Bern Chamber Choir
In 1940, Fritz Indermühle founded the Bern Chamber Choir to promote the a cappella repertoire of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries and to champion contemporary choral music.
Nothing demonstrates the versatility of his musical output better than the programs of his concerts, as stated in the publication commemorating the Bern Chamber Choir's 40th anniversary: they encompassed early choral music of the 16th and 17th centuries, with Heinrich Schütz at its heart; the masses, oratorios, motets, and cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach; works of the Classical and Romantic periods; and contemporary choral music, including works by his friend Willy Burkhard. In 1970, the Faculty of Theology at the University of Bern recognized his long-standing contributions to Bernese church music by awarding him an honorary doctorate.
In 1973, Jörg Ewald Dähler assumed the artistic direction of the choir. Regarding the passing of the baton, the anniversary publication states: “A comparison of the backgrounds and musical careers of both conductors reveals a number of parallels. However, what is essential is their love of early music, their close ties to church music, and their openness to the works of contemporary composers as necessary prerequisites for the successful continuation of the choir's work in the spirit of its founders.”
After 37 years, Jörg Ewald Dähler passed the baton to Jörg Ritter on January 1, 2012. His successor has worked as an orchestral and choral conductor in Hamburg, London, Cologne, Katowice, Lisbon, and Yale, and has taught at music academies in Cologne, Boston, Yale, and Bloomington (USA).
The Bern Chamber Choir celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2020.
Nothing demonstrates the versatility of his musical output better than the programs of his concerts, as stated in the publication commemorating the Bern Chamber Choir's 40th anniversary: they encompassed early choral music of the 16th and 17th centuries, with Heinrich Schütz at its heart; the masses, oratorios, motets, and cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach; works of the Classical and Romantic periods; and contemporary choral music, including works by his friend Willy Burkhard. In 1970, the Faculty of Theology at the University of Bern recognized his long-standing contributions to Bernese church music by awarding him an honorary doctorate.
In 1973, Jörg Ewald Dähler assumed the artistic direction of the choir. Regarding the passing of the baton, the anniversary publication states: “A comparison of the backgrounds and musical careers of both conductors reveals a number of parallels. However, what is essential is their love of early music, their close ties to church music, and their openness to the works of contemporary composers as necessary prerequisites for the successful continuation of the choir's work in the spirit of its founders.”
After 37 years, Jörg Ewald Dähler passed the baton to Jörg Ritter on January 1, 2012. His successor has worked as an orchestral and choral conductor in Hamburg, London, Cologne, Katowice, Lisbon, and Yale, and has taught at music academies in Cologne, Boston, Yale, and Bloomington (USA).
The Bern Chamber Choir celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2020.
