Welcome to the OBF Book Club Season 4!
NEW! Hybrid Format (In-person and on Zoom)
Sessions run each Thursday from Noon-1pm
Free and open to all. Sign up today to add your name to the list.
HOW IT WORKS
Connect with OBF friends from all over the globe and be a part of a lifelong learning community. Joining is completely free — all you need is a love of music and a copy of the book to enjoy. With no cap limit, new sign-ups are welcome at anytime.
A Literary Offering is offered online where all participants discuss the current book, along with moderated conversations with informed and insightful guest hosts. Each interactive session is 1-hour in length. Prior to each session you will receive an email with question prompts for the assignment chapters and if participating online, a Zoom link. Selected books connect with the 2025 Festival programming and for most books, the author is present for a Q&A.
We’re excited to share that this year, we’re trying out a hybrid format for the first book of the OBF Book Club 2025! You can join us in person at Berwick Hall – Tykeson Rehearsal Hall, or hop on Zoom from the comfort of your home. No matter where you are, you’ll have the chance to ask questions and chat with the host and other book club members. We can’t wait to see you and hear your thoughts!
2025 Book List
January 9-30
Beethoven: A Life in Nine Pieces by Lauren Turnbridge (Host: Abigail Fine)
In “Beethoven: A Life in Nine Pieces”, musicologist Laura Tunbridge presents a fresh biography of Ludwig van Beethoven through nine key compositions that mark significant moments in his life. Each chapter focuses on a specific piece, such as the Eroica Symphony or the Ode to Joy, linking the music to Beethoven’s personal struggles, including his battle with hearing loss, complex friendships, and reactions to political upheavals. Tunbridge illustrates how these works reflect his genius and humanity—showcasing his temperamental nature, financial difficulties, and unfulfilled desires. With historical context and musical analysis, the book appeals to both music enthusiasts and general readers, offering a deeper appreciation of Beethoven’s legacy and the universal themes in his music.
Connection to OBF 2025 Programming: At the Festival this summer, selected works inspired by Beethoven’s First Akademie, a self-produced concert that took place on April 2, 1800, at Vienna’s Burgtheater, will be performed in Beall Hall in celebration of OBF’s Berwick Academy 10th Anniversary. This concert was Beethoven’s public debut as both a composer and pianist, aimed at establishing his reputation in the competitive Viennese music scene. Founded in 2015 with support from the Berwick family, the Berwick Academy provides high-level training in historically informed performance (HIP) for young musicians specializing in Baroque and Classical music. By fostering collaboration with industry professionals and experienced musicians, the Academy plays a crucial role in early music education in the United States. It is dedicated to nurturing future performers who will continue the legacy of Bach and Baroque music while offering fresh perspectives on timeless repertoire.
February 6-27
Bach: The Mass in B Minor by George Stauffer (Host: John Wood)
In “Bach: The Mass in B Minor”, musicologist George Stauffer offers an insightful exploration of Johann Sebastian Bach’s monumental work. He contextualizes the piece within Bach’s life and the Baroque era’s liturgical practices, highlighting the blend of older compositions and newly created sections. Stauffer examines Bach’s use of diverse musical forms, merging Baroque counterpoint with Italian and French styles. The book also discusses the theological meanings within the mass, reflecting Bach’s deep religious devotion. Each section of the mass—from the Kyrie to the Dona Nobis Pacem—is analyzed for its musical structure and spiritual significance. Overall, Stauffer’s study reveals the complexity and emotional depth of the Mass in B Minor, making it accessible to both scholars and general readers. By showcasing Bach’s artistic synthesis of faith, intellect, and artistry, the book emphasizes the mass’s enduring impact on music and Bach’s legacy.
Connection to OBF 2025 Programming: We are excited to announce that our new artistic partner, Jos van Veldhoven, will conduct J.S. Bach’s Mass in B Minor this summer. As a celebrated Dutch conductor and expert in early music, Jos has dedicated his career to sharing the beauty of Bach’s compositions. With over 35 years as the artistic director of the Netherlands Bach Society and his work on the All of Bach project, he has made a lasting impact on the field. We also hope that both Jos and author George Stauffer can join us for a Q&A during one of the book’s sessions, allowing for a meaningful connection with our audience.
March 6–27
Bach’s Art of Fugue and Musical Offering by Matthew Dirst (Host: Lindsey Rodgers)
Matthew Dirst’s book explores Bach’s “The Art of Fugue” and “A Musical Offering,” focusing on their structure, themes, and historical significance. As a respected musicologist, Dirst provides insights that deepen the understanding of these complex works and their lasting impact on music history. This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in Bach’s artistry.
Connection to OBF 2025 Programming: We’re thrilled to announce that Paul Jacobs, a talented Grammy-award-winning organist and the dedicated director of the OBF Organ Institute, will be joining us for a Q&A session at one of the book sessions for this book. It’s a wonderful opportunity to hear from someone so passionate about music. We’re also excited that he will be returning to the Festival stage this summer to share his incredible talents with a recital of Bach’s works and more. It promises to be a truly uplifting experience for all!
April 3-24
October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard by Lesléa Newman and Considering Matthew Shepard by Craig Hella Johnson (Host: Steve Rodgers)
Lesléa Newman’s October Mourning and Craig Hella Johnson’s Considering Matthew Shepard share a meaningful connection through their focus on honoring Matthew Shepard’s life and examining the impact of his tragic death. Matthew Shepard, a young gay man in Laramie, Wyoming was tragically murdered in 1998. Through poetry and music inspired by real events, Newman and Johnson both reflect on the brutality of Shepard’s death and its impact on his family and the LGBTQ+ community. Although these works differ in format—one is a choral composition while the other is a book of poetry—they both aim to commemorate Shepard and address broader issues of hate, love, and acceptance. Together, these works serve as powerful artistic responses to Shepard’s death. Each work uses its unique medium to capture the emotional weight of his story, offering listeners and readers a compelling call for empathy, acceptance, and societal change.
Connection to OBF 2025 Programming: We are excited to welcome our new artistic partner, Craig Hella Johnson, who will be conducting his deeply moving and impactful work, Considering Matthew Shepard, at the Oregon Bach Festival this summer. This piece, originally composed for the Austin group Conspirare, holds a special place in the hearts of many. A 2016 recording of the performance was nominated for a Grammy and played a crucial role in the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act, highlighting its importance in the ongoing fight against hate. We hope to create a welcoming space for dialogue and understanding, and are also hoping Craig and Lesley will be able to join us for a Q&A session during this book run. Their insights will surely enrich our experience together.
May 1-22
Things I Must Have Known by A.B Spellman (Host: Sean Peterson)
Things I Must Have Known is a collection of poems by poet and jazz critic A.B. Spellman addresses themes such as cultural heritage, self-reflection, and the social and political landscape of Black America. This collection is deeply rooted in the Black experience and explores a wide range of emotions, from anger and frustration to hope and resilience. Spellman often intertwines music, particularly jazz, with his poetry, reflecting his love for the genre and its significance in African American culture.
Connection to OBF 2025 Programming: This summer, the award-winning wind quintet Imani Winds will perform “Passion for Bach and Coltrane,” a piece by Imani Winds horn player Jeff Scott, inspired by Spellman’s poem of the same name. This work merges classical and jazz influences to pay homage to the legendary composers Johann Sebastian Bach and John Coltrane, echoing Spellman’s poetic exploration of these iconic musicians. Imani Winds utilizes the distinct voices of wind instruments to create a dialogue between Bach’s structural elegance and Coltrane’s soulful improvisation. The ensemble will include Imani Winds, Harlem Quartet, jazz soloists and spoken word by A.B. Spellman.
Please be informed that the programming for OBF 2025 is subject to change.
PAST BOOKS
2024
The Musical Human: A History of Life on Earth by Michael Spitzer (host – Zach Wallmark)
Earth’s Wild Music: Celebrating and Defending Songs of the Natural World by Kathleen Dean Moore and Mass of the Endangered by Sarah Kirkland Snider and Nathaniel Bellows (host – Stephen Rodgers)
Camille Saint-Saëns and his World by Jann Pasler (host – Lindsey Rodgers)
Bach’s Dialogue with Modernity by John Butt (host – Holly Roberts)
Mozart’s Women by Jane Glover (host – Beverly Taflinger)
2023
Bach: Music in the Castle of Heaven by John Eliot Gardner (host – Holly Roberts)
Bach’s Feet by David Yearsley (host – Lindsey Rodgers)
The Four Seasons by Laurel Corona (host – Laura Trujillo)
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman (hosts – Brian McWhorter and Barbara Mossberg)
Luther and Bach on the Magnificat by Peter Henderson, Bradley Jenson (host – Barbara Harris)
2022
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