TERRACE PARK, OHIO—The Bach Ensemble Chorale will present a concert of sacred choral masterpieces spanning four centuries on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church.
The program features works from the Renaissance to the 20th century, showcasing the ensemble’s versatility and technical precision. Opening with William Byrd’s jubilant “Sing Joyfully,” the concert continues with Byrd’s contemplative “Mass for Four Voices,” one of the finest examples of Renaissance polyphony.
The second half begins with J.S. Bach’s motet “Fürchte dich nicht” (Fear Not), BWV 228, a work of profound spiritual depth. Johannes Brahms’ “Schaffe in mir, Gott, ein rein Herz” (Create in me a clean heart, O God) follows, demonstrating the composer’s masterful command of harmony. The program concludes with Benjamin Britten’s “Hymn to St. Cecilia,” his settings of W.H. Auden’s poetry celebrating the patron saint of music.
“These composers have always had a special meaning to me, and it is a thrill to perform these works with the incredible musicians of the Bach Ensemble,”says Carlton Monroe, Artistic Director of the Bach Ensemble Chorale. “This program hearkens back to a conducting recital I gave almost 25 years ago.”
The concert will be held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 100 Miami Avenue, Terrace Park, Ohio.
Tickets are available at www.bachensemble.org. General admission is $30, with reserved seating available for $40 and student tickets for $10.
Repertoire
BYRD Sing joyfully
BYRD Mass for Four Voices
BACH Füchte dich nicht, BWV 228
BRAHMS Schaffe in mir, Gott, ein rein Herz
BRITTEN Hymn to St. Cecilia
About the Bach Ensemble St. Thomas
The Bach Ensemble at St. Thomas enriches and inspires the musical life of the Cincinnati area through the performance of the music of J. S. Bach, his contemporaries, and musical heirs.
The BEST serves as ensemble-in-residence at St. Thomas Episcopal Church where it leads the monthly Bach Vespers, performing the cantatas of J. S. Bach in the context for which they are written. The ensemble’s musicians are some of the finest in the region, including many from the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
The BEST is committed to historically informed performances of Bach’s music and artistic collaborations with other musical ensembles. The Bach Ensemble is under the artistic direction of its founder, Carlton Monroe.