In 1949, Gustav Classens, the municipal music director of Bonn and conductor of the orchestra (now Beethoven Orchester Bonn, founded the Bonner Bach-Gemeinschaft specifically for the performance of works by Johann Sebastian Bach. Bonn was then the provisional capital of Germany, and Bach's 200th anniversary of death in 1950 was prepared. The society was first formed by both choir and orchestra, with the first concerts including Bach's Musical Offering and Christmas Oratorio. In 1950, they performed Bach's St John Passion. The repertoire was gradually extended to works of other composers. In the beginning, the orchestra played most concerts. From 1971, only the choir formed the society, named Chor der Bonner Bach-Gemeinschaft. On tours, it was labelled Bach-Chor Bonn, which became the official name in 2012.
