music of the Baroque era’s most influential and inspiring composer, Johann Sebastian Bach, by organizing and presenting three concerts during the weekend of his March birth date. The Festival’s rapid progression from its hopeful beginning in March 1982 to the well-established institution of today resulted largely from the talents and determination of its founders, the financial and emotional support of its audience, and the ideas of its Board of Directors. Since that first season, the Festival has brought Bach’s magnificent music to a variety of venues, including area churches, Boulder High School, and the University of Colorado’s Grusin Music Hall and Macky Auditorium. Through the years it broadened its scope by including chamber concerts in the yearly calendar. It now also reaches out into the community with Master Classes, the Young Artists’ Competition (every few years), and special children’s concerts at the Boulder Public Library. The BBF can now claim that it has performed all of Bach’s major works, plus a large percentage of his total output of amazingly diverse compositions as well. The BBF has built a reputation for high quality performances which explore the depth and complexity of all Bach’s works.

Historical Sequence of Major Works

  • 1982 Magnificat, BWV 243
  • 1983 Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248
  • 1984 St. John Passion, BWV 245
  • 1985 St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244
  • 1986 Easter Oratorio, BWV 249
  • 1987 B Minor Mass, BWV 232
  • 1988 Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248
  • 1989 Magnificat, BWV 243
  • 1990 St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244
  • 1991 B Minor Mass, BWV 232
  • 1992 St. John Passion, BWV 245
  • 1993 Easter Oratorio, BWV 249
  • 1994 Magnificat, BWV 243
  • 1995 St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244
  • 1996 Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248
  • 1997 B Minor Mass, BWV 232
  • 1998 Ascension Oratorio, BWV 11; Magnificat, BWV 243
  • 1999 St. John Passion, BWV 245
  • 2000 St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244
  • 2001 St. Mark Passion, BWV 247
  • 2002 B Minor Mass, BWV 232
  • 2003 St. Matthew Passion
  • 2004 Christmas Oratorio, Parts I,II,III, BWV 248; Magnificat, BWV 243
  • 2005 B Minor Mass, BWV 232
  • 2006 St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244
  • 2007 St. Matthew Passion, BWV 243, and Easter Oratorio, BWV 249
  • 2008 St John Passion, BWV 245
  • 2009 Missa in F major, “Lutheran Mass,” BWV 233 and Missa in A major, “Lutheran Mass,” BWV 234