Paul Steinitz facts for kids

Paul Steinitz (born August 25, 1909 – died April 21, 1988) was a famous English organ player. He was best known for performing the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Steinitz started the London Bach Society and the Steinitz Bach Players. He spent 29 years performing all of Bach's cantatas in the UK. This was the first time this complete set of works was publicly performed in the country.

Early Life and Musical Journey

Paul Steinitz was born in Chichester in 1909. His father was a clergyman. Paul studied music privately and later at the Royal Academy of Music. He became a very skilled organist. In 1930, he earned two important diplomas for organ playing.

In the 1930s, he worked as the music director at St. Mary's Church in Ashford, Kent. Here, he became very interested in Bach's music. He also earned his doctorate degree in 1940.

Founding the London Bach Society

In 1946, Steinitz started the London Bach Society. His goal was to perform Bach's music exactly as it was written. Before this, people often changed Bach's music to fit the style of their time. Steinitz wanted to go "back to Bach" and use the original scores.

From 1950, they even performed Bach's works in German. This was a brave choice because German was still seen as an enemy language after World War II. In 1952, Steinitz led the first full performance in Britain of Bach's famous St Matthew Passion in its original German form. This was a very important moment for how Bach's music was performed in the UK.

The Complete Cantata Project

The London Bach Society dropped "South" from its name in 1952. Steinitz then began a huge project. He decided to perform all 208 of Bach's cantatas for British audiences. A cantata is a piece of music for singers and instruments.

This amazing project started in November 1958. It finally finished in December 1987, just a few months before Steinitz passed away. This was a massive achievement in the music world.

Steinitz Bach Players

In 1968, Steinitz also founded the Steinitz Bach Players. This was a group of professional musicians. They shared Steinitz's ideas about performing music in an "authentic" way. This means playing it as close as possible to how it would have sounded when it was first written.

Their performances of the St Matthew Passion and St John Passion were very popular. They often performed in famous London churches. The group also toured other parts of Britain and even went abroad. They visited places like the United States, Israel, and East Germany.

Supporting New Music

Paul Steinitz didn't just focus on old music. He also supported new music, especially from British composers. He often asked composers to write new pieces and gave them their first performances.

Some of the famous composers whose works he performed included Igor Stravinsky, Peter Maxwell Davies, and John Tavener. This showed his wide interest in music.

Dorset Bach Cantata Club

In 1955, Steinitz helped start another music group called the Dorset Bach Cantata Club. This club allowed him to study and perform more of Bach's cantatas. It also helped share knowledge of Bach's music with more people. The Dorset Bach Cantata Club is still active today and celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2016.

Recognition and Personal Life

Steinitz was known for his deep understanding of Bach's music. He believed that "All of Bach's music is dance music except for the recitatives". He shared this idea with the musicians he worked with.

He also wrote several books about music. These included Bach's Passions and Performing Bach's Vocal Music. He also wrote many articles for music journals.

Steinitz was honored for his work. He became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1985. This was the year that marked 300 years since Bach's birth.

Paul Steinitz passed away on April 21, 1988, at his home in Old Oxted village, Surrey. He was a devoted Quaker. He strongly believed that music could help bring peace and connect people across different cultures.

A memorial to him was placed in the Cloister of St Bartholomew-the-Great in London. It was unveiled in 1991. The ceremony included a concert of Bach's music. This concert showed how his musical ideas were being passed on to new generations.

In 1996, at the 50th anniversary of the London Bach Society, composer John Tavener praised Steinitz. He said that Steinitz was not always fully recognized, but without him, the London Bach Society would not exist.

Paul Steinitz had two sons, Nicholas and Richard, with his first wife, Joan. His son Richard is the founder of the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. Later, he married Margery and had a daughter named Felicity. In 1976, he married his third wife, Margaret. Margaret has continued his work and developed the London Bach Society. She founded an annual Bachfest in 1990.

In 2009, many events celebrated 100 years since Steinitz's birth. These included concerts and a new Bach Club for young people. The London Bach Society continues its work today, planning events and projects for the future.