Bach's Magnificat & Vivaldi's Gloria

Ottawa Choral Workshops, under the direction of founding director Roland Graham, presents two beloved sacred works of the high Baroque this Christmas season: Johann Sebastian Bach’s Magnificat, BWV 243a, in its extended Christmas version, and Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria in D, RV 589, on December 20 at Southminster United Church in Old Ottawa South.

The performance features a 60-voice five-part choir, soloists, and a professional Baroque orchestra with strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, harpsichord, and organ, all under the baton of Maestro Roland Graham.

About the Music
Bach’s Magnificat and Vivaldi’s Gloria pair beautifully as cherished sacred masterpieces of the early 18th century. The Magnificat text, an excerpt from the Gospel of St. Luke, recounts Mary’s response to the news that she will bear the Messiah, while the Gloria, derived from an early Christian hymn, opens with the angels’ proclamation, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,' upon witnessing the birth of Christ. In setting these timeless texts, both works alternate four- and five-part choruses with solos and duets, traversing a range of moods—from intimate, hymn-like passages to animated dances and exuberant fugues—and both culminate in joyful, rousing, full-ensemble conclusions. As a pair, Bach's Magnificat and Vivaldi's Gloria fully evoke the joy, mystery, profundity, and ebullience of the festive Chrismas season.

About Ottawa Choral Workshops
Founded in 2015 as a training program for novice singers, Ottawa Choral Workshops has grown into a vibrant movement dedicated to making choral music accessible and transformative for all. For this concert, the choir is supported by an 18-piece Baroque orchestra of Ottawa’s finest professional musicians, and solos will be performed by members of the choir as well as special guest artists invited to join OCW for this concert.

Educational Concert (Dec 18)
Reflecting OCW’s commitment to music education, a shortened version of this concert will be presented on Thursday morning, December 18, for elementary school students. Contact us if you are interested in bringing a group of children.

Going on the Road (to Central America)
In February, members of the OCW choir will travel to Nicaragua to perform Vivaldi's Gloria with the Nicaraguan-based Coro Laudate and the Vivaldi Orchestra of Managua at La Merced Church in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Granada. Inquire to learn more.

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