Bach concert coming soon to St. Paul's in Uxbridge

TOM BAKER Special to The Standard

UXBRIDGE: Good Friday, April 18th, a sold out audience waited in St Paul's Anglican Church, Uxbridge, for one of J.S. Bach's most famous and important works of music to begin.

The 23 voice choir, Cantorei Sine Nomine, together with the 20 piece orchestra, Orpheus Symponietta, all under the direction of Stuart Beaudoin, did not disappoint.

The B minor Mass was one of the last compositions Bach wrote, in his productive lifetime. He actually never heard it performed. The work was finished in 1749 and Bach died a year after he completed it. One his musician sons, C.P.E. Bach, inherited the score and eventually had it performed some years later.

Today, the piece is considered one of the masterpieces of the choral repertoire. The scale is unusual. It lasts for two hours, employs two choirs and an extended orchestra.

Cantorei Sine Nomine, after a bit of a hesitant start, rose to the challenge. In the large chorus numbers, the choir was at its best. The many solo pieces were sung by choir members.

Several singers were memorable, especially Claudia Lemcke, alto, and Dave Vant Erve, tenor.

In such an ambitious project, some things worked better than others. For me, the orchestra was too loud, at times, for a good balance with the choir. Still, how exciting to have not one, but three trumpets!

The Osanna in excelsis movement was beautiful, as well as the Dona Nobis Pacem, (Grant us Peace). This final number was performed in a way which made a wonderful, strong and inspiring ending to the work.

Congratulations to the choir and orchestra members, who worked together to learn and perform this Mass. In addition, congratulations to conductor Stuart Beaudoin for inspiring and motivating the choir and orchestra to learn, teach, and present such a monumental musical experience.