Filling in the Missing Notes With Crescendo

Listening to music is in itself a pleasant experience, but that experience becomes infinitely richer if you have some knowledge about what you’re listening to and how it came to be.

Crescendo is a music and performing arts organization that is based at Trinity Church in Lime Rock, Conn. This year, because of COVID-19, all of the group’s performances will be online, beginning this month with weekly dialogs and music from Crescendo Founding Artistic Director Christine Gevert and distinguished scholars and performers. The talks will give background and context to the works the group presents. 

Then more than 60 performers from the U.S., Europe and Latin America will come together for a Virtual Christmas Concert on Dec. 19 at 4 p.m. Taking part in the concert will be the Crescendo Chorus and Vocal Ensemble, soloists, Period Instrument Orchestra and Andean Instruments. Together they will perform excerpts of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio BWV 248, works from the Colonial Latin American Baroque, 20th-century Argentinian music, and Gospel/Spiritual-based works.

To view the videos and get updates, go to www.worldclassmusic.org. Coming up on Friday, Oct. 23, the topic is “Fun facts about the Baroque trumpet,” with Christopher Belluscio.

— Cynthia Hochswender