Paul Steinitz
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Paul Steinitz OBE (August 25, 1909–April 21, 1988) was a pioneer in the post-war interpretation of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. He founded the London Bach Society and Steinitz Bach Players in order to put his scholarship into practice, performing all Bach’s cantatas in London venues over the space of 25 years.
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[edit] Career
(Charles) Paul (Joseph) Steinitz was born in Chichester in 1909, the son of an Anglican clergyman. He was educated privately and later studied at the Royal Academy of Music, and with George Oldroyd. He was a skilled organist, obtaining his FRCO in 1930, only six months after taking his ARCO. He served as church organist in Ashford, Kent, where he developed his keen interest on Bach while studying for his Doctorate (University of London, 1940). He was Director of Music and organist at the Priory Church of St. Bartholomew-the-Great in London (1949–1961), Senior, then Principal Lecturer at University of London Goldsmiths College (1945–1977), and Professor at the Royal Academy of Music (1945–1984).
[edit] London Bach Society
In 1946 Paul Steinitz founded the (South) London Bach Society with the aim of performing Bach’s works in their original form, free from the romantic exaggerations which had been habitual from the Victorian era. The works were performed in the original German language, using forces which would have been familiar to Bach. Thus he was a pioneer in the performance of Baroque music, using ideas which are now well-established regarding vocal and instrumental techniques, size of forces and use of period instruments. The 60-strong amateur choir was formed in 1947. In 1952 he performed Bach’s St Matthew Passion in its complete and original form, probably the first time this had been done in Britain.
The word “South” was soon dropped from the society’s title and Steinitz embarked on the mammoth task of performing all 208 of Bach’s extant cantatas to London audiences. This project was started in 1958 and was completed just before Steinitz’s final illness in 1987. In 1968 he founded the Steinitz Bach Players, a group of professional players who shared Steinitz’s ideals of authentic performance, in order to play Bach’s orchestral works and to accompany the choir in the cantatas and passions. Their performances of the St Matthew Passion – and sometimes the St John Passion – became regular annual events, generally held in St Marylebone Parish Church. Venues for their concerts also included several cathedrals and large churches in the south of England. There were frequent tours abroad: to USA, Israel, German Democratic Republic (1964 and 1983, including Leipzig) and Bulgaria.
Steinitz’s music making was not restricted to Bach and other Baroque composers. He was a champion of several contemporary composers, performing works by Stravinsky (Canticum Sacrum, conducted by Robert Craft, in 1956), Peter Maxwell Davies, John Tavener, Anthony Milner, Stanley Glasser (sung in Zulu), Christopher Brown, Geoffrey Burgon and his own pupil Nicholas Maw.
[edit] Scholarship and honours
Steinitz’s scholarship and profound understanding of his subject did not prevent him from trusting his players and singers on matters of technique and interpretation. He would often ask them for their advice. This mutual trust led to great performances. He was a small man with an impish sense of humour. “All of Bach’s music is dance music except for the recitatives” he would tell his musicians. He was a devout Quaker who held a passionate belief that music could contribute to peace by bridging political divides.
His publications include the chapter on German church music in the 18th century to The New Oxford History of Music, many harmony textbooks for music students as well as books on Bach’s Passions, Bach for Choirs, and Performing Bach’s Vocal Music.
Paul Steinitz was a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music and Royal College of Organists. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1985. However, he would wish Bach to have the last honour: a portrait of the great composer would often be leaning against the conductor's rostrum, and then held high to the rapturous applause at the end of the concert.
He died in Old Oxted. His public memorial is in the Cloister of St Bartholomew-the-Great, West Smithfield, London, and was unveiled in 1991 by the Lord Mayor of London.
