Pianist Libby Burgess performs Bach’s epic “48”, 48 times – once in each of England’s 48 counties.
Why?
Bach wrote this massive and magnificent collection:
“for the benefit and use of the musical youth eager to learn, as well as for the special pastime of those already skilful in this study.”
As well as sharing this remarkable music around the country, the project is fundraising for musical charities who provide much-needed help to those same categories of people today – musicians young and old.
The nominated Project 48 charities are: Help Musicians, Youth Music, Live Music Now and Future Talent. Between them they help hundreds of thousands of musicians every year, offering financial support, creating opportunities, addressing inequalities, and altogether safeguarding the future of the music world.
Where?
Venues will range from churches and theatres to shopping centres and stations, with associated educational events taking places in schools and universities along the way. Some performances will be given as traditional concerts, whilst others will take more unusual formats – but the whole work will be performed in each of England’s 48 ceremonial counties.
What?
The Well-Tempered Clavier is widely considered to be a masterpiece of Western art, only rarely performed in its entirety. In 1722 Bach published a prelude and a fugue in each of the twelve major and twelve minor keys (Book 1), and twenty years later he repeated the process (Book 2). Each of ‘The 48’ lasts only a few minutes, but between them they explore a wealth of characters, styles, and moods, representing not only the diversity of musical language available to the composer at the time, but also exploring the whole gamut of human emotional experience.
When?
The project began with a series of informal home livestreams during 2021, and the live performances began when lockdown ended in May 2021. Take a look at the events listing for forthcoming performance details!
Who?
Pianist Libby Burgess is well-known on concert stages across Britain, playing in the country’s major halls and festivals, on Radio 3, and on numerous recordings. When not undertaking a crazy nationwide solo Bach tour, she collaborates as song specialist and chamber musician with many of the UK’s finest instrumentalists and singers. She is founding Artistic Director of New Paths Music, and from 2018 to 2022 was Co-Artistic Director with Martin Roscoe of the Beverley Chamber Music Festival. Libby was formerly Head of Keyboard at Eton College, and is in demand as vocal coach, speaker and writer.
How?
Well, that remains to be seen…! Check back to see how this musical Everest project is going.
About Libby Burgess
About the charities
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Once I understood Bach’s music, I wanted to be a concert pianist. Bach made me dedicate my life to music.
Study Bach, there you will find everything.
I don’t think a greater genius has walked the earth. Of the three great composers Mozart tells us what it’s like to be human, Beethoven tells us what it’s like to be Beethoven and Bach tells us what it’s like to be the universe.