COEUR d'ALENE - The Northwest Sacred Music Chorale (NWSMC) Christmas Concert will be held Wednesday with two performances at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Kroc Center in Coeur d'Alene.

The main anchor piece will be J. S. Bach's "Cantata No. 78 - Jesus, by Thy Cross and Passion." It includes one of the most joyous and glorious duets ever written by Bach.

Many composers and performers since then owe him in one way or another some of their musical success. Bach wrote 250 cantatas - groups of songs woven together using choral and solo movements to tell a sacred story from the scriptures. They always ended with a hymn, a "chorale," a simple summary that was based on a well-known melody with a strong theological message, sung by everyone in attendance.

"Cantata No. 78" is one of Bach's best known and most expressive cantatas. Dr. Albert Schweitzer called it "a contrast of Christ's suffering and pain as opposed to that of joy and salvation." The second movement is joyously different. Dr. Stan McDaniel called it "a rousing scamper for two women's voices depicting the wayward soul as it strives for truth and righteousness in spite of the human condition."

The Christmas concert will conclude with a 1,500-year musical and historical romp through "The 12 Days of Christmas," sung by the Ensemble of the Chorale conducted by Gaynell Coppess. The program will be conducted by NWSMC's conductor, Kent Kimball. Kimball graduated from the University of Southern California and studied with three of the greatest choral conductors in America: Charles Hirt, Roger Wagner and Robert Shaw.

Kimball has conducted the Century Singers, Hamblen Baroque Chorus, Spokane String Quartet, The Westminster Chamber Orchestra and the Good News Singers in concerts throughout the United States

"Rhythmically precise, well-balanced performances...a model of beautiful choral blend and tone," the Los Angeles Times said of his conducting.

The NWSMC will finish its season with two spring concerts in 2015. This will feature Felix Mendelssohn's "Elijah" with Metropolitan Opera star Aaron St. Clair Nicholson as Elijah and other featured soloists at the Kroc Center at 7 p.m. April 18 and 3 p.m. April 19 with a Spokane performance at 3 p.m. April 26 in the Central Lutheran Church, located at 512 S. Bernard St.

NWSMC, a nonprofit organization composed of 65 singers from the Inland Northwest, has been promoting quality, sacred choral music since its inception in 2001. Its primary focus is to present beautiful and uplifting music based on the belief that choral music is an art form that transcends all boundaries of religious creeds and brings unity, peace and joy to all who attend its concerts.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors, students and children. To purchase tickets online or for complete information about the concert season, soloists, the Chorale and the artistic director, visit www.nwsmc.org.

Tickets can be purchased by phone at 661-0585 or at the door the day of the concert. Advance tickets can be found at these Coeur d'Alene locations: Great Harvest Bread Company, 3510 N. Government Way, and First Presbyterian Church, 521 E. Lakeside Ave.