|
In 1940, Fritz Indermühle founded the Berner Kammerchor (= BKC) to mediate the "a-capella literature of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries and to make a decisive commitment to the choral music of our time". Nothing shows the versatility of his musical work better than the programs of his concerts, as the 40th anniversary of the Berner Kammerchor mentioned in the book says: they include the older choral music of the 16th and 17th centuries with Heinrich Schütz in the center, the masses, oratorios, motets and cantatas by J.S. Bach, works of classical and romantic music, but also contemporary choral music with works by his friend Willy Burkhard. In 1970, the Faculty of Theology of the University of Bern paid tribute to his many years of service to Bern church music by awarding him an honorary doctorate.
In 1973 Jörg Ewald Dähler took over the artistic direction of the choir. The jubilee edition states: "A comparison of the origin and musical career of both conductors shows a number of parallels. What is essential, however, are the love of early music, the close ties to church music and the open-mindedness of the works of contemporary composers as necessary prerequisites for a successful continuation of the choral work in the sense of its founders."
After 37 years, Jörg Ewald Dähler handed over the baton to Jörg Ritter on January 1, 2012. His successor has worked as an orchestra and choral conductor in Hamburg, London, Cologne, Katowice, Lisbon and Yale and has taught at colleges of music in Cologne, Boston, Yale and Bloomington (USA). |
