At Bethlehem, Pa., in the noble Lehigh Valley, townsfolk turned out and Eastern music lovers poured in last week for the 32nd annual Bach Festival. To sing some of the greatest devotional music known to man, 143 housewives donned white dresses, 83 workmen put on their Sunday best and sat soberly together in the chancel of Lehigh University's Packer Chapel. As usual the audience overflowed comfortably on the lawn outside; as usual the opening chorale was bayed from the belfry by 16 sonorous trombones.
The Bethlehem Bach Choir dates from 1898. Its founder was a rapt, indefatigable German-American named J. Fred Wolle...