This Easter’s festive concert will feature two rarely heard pieces. It’s customary to perform Pergolesi’s Stabat mater, but this year, his Mass in D Major will take the stage instead. Bach’s Easter contributions are usually his passions, played during lent, only at Christmas do we hear his Christmas Oratorio -- here, the significantly shorter Easter Oratorio will light up the celebration. Afterwards, Pergolesi’s mass follows in the Baroquian tradition, whereupon only the Kyrie and Gloria are considered musically. Those, however, are composed with such detail that the final result is adequately grand and exultant, so much so that each part could be played as a standalone piece. Bach, Haydn, and even Verdi composed such masses. Bach’s Oratorio is much more like a cantata with its internal arias, but its D major pomp and broad choral movements do this highest of Church holidays justice. With this music selection, the Easter concert will continue the Christmas edition’s introduction to Baroquian celebration.