The Bach Ensemble Orchestra and Chorale,
Carlton Monroe, conductor

Handel Chandos Anthem No. 1, HWV 246

Bach Easter Oratorio, BWV 249

George Frideric Handel – Chandos Anthem No. 1, HWV 246 (“O, be joyful in the Lord”)

Composed around 1717–18 during Handel’s time at Cannons, the estate of the Duke of Chandos, this anthem is the first in a series of eleven works now known as the Chandos Anthems. Scored for modest forces, the work combines lively choral writing with solo passages and instrumental color. It reflects Handel’s emerging mastery in English church music and showcases the joyful spirit of Psalm 100.

⸻

Johann Sebastian Bach – Easter Oratorio, BWV 249

Bach’s Easter Oratorio is a jubilant and dramatic portrayal of the Resurrection. Originally premiered in 1725 and revised over the years, this work offers a celebratory tone with vivid instrumental writing, festive choruses, and expressive arias. It begins with two exuberant sinfonias and unfolds through the voices of four soloists, each representing biblical figures in a reflection on the empty tomb and the triumph of Easter morning.