BACH CHOIR. There are several bodies bearing this name. The London body so known was founded in 1875, primarily for the purpose of studying Bach's Mass in B minor, of which many performances have been given, the earliest under the direction of Otto Goldschmidt, the first conductor of the choir. Later the scope of the choir was enlarged to include the works of other composers and schools, while the subsequent conductors of the choir have been C. V. Stanford (1885-1902 ), H. Walford Davies (1902-07 ), H. P. Allen (1907-20), R. Vaughan Williams (192o 28) and Gustav Holst (1928).
It may be added that a much earlier body established in London with the same objects was the Bach Society, founded in 1849 by Sterndale Bennett.
An American Bach choir was formed at Bethlehem (Pa.), in 190o by Mrs. Ruth Porter Doster in conjunction with John Fred erick Wolle, under whose direction many of the master's most important choral works have been performed in the course of a series of festivals.