About Bach Network UK

Bach Network UK is a recently-formed forum to which we welcome artists, scientists, specialised Bach scholars and performers, and indeed anybody who is seriously interested in Bach’s music. The central aim of the network is to facilitate contacts which will encourage thought about Bach and his music: thought that may be quite different from the established terms of academic discourse. You may become a sponsor, friend or member of BNUK.

BNUK was founded in 2004 by John Butt, Reinhard Strohm and Ruth Tatlow to serve Bach studies and performance worldwide by collecting and publishing information on our website, by offering dialogue opportunities both electronically and in traditional forms, and by convening symposia and small discussion meetings. Since 2004 we have held an annual Dialogue Meeting and since 2006 published three volumes of our journal Understanding Bach. 2007 marked the establishment of two new research groups, Music and Text, and Reception History. We aim that results from the research groups will be made available to the more public forums of Dialogue meetings and Understanding Bach. Times are changing, towards the quantification and standardisation of intellectual life. 'Classical' music is sometimes considered an art for specialists only. However, Bach and his music have always attracted people with a wide range of backgrounds and interests, in the arts, sciences and beyond. Bach Network UK aims to harvest the fruit of this heritage and share it world-wide. It addresses the crucial issue of what we can still gain from Bach’s works in a world which often seems alien to the challenges of subtle, expressive and complex music.
The website www.bachnetwork.co.uk is of vital importance to BNUK, enabling dissemination of information, exchange of ideas as well as useful links and membership details. Bach Network UK is a registered charity (1042036), dependent upon external financing. As well as applying to public bodies for funding, we welcome donations from private individuals and sponsors to enable us to hold further Dialogue meetings and develop the website facility. If you would like to make a financial contribution or purchase a paper copy of the journal, please click here.

Trustees: John Butt Katharine Pardee Peter Smaill Reinhard Strohm Ruth Tatlow and Yo Tomita