Regional Spotlight: South Dakota Chorale

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Bach requires much from his singers in his handful of motets. Strong "forte" singing is required, and then (turning of the page) a kind of tenderness. The text must be primary and at the same time the melodic lines should never be less than long and smoothly sung. And on top of it a singer has to be together with all his or her colleagues. It's a tall order.

The South Dakota Chorale led by Brian Schmidt is a first rate ensemble that sings with understanding and beauty and captures the heart with their performance of the Bach motet, "Jesu, Meine Freude" from a concert in January at Saint Joseph's Cathedral in Sioux Falls.