CD NOTES The works on this CD represent a culmination of some of the Ottawa Bach Choir's most beloved repertoire performed over the past ten years, celebrating the spirit of the Baroque period (with works by JS Bach, Monteverdi, Purcell and Buxtehude) while contrasting works by 19th- and 20th-century masters from France (Saint-Saëns, Messiaen), Canada (Lang), the United States (Whitacre) and Norway (Nystedt). Works from the Baroque period showcase the rhythmic fervor, melodic intensity, and harmonic and textural contrasts typical of this era, while later compositions highlight variations in style, colour and harmony. Through all of the repertoire, the alternation of old and new styles is emphasized along with a personal and collective expression of artistic, emotional and spiritual devotion, culminating in the music of Bach and its influence throughout history. OTTAWA BACH CHOIR (www.ottawabachchoir.ca) The Ottawa Bach Choir (OBC), founded in 2002 by Dr. Lisette Canton, offers audiences a wide range of choral music of the finest quality, performing music from all historical periods while keeping Bach’s choral oeuvre as the focus of its repertoire. Through a combination of both a scholarly and emotional approach to choral music, the professional choir expands all aspects of the artistic spectrum. Consisting of some of the top choristers from the National Capital Region and beyond, the choir has achieved national as well as international acclaim. The OBC performs a large subscription concert series in Ottawa and travels extensively in Canada and abroad, including performances in Leipzig, Paris, London, Stuttgart, Vienna, Salzburg, Prague, Mexico City, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax. The choir has performed three times in Leipzig at Bach's church, the Thomaskirche, and recently made its Carnegie Hall debut in New York City in 2011. The professional choir has been broadcast on CBC Radio 1 and Radio 2 as well as on Radio-Canada, and has recorded five compact discs.