Episode 9: Tim Shantz | Bach, Handel & Eye Surgery
I tell the story teased from the beginning of Culture Monster—what is the connection between Bach, Handel and eye surgery? I also speak with notable choral conductor Tim Shantz on the power of ensemble singing, and recommend a British novel from the 1990s.
 
LINKS
News story on the Toronto Gallery heist:
https://cp24.com/four-pieces-of-art-worth-combined-265-900-stolen-from-gallery-in-toronto-1.5395704…
 
Medical Journal article on Bach’s eye problems:
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/417322
 
University of Wisconsin Medical School’s version of the story:
https://www.med.wisc.edu/news-and-events/2009/december/handel-bach-blinded-18th-century-quackery/
 
Tim Shantz is a faculty member at the University of Alberta Department of Music:
https://www.ualberta.ca/music/index.html
 
Tim Shantz is founder and artistic director of the Luminous Voices:
https://luminousvoices.com/artistic-director
https://luminousvoices.com
 
He was also the former director of the Spiritus Chamber Choir and Calgary Philharmonic Chorus:
http://www.spirituschamberchoir.ca
https://calgaryphil.com/orchestra/chorus/
 
The most recent Luminous Voices recording is “Sea Dreams”
Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/sea-dreams/1522347176
 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1gmIVzH2KgF8vPJyQh6DEZ?si=h68Hh305SxiPKBj5vbkoYg
 
Tim Shantz and the Luminous Voices have recorded  “The Far West” by Zachary Wadsworth
Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/zachary-wadsworth-the-far-west/1525796302
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0pPYLosqkFmokl5C5lOzIu?si=ZCyNRaniT7mahlzpPhVQGg
 
Tim also mentioned 
Frank Martin “Mass for Double Choir”:
Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/frank-martin-choral-works/69170555
 
Monteverdi “Vespers 1610”
Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/monteverdi-vespers/418622377
 
J.S. Bach “St John Passion”
Apple: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/bach-st-john-passion-bwv-245-johannes-passion-deluxe/1087775578
 
 
The excerpt of Handel’s “Total Eclipse” is provided by the Internet Archive, and was performed by Richard Lewis. 
HIs 1963 Calgary recital is available here:
https://music.apple.com/ca/album/in-recital-calgary-1963-live/1386196451
 
Episode First published April 2021
https://www.culturemonster.ca