The festival A to Z.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Can't tell an oratorio from an oboist? Don't know the difference between trilling and Rilling?

Help is right at hand. Everything from soup to nuts is provided in the handy guide below.

Armstrong, Anton - The charismatic conductor of the Bach Festival's Youth Choral Academy also directs the St. Olaf College Choir and is one of the most notable conductors in the United States. (He conducts the Youth Choral Academy concert on July 5.)

B Minor Mass - Assembled late in J.S. Bach's life, the Mass in B Minor stands as the summation of his prodigious powers. (It will be performed on July 6.)

Crumb, George - The Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer's music is played around the world. (It will be the subject of three birthday concerts in the Composers Symposium on July 2-3.)

Danz, Ingeborg - The alto from Cologne, Germany, often sings with Helmuth Rilling in Europe and has been a festival favorite for years. (He sings on June 25, July 2, July 6 and on the Discovery Series on June 28-30 and July 5.)

``Elijah'' - Felix Mendelssohn's powerful oratorio makes it one of the finest choral works of the 19th century. (It will be performed July 11.)

Few, Guy - A snappy attired trumpet star who has performed with most of the major Canadian and America orchestras. (He commands the spotlight on June 27 and July 6.)

Gachinger Kantorei - Helmuth Rilling founded the German choir 50 years ago and features it on his recordings; Gachinger means "one from the town of Gachingen" and Kantorei means "choir." (They sing on June 25, July 6 and July 11, and on the Discovery Series on June 28-30 and July 5 and July 7-8.)

Huang, Chungliang Al - The internationally renowned Tai Ji master is the author of the classic "Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain." (He gives a movement concert on June 28 and a lecture on June 29.)

Inside Line - Free and entertaining talks from experts. (Robert Hurwitz on June 27, Peter Hopkins on July 6, John Steinmetz on July 8, Tom Somerville on July 11.)

Johann - First name of Johann Sebastian Bach and of his brothers, Johann Christoph, Johann Balthasar and Johann Jacob; as well as first names of three of his 20 children, Johann Gottfried, Johann Christian, Johann Christophe Friedrich.

Kahane, Jeffrey and Gabriel - The father and son pianists are festival favorites. (Gabriel will accompany singer Thomas Quasthoff's "American Songbook" on June 30 and Jeffrey will perform Bach's "Goldberg Variations" on July 1.)

Levin, Robert - A dazzling pianist, scholar and composer who has performed throughout the United States, Europe, Australia and Asia. (He gives a recital on June 26, plays in an ensemble on June 29, delivers a lecture on July 1 and observes the orchestra playing his completion of Mozart's Requiem Mass on July 2.)

McGhee, Lorna - The Scottish-born flutist stood out in the BBC Symphony, London Symphony Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic. (She is featured on July 6 and July 8, and recital on June 28 and July 9.)

New Zealand National Youth Choir - Founded in 1985, the high school age choir won three gold medals at the Pacific Basin Music Festival. (They sing a July 2 concert of new works that possibly will be on its fourth CD.)

Odinius, Lothar - Tenor soloist from Berlin, who has sung at the Salzburg Festival, BBC Proms and elsewhere. (He sings on June 25, July 6 and July 11, and on the Discovery Series on June 28-30 and July 7-8.)

Penderecki, Kryzysztof - The Polish composer is perhaps the most decorated of all living composers. (He conducts his Concerto for Flute and Chamber Orchestra on July 8.)

Quasthoff, Thomas - The internationally acclaimed bass-baritone from Hanover, Germany, jams with a combo on America jazz standards. (He sings jazz tunes on June 30 and Franz Schubert's "Die schoen Mullerin" on July 3 and 7.)

Rilling, Helmuth - The festival's scholarly founding artistic director and conductor is one of the most accomplished conductors and interpreters of Bach's music. (He conducts Bach's St. Matthew Passion on June 25 and B Minor Mass on July 6, Mozart's Requiem on July 2 and Mendelssohn's "Elijah" on July 11 and delivers Discovery Series lectures on June 28-30, July 5 and July 7-8.)

Saltzman, Royce - The festival's dynamic founding executive director was just named the University of Southern California's Most Distinguished Music School Alumnus. (He will be everywhere during the festival.)

Thebom, Blanche - The legendary mezzo-soprano was one of the Metropolitan Opera's shining stars for years. (She reminisces on July 6.)

Thirty five - Number of years the festival has been in existence.

Umlaut - The name for the two dots over German vowels, seen frequently in the texts of music sung during the festival: o, u, a.

Viola - String instrument and butt of classical jokes, as in: "How is lightning like a violist's fingers? Neither strikes in the same place twice."

Wolfgang - The first name of Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91), who triumphed in all the major genres of his time. (He will be represented by his Requiem Mass on July 2 and numerous ensemble works.)

Xylophone - Metallic percussion instrument not used by Bach.

Youth Choral Academy - The 81 singers in the all-star choir hail from high schools across the United States. (Its concert on July 5 is to be conducted by Rilling, Armstrong and Maria Guinand.)

Zeyen, Justus - The Grammy-nominated pianist is the regular accompanist of singer Thomas Quasthoff at major venues around the world. (He accompanies Quasthoff on July 3 and July 7.)

CAPTION(S):

Above: Gachinger Kantorei is the German choir that Helmuth Rilling founded 50 years ago; it will be featured in several concerts in Eugene. Left: Pianist Gabriel Kahane will accompany singer Thomas Quasthoff's "American Songbook" on June 30. Right: Ingeborg Danz, an alto from Cologne, Germany, has been a festival favorite for years.